March Madness is underway as the Round of 64 for the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament tipped off this week, and whether you're rooting on your alma mater or trying to best your friends in a bracket challenge, there's plenty of on-court action to get excited for with the win-or-go-home games in the weeks ahead.

PHOTO: Jordan Hodges of the Liberty Lady Flames drives around Dazia Lawrence of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, on March 21, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Jordan Hodges of the Liberty Lady Flames drives around Dazia Lawrence of the Kentucky Wildcats drives to the basket during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, on March 21, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Columbia University Lions and William & Mary Tribe kicked things off on a high note with their first-ever March Madness wins, the latter marking the Tribe's first-ever bid to the tournament.

HISTORY FOR THE TRIBE‼️

William & Mary gets its first-ever March Madness win on its first-ever bid to the tourney 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oClSbVhBGa
— espnW (@espnW) March 21, 2025

The defending 2024 champion South Carolina Gamecocks, led by head coach Dawn Staley, entered this year's tournament alongside every other Top 16 team with at least two losses, according to ESPN, setting the stage for a wide open battle.

ESPN analysts and commentators heavily favor South Carolina to take home the title again this season in a pre-tournament predictions report, despite being the No. 2 overall seed behind the Bruins.

UCLA, the No. 1 overall seed, will face off Thursday night in the Round of 64 against Southern University, who advanced over UC San Diego 68-56 earlier this week.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY KEEPS DANCING 🔥

The 16-seed Jaguars will face off against No. 1 overall seed UCLA Friday 🍿

(📸: @jaguarswbb) pic.twitter.com/st5VReFND6
— espnW (@espnW) March 20, 2025

Among the other top-seeded teams in the four regions, UConn, a No. 2 seed is eyeing a title for the first time since Breanna Stewart's senior year in 2016.

USC, another 1-seed, hasn't won the big dance since the team secured back-to-back titles in 1983 and 1984.

To date, no team seeded below No. 3 has ever won the NCAA women's college basketball title.

Women's March Madness tournament schedule

PHOTO: A general view of Purcell Pavilion is shown at the Joyce Center prior to the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on March 21, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

A general view of Purcell Pavilion is shown at the Joyce Center prior to the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on March 21, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.

Click here for the complete schedule from ESPN for the women's March Madness tournament as the Round of 64 begins.

Games will be held in venues across the country, airing across an array of ESPN platforms, including ESPN+, and on ABC.

Where is the women's March Madness NCAA Tournament being played?

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

The March Madness logo is pictured on a Wilson basketball at Amica Mutual Pavillion as the Clemson Tigers practice ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, on March 19, 2025, in Providence, Rhode Island.

The women's tournament starts on the home courts of the top four seeds in each regional.

From there, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be held in Spokane, Washington, (Regionals 1 and 4) and Birmingham, Alabama (Regionals 2 and 3).

The tournament will conclude with the Final Four in Tampa, Florida, at Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Women's March Madness: Full schedule, how to watch all the NCAA Tournament games

Women's March Madness tournament schedule

Where is the women's March Madness NCAA Tournament being played?

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