All Roads Lead to Texas – The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Begins Sunday, March 21

Kimberly Elchlepp

March 18, 2021

ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship Presented by Capital One begins on Sunday, March 21 with first round games available for the first time on ABC, along with ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Tournament action continues throughout the month of March, culminating in the NCAA Women’s Final Four live from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas (April 2 & 4). For the first time, the entire tournament will be available full national with no regionalization of the first and second rounds. All games will be available in the ESPN App.

First and second round games will take place at various locations in and around San Antonio including the Alamodome, the University of Texas (Austin), Texas State University (San Marcos), St. Mary’s University (San Antonio) and UTSA (San Antonio).

Two teams will provide studio updates throughout the first round:

Host Maria Taylor with analysts Andy Landers and Rebecca Lobo
Host Kelsey Riggs with analysts Andraya Carter and Monica McNutt

Taylor, Landers and Lobo will handle second round duties with Carolyn Peck joining Taylor and Landers for the remainder of the tournament.

Commentator Teams
First and Second Round

Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo
Beth Mowins and Renee Montgomery
Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli
Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck
Pam Ward and LaChina Robinson
Eric Frede and Tamika Catchings
Kevin Fitzgerald and Christy Thomaskutty
Jenn Hildreth and Kelly Gramlich
Tiffany Greene and Steffi Sorensen
Sam Ravech and Brenda VanLengen
Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod

Reporter Holly Rowe will be available throughout the first and second rounds, working a variety of game assignments.

Sweet 16 and Elite 8

Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe
Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli and LaChina Robinson

Final Four

Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe

Features

UConn Young Vibes: Geno Auriemma’s Huskies have no seniors and are led by freshman superstar, Paige Bueckers. Will those young vibes get them to title No. 12 for the program?
Stanford Nomads: The COVID-19 pandemic created unparalleled challenges for every team this season. Rules, postponements and cancellations led teams to adjust their schedules and travel like never before. The Stanford Cardinal juggled all that to the extreme as they spent 63 days on the road from early December to end of January, traveling over 7,500 miles to play games
Black History Always and United We Win: Content supporting the stories of Black female athletes and coaches will be showcased through a series of pieces that speak to unity and social justice efforts led by teams and celebrate the accomplishment of the Black pioneers in women’s basketball. This includes a piece where Dawn Staley reads her letter of thanks to Rutgers head coach, C. Vivian Stringer, who is in her 50th season of coaching and has been a trailblazer for Black female coaches.
Number One: Charli Collier, who has declared for the WNBA Draft will share the story of her father, who passed away of cancer when she was 16. He always told her she would be No. 1, but he didn’t specify in what area that would be. She is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft.
The Road Back: Baylor senior, DiDi Richards took over as the team’s point guard, but before she could lead her squad on the hardwood, she suffered a spinal cord injury in the team’s first scrimmage.
Writing Her Own Paige: UConn greats on Paige Bueckers – Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Swin Cash and Rebecca Lobo discuss Paige’s talent and her handling the pressure of being a star freshman.

SEC Network
SEC Now returns for postseason coverage of the six men’s and seven women’s teams representing the Southeastern Conference in the NCAA Tournaments. Hosts Peter Burns, Alyssa Lang and Dari Nowkhah will be joined by a rotating cast of analysts throughout the two tourneys, including Carter and Sorensen, as well as former Mizzou standout Sophie Cunningham for first round action.

ACC Network
ACC Network’s All ACC will have postseason coverage of the ACC’s seven men’s teams and eight women’s teams participating in the NCAA Tournaments. Host Kelsey Riggs will be joined by analysts Carlos Boozer, Dalen Cuff, Kelly Gramlich and Muffet McGraw following each round throughout the tournaments.

espnW
espnW will have writers in San Antonio for each round, including Mechelle Voepel on site for the Sweet 16 through the national championship game. Content includes:

Live analysis, social posts, game coverage and highlights from each round
Expert picks and predictions for the tournament and, once the Sweet 16 is set, for each game
Voepel, Charlie Creme, Royce Young and Andrea Adelson will continue to provide analysis of the top seeds, each region, upsets and the tournament’s biggest storylines
Updated WNBA mock drafts during the tournament and after a champion is crowned
The best women’s college basketball player by jersey number
To mark the 20-year anniversary of Missouri State’s Final Four run, a look back at how Jackie Stiles-mania took over 2001 NCAA tournament
Immediately following the national title game, ESPN.com’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings for the 2021-22 season will be posted
Elizabeth Merrill will profile Louisville senior All-American Dana Evans, who is expected to be a lottery pick in the WNBA draft
Katie Barnes will provide an inside look at the friendship that fuels March Madness — between UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs.
Additionally, as part of ESPN’s Women’s History Month celebration, Merrill showcases Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer, who has more wins than any coach in Division I women’s basketball history.

ESPN Audio
Before filling out the bracket, take a listen to the latest “Around the Rim” podcast, where LaChina Robinson welcomes in a few friends to share insight into what we should watch for from teams across the field ahead of the tournament. Voices include: Christy Thomaskutty, Christy Winters-Scott, Monica McNutt, Brooke Weisbrod, Brenda VanLengen, Andraya Carter, the Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll, Carolyn Peck, women’s basketball writer Michelle Smith McDonald, Tiffany Greene and Big Sky’s Mariluz Cook. Expect “Around the Rim” to bring fans updates after the first and second rounds, the Sweet 16, the Elite 8 and the Final Four.

2021 Tournament Challenge Game
ESPN’s Tournament Challenge game is once again allowing fans to compete with friends, family and others by predicting the winner of each game in the women’s tournament from the first round through the championship game. As with all ESPN Fantasy games, Tournament Challenge is free to play, and fans can submit up to 25 brackets and join up to 10 groups each for the men’s and women’s tournaments at ESPN.com/bracket or the ESPN Tournament Challenge App for iOS and Android.

NCAA Division I Women’s Championship Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup/Commentators	Network
FIRST ROUND
Sun, Mar 21	Noon	No. 12 Central Michigan vs. No. 5 Iowa Eric Frede, Tamika Catchings	ESPN
	Noon	No. 10 Marquette vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech Sam Ravech, Brenda VenLengen	ESPNU
	1 p.m.	No. 9 Wake Forest vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State Tiffany Greene, Steffi Sorensen	ESPN2
	2 p.m.	No. 13 Idaho State vs. No. 4 Kentucky Courtney Lyle Carolyn Peck	ESPN
	2 p.m.	No. 14 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 3 Tennessee Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ABC
	3 p.m.	No. 11 Florida Gulf Coast vs. No. 6 Michigan Jenn Hildreth, Kelly Gramlich	ESPN2
	4 p.m.	No. 16 North Carolina A&T vs. No. 1 NC State Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
	4 p.m.	No. 15 Jackson State vs. No 2 Baylor Beth Mowins, Renee Montgomery	ABC
	4:30 p.m.	No. 12 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech Tiffany Greene, Steffi Sorensen	ESPNU
	5:30 p.m.	No. 9 South Dakota State vs. No. 8 Syracuse Kevin Fitzgerald, Christy Thomaskutty	ESPN2
	6 p.m.	No. 16 Mercer vs. No. 1 South Carolina Courtney Lyle, Carolyn Peck	ESPN
	7:30 p.m.	No. 9 Florida State vs. No. 8 Oregon State Jenn Hildreth, Kelly Gramlich	ESPN2
	8 p.m.	No. 16 High Point vs. No. 1 UConn Beth Mowins, Renee Montgomery	ESPN
	8 p.m.	No. 13 Lehigh vs. No. 4 West Virginia Roy Philpott, Brooke Weisbrod	ESPNU
	9:30 p.m.	No. 9 Washington State vs. No. 8 South Florida Kevin Fitzgerald, Christy Thomaskutty	ESPN2
	10 p.m.	No. 16 Utah Valley vs. No. 1 Stanford Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
Mon, Mar 22	Noon	No. 10 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Alabama Jenn Hildreth, Kelly Gramlich	ESPN
	Noon	No. 14 Drexel vs. No. 3 Georgia Roy Philpott, Brooke Weisbrod	ESPN2
	Noon	No. 11 BYU vs. No. 6 Rutgers Kevin Fitzgerald, Christy Thomaskutty	ESPNU
	2 p.m.	No. 13 Wright State vs. No. 4 Arkansas Eric Frede, Tamika Catchings	ESPN
	2 p.m.	No. 14 Stony Brook vs. No. 3 Arizona Tiffany Greene, Steffi Sorensen	ESPN2
	2 p.m.	No. 13 VCU vs. No. 4 Indiana Sam Ravech, Brenda VanLengen	ESPNU
	4 p.m.	No. 15 Mount St. Mary’s vs. No. 2 Maryland Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
	4 p.m.	No. 12 Belmont vs. No. 5 Gonzaga Kevin Fitzgerald, Christy Thomaskutty	ESPN2
	4 p.m.	No 10. UCF vs. No. 7 Northwestern Roy Philpott, Brooke Weisbrod	ESPNU
	6 p.m.	No. 10 Michigan State vs. No. 7 Iowa State Courtney Lyle, Carolyn Peck	ESPN
	6 p.m.	No. 15 Troy vs. No. 2 Texas A&M Beth Mowins, Renee Montgomery	ESPN2
	7:30 p.m.	No. 12 UC Davis vs. No. 5 Missouri State Sam Ravech, Brenda VanLengen	ESPNU
	8 p.m.	No. 15 Marist vs. No. 2 Louisville Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
	8 p.m.	No. 11 Bradley vs. No. 6 Texas Eric Frede, Tamika Catchings	ESPN2
	10 p.m.	No. 14 Wyoming vs. No. 3 UCLA Beth Mowins, Renee Montgomery	ESPN
	10 p.m.	No. 11 South Dakota vs. No. 6 Oregon Courtney Lyle, Carolyn Peck	ESPN2
SECOND ROUND
Tue, Mar 23	3 p.m.	No. 8 South Florida vs. No. 1 NC State Jenn Hildreth, Kelly Gramlich	ESPN2
	3:30 p.m.	No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 4 Kentucky Eric Frede, Tamika Catchings	ESPNU
	5 p.m.	No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 3 Tennessee Kevin Fitzgerald, Christy Thomaskutty	ESPN2
	5:30 p.m.	No. 5 Georgia Tech vs. No. 4 West Virginia Roy Philpott, Brooke Weisbrod	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	No. 8 Oregon State vs. No. 1 South Carolina Courtney Lyle, Carolyn Peck	ESPN
	7 p.m.	No. 7 Virginia Tech vs. No 2 Baylor Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson	ESPN2
	9 p.m.	No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 1 UConn Beth Mowins, Renee Montgomery	ESPN
	9 p.m.	No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 1 Stanford Tiffany Greene, Steffi Sorensen	ESPN2
Wed, Mar 24	1 p.m.	No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 2 Maryland Eric Frede, Tamika Catchings	ESPN2
	3 p.m.	No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia Kevin Fitzgerald, Christy Thomaskutty	ESPN2
	3 p.m.	No. 13 Wright State vs. No. 5 Missouri State Jenn Hildreth, Kelly Gramlich	ESPNU
	5 p.m.	No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 2 Louisville Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson	ESPN2
	5 p.m.	No. 12 Belmont vs. No. 4 Indiana Roy Philpot, Brooke Weisbrod	ESPNU
	7 p.m.	No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 2 Texas A&M Courtney Lyle, Carolyn Peck	ESPN2
	7 p.m.	No. 11 BYU vs. No. 3 Arizona Tiffany Greene, Steffi Sorensen	ESPNU
	9 p.m.	No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 UCLA Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli	ESPN2
SWEET 16
Sat, Mar 27	1 p.m.	No. 5 Iowa at No. 1 UConn Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ABC
	3 p.m.	No. 6 Michigan at No. 2 Baylor Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson	ABC
	6 p.m.	No. 4 Indiana at No. 1 NC State Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ESPN2
	8 p.m.	No. 3 Arizona at No. 2 Texas A&M Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson	ESPN2
Sun, Mar 28	1 p.m.	No. 5 Georgia Tech at No. 1 South Carolina Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson	ABC
	3 p.m.	No. 5 Missouri State at No. 1 Stanford Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ABC
	7 p.m.	No. 6 Oregon at No. 2 Louisville Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
	9 p.m.	No. 6 Texas at No. 2 Maryland Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ESPN
ELITE EIGHT
Mon, Mar 29	7 p.m.	No. 2 Baylor at No. 1 UConn Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ESPN
	9 p.m.	No. 4 Indiana at No. 3 Arizona Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
Tue, Mar 30	7 p.m.	No. 6 Texas vs. No. 1 South Carolina Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson	ESPN
	9 p.m.	No. 2 Louisville at No. 1 Stanford Ryan Rocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ESPN
SEMIFINALS
Fri, Apr 2	6 p.m.	No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 1 Stanford Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ESPN
	9:30 p.m.	No. 1 UConn vs. No. 3 Arizona Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe	ESPN
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sun, Apr 4	6 p.m.	NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship	ESPN

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