2025 NCAA Women’s March Madness Bracket Predictions
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Betting on Women’s March Madness predictions has become increasingly popular in recent years. Caitlin Clark is in the WNBA, but there are plenty of other up-and-coming stars for women’s basketball fans to wager on.
This guide will break down the latest Women’s March Madness 2025 Tournament odds at top college basketball sportsbooks. I will analyze the best contenders and highlight which stars will make a name for themselves in this year’s tournament.
Women’s March Madness 2025 Odds
Here are the updated Women’s March Madness 2025 after selection Sunday, courtesy of Bovada.
| Team | Women’s March Madness Odds |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | +250 |
| Connecticut | +255 |
| UCLA | +450 |
| Texas | +650 |
| USC | +700 |
| Notre Dame | +750 |
| Duke | +3500 |
| NC State | +3500 |
| TCU | +3500 |
| LSU | +5000 |
Teams to Watch For This Year
South Carolina is the defending champion and the betting favorite to win again this year. Connecticut and USC are also top programs that made deep runs last year and are hoping for another shot at a title this season.
South Carolina
The Gamecocks dominated the Women’s March Madness tournament last year for their third title since 2017 and second in the last three years. South Carolina’s success under head coach Dawn Staley continued this season, and the Gamecocks won their third consecutive SEC conference title.
SC will enter the Women’s NCAA Tournament as a number-one seed once again. They have made the Final Four every year since 2021 and are a great bet to make a deep run again this year.
UConn
Another team to watch this March is UConn, the #2 seed in the Spokane region. UConn dominated the Big East conference tournament, defeating all of their playoff opponents by at least 20 points.
UConn made it to the Final Four last year as a #3 seed, taking down Jackson State, Syracuse, and USC along the way. However, the Huskies’ run ended when they lost 71-69 against Iowa.
It was not easy to replace the production of Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl, but the Huskies pulled it off. UConn has a higher seed this year, and without Caitlin Clark in their way, the Huskies can make a run to the finals.
USC
USC was the top seed in the Portland 3 Region last season and blew out their first two opponents. After a close win over Baylor in the Sweet 16, USC’s title hopes ended with an 80-73 loss to UConn.
JuJu Watkins carried the Trojans to the Elite Eight as a Freshman. Watkins is more experienced now and helped USC to become a number-one seed once again.
The Sophomore star has extra help this time around with transfer Kiki Iriafen joining USC after spending three years at Standford. Iriafen won the National Championship as a Freshman and led USC in assists this season with 8.3 APG.
Players To Keep An Eye On
The Women’s March Madness Tournament is where stars are made in college basketball. Here are the stars you should keep an eye on in this year’s tournament.
JuJu Watkins – USC
As I mentioned above, Watkins’ breakout Freshman season helped USC make it to the Elite Eight last season. The Trojans fell to the Huskies, but they got their revenge against UConn in December. Watkins and company topped UConn 72-70 in a regular-season thriller.
USC only lost twice in the regular season before losing to UCLA in the Big 10 championship game. All eyes will be on Watkins again this spring as the Trojans try to translate their regular season success into March Madness greatness.
Watkins’ scoring and rebounds have both decreased from a year ago. On the bright side, she has increased her blocks and assists while decreasing her turnovers. If everything goes chalk in their region, Watkins and company will have another shot at UConn in the Elite Eight this year.
Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong- UConn
Speaking of UConn, there are two Huskies to watch in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Paige Bueckers is the obvious choice, as this is the Senior guard’s last March Madness before she leaves for the WNBA.
With the exception of the 2023 tournament, UConn has made it to at least the Final Four every year since 2008. Bueckers miss the 2022-2023 season with a torn ACL.
Despite her success, Bueckers has been unable to lead the Huskies to a title. That could change this year thanks to the addition of Sarah Strong.
The Freshman forward is second to Bueckers in scoring with 16.0 PPG for the Huskies and leads the team with 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. Strong could be the missing piece UConn needs to win its first Women’s title since 2016.
Joyce Edwards – South Carolina
The women of South Carolina are attempting to win its third March Madness tournament in the last four years. Dawn Staley has led the Gamecocks to the Final Four each of the last four seasons.
Staley is the face of the program, but she cannot play in the games. Now that the likes of Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Kamilla Cardoso, and others have left for the WNBA, Staley needs her new stars to step up for South Carolina to repeat as champions.
The most pressure falls on Freshman forward Joyce Edwards. She led the team in scoring this year, averaging 13.2 PPG. If Edwards continues her breakout Freshman year this spring and SC repeats as champions, she could be the next star in Women’s College Basketball.
Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice – UCLA
Rounding out my list of players to watch in the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament are Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice. The UCLA duo led the Bruins to a 30-2 record, including an upset win over USC in the Big Ten championship game.
Betts led the team in scoring (19.6 PPG), rebounds (9.7 RG), and blocks (2.9 BPG). Rice, on the other hand, averaged a team-best 4.8 assists and 16 steals. They are both juniors, and this is their second year playing together, so there is plenty of chemistry with this duo on the court.
Rice and Betts proved they could hang with the big dogs during the Big Ten tournament. They combined for 30 points and 10 assists in the Bruins upset over USC. If Betts and Rice bring that same production to March Madness, they could steal headlines from the established stars.
Our Women’s March Madness 2025 Predictions
Here are my top three Women’s March Madness predictions for 2025.
South Carolina Does Not Repeat
The Gamecocks are +250 favorites at Bovada to repeat as champions this season. However, after losing multiple players to the WNBA in recent years, I think South Carolina will fall short of its goal of winning another National Championship under Dawn Staley.
My biggest concern for SC is the lack of experience among its best players. Joyce Edwards is a Freshman, while guards MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson are Sophomores. Underclassmen typically struggle in March Madness, and I think it will keep South Carolina from winning it all again this year.
USC Takes Down UConn
Last year, the Elite Eight showdown between USC and UConn was one of the tournament’s highlights. They are in the same region again this season, so there is a good chance the Trojans and the Huskies will do battle once again.
JuJu Watkins led USC to a December win over UConn, scoring 25 points, grabbing six rebounds, and providing five assists in the 72-70 victory. Paige Bueckers is motivated, as she is trying to win a title before leaving UConn. Despite her best efforts, I think Watkins and company will defeat Bueckers and the Huskies when they meet again in a couple of weeks.
UCLA Wins the National Championship
As mentioned above, I do not think South Carolina will repeat as National Champions this year. USC and UConn could be the game of the tournament, but I do not believe either is taking home the trophy.
Instead, I am picking UCLA (+450) to win the Women’s March Madness Tournament. The Bruins have plenty of momentum after winning the Big Ten and should cruise through the earlier rounds. However, despite being the Big Ten champion, UCLA does not have the same pressure as the other top teams and could fly under the radar deep into the tournament.
Stay Alert this March Madness Season
The Women’s NCAA Tournament is days away from tipping off. Check out the guide above for the updated Women’s March Madness 2025 odds and my predictions for this year’s tournament.
I also highlight my picks for this year’s breakout stars, including South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards and UCLA’s dynamic duo Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice.
After reading my picks, sign up at one of our top sports betting sites to bet on your Women’s March Madness predictions.
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