
TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Grand Canyon Antelopes guard Callie Cooper #0 drives to the basket past Arizona Wildcats guard Jada Williams #2 during the second half of a basketball game between the Grand Canyon Antelopes and the University of Arizona Wildcats. December 5, 2024 at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
All roads in college basketball lead to March Madness, but which Arizona colleges will make the tournament?
Arizona has four women’s college basketball teams that can qualify for the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament. Any team that wins its conference automatically qualifies for the tournament.
There are 32 conferences in women’s college basketball, and 68 teams make the March tournament. That means 36 teams are invited to the tournament based on their performance in the regular season even if they do not win their conference. These are referred to as “at-large” bids.
Here’s where each team stands as we approach March.
Arizona State University
ASU isn’t in the best position to make the tournament in March. The Sun Devils have eight wins and 14 losses, and a conference record of 2-8. Even if ASU were to win its remaining eight regular season games, that likely would not be good enough to earn an at-large bid.
ASU would have to win the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, which takes place March 5-9.
One silver lining for Arizona State s they only face one more ranked team the rest of the season and are in prime position to improve on last year’s 11-20 record.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University plays in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), one of the smaller conferences in college basketball. The WAC’s only representative in the March tournament will likely be the conference champion.
Good news for GCU—they’re 6-0 in the conference and 19-2 overall. The conference tournament runs March 12-15 in Las Vegas.
It’s simple for the Antelopes: Win the WAC and they’re in.
READ MORE: Here’s when and where to watch every University of Arizona women’s basketball game this season
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is in a similar position to GCU. The Lumberjacks play in the Big Sky Conference. That’s another conference where the champion will likely be the only representative in the March tournament.
NAU is in second place in the conference with a 7-1 conference record and 16-5 overall record. Montana State University is at the top of the conference with eight wins and zero losses.
The Big Sky hosts its conference tournament in Boise, Idaho, on March 8-12. The Lumberjacks will most likely have to upset Montana State in the championship game to keep their season alive.
University of Arizona
The Wildcats are on the outside looking in right now, according to ESPN’s analysis of who would make the tournament if bids were delivered right now.
Arizona still has a month to improve their record and earn an at-large bid if they do not win the Big 12 tournament in March.
U of A is on a three-game win streak and holds a conference record of 5-4 and overall record of 14-8. That’s good enough for 10th in the Big 12. The Big 12 is a historically good conference, so it is likely many teams from the conference will make the March tournament.
Arizona already has one win over a ranked team. They beat No. 16 West Virginia 77-62, and they have the opportunity to bolster their record with games against ranked opponents Oklahoma State and Texas Christian University (TCU)before the regular season ends.
That game against No. 9 TCU is in Tucson, so be sure to get to the game if you’re a huge Arizona fan.
There are no guarantees teams get in without winning their conference, but the Wildcats could force their way into March Madness with a series of big wins in the last full month of the regular season.
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Arizonans and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Copper Courier has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Arizona families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.


‘The outdoors is for everybody’: Rock climbing coalition provides safe space for women and genderqueer individuals
PHOENIX – Between the sounds of crunching dirt and the clinking of carabiners, words of encouragement and laughter filled the air at McDowell...

‘More than just players. We’re family’: Behind the growing brotherhood of Latino football in Arizona
Football has become a cultural bridge in Arizona, especially as Latinos gain influence in the sport. PHOENIX – Growing up in a Latino household,...

From Michael Phelps to Corbin Burnes to Jelly Roll, WM Phoenix Open celebrity pro-am brings out the stars
The Phoenix Open pro-am presents a unique opportunity for fans to see their idols in a new light. SCOTTSDALE – A sea of green mixed with snakes...

Party on: Phoenix Open officials make changes to reign in some of the revelry
The Phoenix Open always teeters on the edge of decorum and may have crossed the debauchery line in last year's third round. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) —...