Women’s March Madness could have more upsets due to parity

More March Madness chaos in the women's NCAA Tournament could be looming on the horizon if the past few months of upsets are any indication of what's around the corner. Upsets haven't been a hallmark of the women's tournament but that could change this year with the parity in the women's game. There were 19 losses by top 10 teams to unranked schools during the regular season. That's the seventh most in a season since 2000, according to Stats Perform. But it wasn't just the top teams in the poll that were being beaten. So far 10 regular season conference champions have lost in their postseason tournaments. With so many favorites falling, the NCAA Tournament selection committee faces some difficult decisions.

More March Madness chaos in the women's NCAA Tournament could be looming on the horizon if the past few months of upsets are any indication.

Upsets haven't been a hallmark of the women's tournament. Since 2007, 11 women's teams seeded 10th or lower have reached the Sweet 16. That's less than half the number of lower-seeded men's team that have made that run.

But signs are this year's tournament is ripe for more surprises.

"The talent is spread out a little bit more now," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "I think this might be one of the more exciting tournaments in recent years."

This season has been full of eye-popping upsets, including 19 losses by top 10 teams to unranked schools. That was the seventh most in a season since 2000, according to Stats Perform. That continued a trend from the 2021-22 season when there were 24 — the second most over that span.

For the Huskies, it's already been a historic year — not one they would want to bookmark. Connecticut, beset by injuries for most of the season, lost consecutive games for the first time in 30 years, ending one of the most impressive streaks in sports history. One of those defeats came to unranked Marquette a few days after losing to No. 1 South Carolina — the only unbeaten team heading into the NCAA Tournament.

The Gamecocks were the only team immune to the upset bug this season. Dawn Staley's squad did face challenges, trailing at the half in three contests and by double-digits in a few others.