Conference championships are complete, the bracket is filled, and that means it is tourney time. The DII women’s basketball championship tips off March 14. As 64 teams all enter with the same dream, only eight will head to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the finals.
Let’s take a region-by-region look at which eight teams those may be.
Keep in mind that this isn’t necessarily a prediction. It is a look at the team that has either been the toughest all season or has a long history of success in March, a team that could cause some trouble, and a look at the first-round matchup in each region that may turn out to be the most fun to watch.
DII WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HUB
The DII women’s basketball championship, previewed
Atlantic Region
Team to Beat: Edinboro. The Atlantic is typically a balanced region, one in which anyone can win, but for the past four tournaments, it has been the No. 1 seed that has advanced to the DII Women’s Elite Eight. It has been quite some time since the Fighting Scots have been in the tournament- more than a decade, to be precise- but you can say that for much of this portion of the bracket. I like that all five starters can score, which should cause havoc for opposing defenses.
Team to Watch: Fayetteville State. Don’t forget, the Broncos made it to the Atlantic Region finals last year, and much of that team returns that made it happen. They have the best scoring defense in the region, allowing just 53.5 points per game and are coming in on the heels of their second-straight CIAA tournament championship.
First-round matchup fun: No. 3 Seton Hill vs. No. 6 Kutztown. Kutztown is making its first appearance in the bracket since 2017 on the heels of its first PSAC tournament championship ever, upsetting No. 1 Edinboro to do so. Seton Hill was 14-15 a season ago and back in the tournament for the first time since 2010. Someone is heading to unfamiliar territory — and whichever team advances could go all the way to Pittsburgh.
Central Region
Team to beat: Concordia-St. Paul. Pittsburg State is very good, and the Gorillas showed that by defeating a top-10 Fort Hays State to win the MIAA. But Concordia-St. Paul has also been great all season long, and its 29-2 record and 16-game winning streak confirms that. It has been more than a decade since the Golden Bears made the tournament, but the last time they did, they reached the DII Women’s Elite Eight. CSP blew out Southwest Minnesota State — its first-round opponent — earlier this season, which could be a sign of things to come… or an omen.
Team to watch: Southern Nazarene. The Central Region has some of the top offenses in DII — Minnesota State is No. 1, Southwest Minnesota State is No. 4 and Pittsburg State is No. 9. But of the entire region, there is only one team in the top 40 for scoring defenses and that is the Crimson Storm, coming in at 18th overall, allowing 55.4 points per game. Now, the problem is they are playing a very good Fort Hays State team, which has the second-best scoring defense in the region (43rd overall). Southern Nazarene also played Pittsburg State — a team comparable statistically to FHSU — earlier this season and lost decisively. The Tigers and Storm have played twice, and the Storm have never won. Can this be the year they pull the upset?
First-round matchup fun: No. 4 Missouri Western vs. No. 5 Minnesota State. The Mavericks are the reigning champs and have a tough road ahead to a repeat, seeded in the lower half of the bracket. But the Mavericks still have that explosive offense — No. 1 in DII with 87.5 points per game. The Griffons have a first-time — and former highly successful lead assistant — head coach in Ashton Feldhaus, looking to make a major postseason statement. A win means quite a bit to both of these teams here and, quite honestly, could fuel either to the DII Women’s Elite Eight.
East Region
Team to beat: Daemen. I know what you are going to say: How do I not have 30-1 Bentley here? Well, there are a couple of reasons. One is history. The Falcons seemingly make the tournament every year and usually have a high seed. They also seem to struggle and are often the victims of the March upset almost annually. The Wildcats are the polar opposite and are usually sneaky good this time of year. They just won their fourth-straight ECC tournament and are looking to make their fourth East Region championship game since 2021, two of which have resulted in trips to the Elite Eight. This program seems like it was built for March.
Team to watch: Literally anyone else. Take a look at the last five tournaments. One No. 1 seed has made the DII Women’s Elite Eight from the East. Over the same span, we’ve seen two No. 7 seeds and a No. 6 seed (Daemen last year) advance. This one is wide open, and if you think No. 8 New Haven doesn’t have a shot, you are mistaken.
First-round matchup fun: No. 3 Holy Family vs. No. 6 Assumption. Holy Family was one of the eight red-hot teams to watch come March, and here the Tigers are, sitting at the No. 3 seed back in the tournament for the first time since 2016. Both Assumption and Holy Family allow fewer than 57 points per game, so don’t expect a high-scoring affair, but this could be a defensive battle that comes right down to the wire.
Midwest Region
Team to beat: Grand Valley State. The Lakers have been right at the top of the rankings for the entire season, and for good reason. They have two losses this season — one is by a basket and the other is to Ohio State (yes, THE Ohio State). Over the past five seasons, GVSU has had one of the best scoring defenses annually in all DII. What they haven’t had was the offense to match, which is not the case in 2025. The Lakers enter the tournament with the second-best scoring offense (84.2 points per game) and seventh-best scoring defense (52.3) with the top scoring margin in DII. That’s a pretty good combination.
Team to watch: Ashland. You’ve watched DII women’s basketball before, right? The list of most successful programs of the 2000s is pretty short because these Eagles and Lubbock Christian have made it no fun for everyone else. Going back to 2012, Ashland has been in five championship games, more than anyone else. They are always one of the best teams, and that is no different this year.
First-round matchup fun: No. 2 Northern Michigan vs. No. 6 Hillsdale. Since 2010, the Chargers have had one 20-win season, and this year is it. Northern Michigan is back for a second year, looking for another first-round win. Whoever wins has to face either Ashland or Ferris State, which is the least exciting news either has received, but both undoubtedly want the opportunity.
South Region
Team to beat: Embry-Riddle. There is no denying Union (TN) is great. In the 11 years that Union has been DII postseason-eligible, it has made the tournament 10 times, earning the No. 1 seed in half of those appearances, and Union has one trip to the DII Women’s Elite Eight to show for it. I like Embry-Riddle here because the Eagles have some momentum, winning three in a row to take the SSC, but they also have signature wins up and down the schedule, including one over Lubbock Christian earlier this season. They also have Madyson Jean-Louis, who was the conference player and defensive player of the year.
Team to watch: Tampa. The Spartans have been to consecutive DII Women’s Elite Eights, and though they are the fourth seed, this coaching staff seems to know how to win. Let’s not forget that they have 26 wins, making them a dangerous four seed and have a few scorers that can keep the Spartans alive to advance.
First-round matchup fun: No. 3 Nova Southeastern vs. No. 6 UAH. Nova Southeastern was right there last year on the cusp of the DII Women’s Elite Eight. The Sharks have a nice balance, finishing third in the SSC in scoring offense and second in scoring defense. Alabama Huntsville set its program record for wins with 25 and is back for the first time in five years. The last time the Chargers made the tournament, it was canceled. This team is itching for an upset.
South Central Region
Team to beat: Lubbock Christian. This is the 10th season that Lubbock Christian has been DII women’s basketball championship eligible since its NAIA transition. Let’s review the Chaps’ 10-year resume, shall we? They have made eight trips in 10 years to the tournament, with four of those trips culminating in a trip to the DII Women’s Elite Eight. Three of those DII Women’s Elite Eight trips ended with a national championship, two of which were undefeated seasons. In the ENTIRE history of DII women’s basketball, there have been six undefeated championship seasons, and in just 10 years as a program, Lubbock Christian has two of them. As long as Steve Gomez is head coach, the Chaps are the team to beat in the South Central this year, next year, and the next year…
Team to watch: UT Tyler. Look, it isn’t rocket science to say watch Texas Woman’s. The Pioneers are the defending South Central champs and may be even better than last year. But Texas Woman’s has one loss this year, and guess who it was to? That’s right, UT Tyler. Now, Texas Woman’s got its revenge later in the season, but UT Tyler may have last year’s South Central championship on its mind, a game that Texas Woman’s ran away with. That could certainly fuel an already good team to a deep run.
First-round matchup fun: No. 4 Colorado Mesa vs. No. 5 Eastern New Mexico. Any time you have a team that finishes six games below .500 battle its way back and earn the fifth seed, it makes for good March basketball. When you pile on that the Greyhounds’ last trip to the tournament was the canceled 2020 bracket, like UAH in the South, this team wants to keep going. Colorado Mesa has Olivia Reed, one of the best players in DII for two years running, and makes the Mavericks must-watch hoops.
Southeast Region
Team to beat: North Georgia. The Nighthawks had a six-year streak of making the DII women’s basketball championship snapped last year, and they are back with a vengeance in 2025. Remember when they were upset by Georgia College on Feb. 5? They avenged that loss in the PBC semifinals, holding Georgia College to 22 points, the fewest in PBC tournament history. They are led by PBC player of the year Caroline Martin, who was on the 2022 national semifinals team and has the winning mentality to lead the Nighthawks deep into the tournament.
Team to Watch: Carson-Newman. Anderson (SC) remembers the Eagles. Last year, the Trojans fell in the second round by 20 points to Carson-Newman. The Eagles draw Anderson (SC) in a rematch in the first round, except this time, the roles are reversed. Last year, the Eagles were the No. 2 seed and Anderson was No. 6. This year, it is the Eagles as the sixth seed. This is a team that is seemingly always a tournament threat, and they won’t want Anderson to get their revenge.
First-round matchup fun: Two to watch. It’s kind of funny. You have a No. 1 seed in North Georgia that is very used to tournament play and then a slew of other teams that haven’t been to the tournament often, if ever. No. 2 Coker was a team that had single-digit wins for much of the 2010s and is in the tournament as a No. 2 seed for the first time ever. The Cobras’ opponent, Belmont Abbey, is back for the first time in four years. Francis Marion is a four seed and hasn’t been dancing since 2015. The Patriots’ opponent, Columbus State, has been on a two-year hiatus itself. These teams are playing free basketball, and they have nothing to lose. These could be some of the best games of the first day of the tournament.
West Region
Team to beat: Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros are two years removed from the DII Women’s Elite Eight and currently a 31-1 team. Should I keep going? Ok. They dropped a four-point heartbreaker to Chico State four games ago — the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season. Since that loss, the Toros have pummeled the opposition 311-216, a nearly 100-point scoring differential. That includes a 23-point win in the CCAA championship over No. 2-seeded Cal Poly Pomona. This team looks angry.
Team to Watch: Alaska Anchorage. If I’m picking anyone outside of the Toros to win the West, it is the Seawolves. Alaska Anchorage has the ninth-best scoring offense in DII (79.9 points per game), which is also the best in the West. The Seawolves are tied for the second-best scoring defense in DII, with 50.0 points allowed per game. They are as balanced as it comes, something not many other teams out West can boast.
First-round matchup fun: No. 4 Alaska Anchorage vs. No. 5 MSU Billings. The Yellowjackets dropped a heartbreaker by one basket in the GNAC tournament, exiting earlier than anticipated. But that’s not what makes this the matchup to watch. This will be the third meeting between the two since Jan. 25, and each team has won one. Not only that, in each team’s win, they completely blew out the other opponent. This should be a good rubber match with no love lost.
