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NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament

Annual tournament

Annual tournament

FieldValue
current_season2025 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
logoNCAA logo.svg
pixels140px
sportCollege basketball
associationNCAA
divisionDivision III
founded
teams64
country
championNYU (3rd)
most_champsWashington St. Louis (5)
websiteNCAA.com

The NCAA Division III women's basketball championship is the annual tournament organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the national champions of women's collegiate basketball among its Division III members in the United States. It has been held every year since 1982 (when the NCAA began to sponsor women's sports at all three levels), except for 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19.

Washington St. Louis has been the most successful program, with five national titles.

The most recent champions are NYU, who won their third national title in 2025.

History

1982 Final Four

Held in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, the 1982 Women's Final Four Basketball Tournament was the first sponsored by the NCAA. Featuring host Elizabethtown College, Clark University (Massachusetts), Pomona College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the tournament was played in a classic field house over a three-day period. In the first game of the National Semi-Final Elizabethtown took control right from the tip-off against Clark and easily cruised to a 71–51 victory. In the second game of the Final Four Pomona took the lead early in the game, but UNC Greensboro battled back to tie the game at 56 with six minutes to play. UNC Greensboro then went on a run and pulled away for a 77–66 win. Elizabethtown and UNC Greensboro turned the championship game into an epic battle of lead changes and shifts in momentum. Last second heroics by UNC Greensboro sent the game into overtime, but Elizabethtown came up with the final stop in overtime to win 67–66 in overtime. Television coverage was provided by a fledgling ESPN while exclusive radio coverage was provided by KSPC Radio - Pomona College's tiny KSPC sports broadcasting group with Geoff Willis (Pomona '83) and James Timmerman (Pomona '82) providing the play by play and color. ESPN was so embryonic that the game was broadcast multiple times during the following two weeks and ESPN hired the KSPC Radio staff to help with background and color research about the players and the teams.

Results

National Collegiate Athletic Associationcolor=white}} colspan=11NCAA Division III Women's Basketball ChampionshipYearFinals SiteArenaChampionship GameSemifinalistsWinnerScoreRunner-up
1982
DetailsElizabethtown, PAThompson GymnasiumElizabethtown67–66
(OT)UNC GreensboroPomona-Pitzer, Clark
1983
DetailsWorcester, MAKneller Athletics CenterNorth Central (IL)83–71ElizabethtownKnoxville, Clark
1984
DetailsScranton, PAJohn Long CenterRust51–49ElizabethtownSalem St, North Central
1985
DetailsDe Pere, WISchuldes Sports CenterScranton68–59New RochelleMillikin, St. Norbert
1986
DetailsSalem, MATwohig GymnasiumSalem State89–85Bishop (TX)Capital, Rust
1987
DetailsScranton, PAJohn Long CenterUW–Stevens Point81–74Concordia–MoorheadScranton, Kean
1988
DetailsMoorhead, MNMemorial AuditoriumConcordia–Moorhead65–57St. John FisherUNC-Greensboro, Southern Maine
1989
DetailsDanville, KYAlumni GymnasiumElizabethtown66–65Cal State StanislausCentre, Clarkson
1990
DetailsHolland, MIHolland Civic CenterHope65–63St. John FisherHeidelberg, Centre
1991
DetailsSt. Paul, MNSchoenecker ArenaSt. Thomas (MN)73–55MuskingumEastern Connecticut, Washington University in St. Louis
1992
DetailsBethlehem, PAJohnston HallAlma79–75MoravianLuther, Eastern Connecticut St
1993
DetailsPella, IAKuyper GymnasiumCentral (IA)71–63CapitalScranton, St. Benedict
1994
DetailsEau Claire, WIW.L. Zorn ArenaCapital82–63Washington University in St. LouisUW-Eau Claire, Wheaton (MA)
1995
DetailsColumbus, OHAlumni GymnasiumCapital59–55UW–OshkoshSt. Thomas, Salem State
1996
DetailsOshkosh, WIKolf Sports CenterUW–Oshkosh66–50Mount UnionSt. Thomas, New York University
1997
DetailsNew York City, NYColes Sports CenterNYU72–70UW–Eau ClaireCapital, Scranton
1998
DetailsGorham, MEWarren Hill GymnasiumWashington University in St. Louis77–69Southern MaineMount Union, Rowan
1999
DetailsDanbury, CTO'Neill CenterWashington University in St. Louis74–65St. BenedictSalem State, Scranton
2000
DetailsWashington University in St. Louis79–33Southern MaineSt. Thomas, Scranton
2001
DetailsWashington University in St. Louis67–45MessiahOhio Wesleyan, Emmanuel
2002
DetailsTerre Haute, INHulbert ArenaUW–Stevens Point67–65St. LawrenceDePauw, Marymount
2003
DetailsTrinity (TX)60–58Eastern Connecticut StateUW-Eau Claire, Rochester
2004
DetailsVirginia Beach, VAJane P. Batten Student CenterWilmington (OH)59–53BowdoinRochester, UW–Stevens Point
2005
DetailsMillikin70–50Randolph–MaconSouthern Maine, Scranton
2006
DetailsSpringfield, MASpringfield Civic CenterHope69–56Southern MaineScranton, Hardin–Simmons
2007
DetailsDePauw55–52Washington University in St. LouisMary Washington, NYU
2008
DetailsHolland, MIDeVos FieldhouseHoward Payne68–54MessiahUW–Whitewater, Oglethorpe
2009
DetailsGeorge Fox60–53Washington University in St. LouisTCNJ, Amherst
2010
DetailsBloomington, ILShirk CenterWashington University in St. Louis65–59HopeAmherst, Rochester
2011
DetailsAmherst64–55Washington University in St. LouisChristopher Newport, Illinois Wesleyan
2012
DetailsHolland, MIDeVos FieldhouseIllinois Wesleyan57–48George FoxSt. Thomas, Amherst
2013
DetailsDePauw69–51UW–WhitewaterWilliams, Amherst
2014
DetailsStevens Point, WIBennett Court at Quandt FieldhouseFDU–Florham80–72WhitmanUW-Whitewater, Tufts
2015
DetailsGrand Rapids, MIVan Noord ArenaThomas More (vacated)83–63George FoxMontclair State, Tufts
2016
DetailsIndianapolis, INBankers Life FieldhouseThomas More63–51TuftsAmherst, Wartburg
2017
DetailsGrand Rapids, MIVan Noord ArenaAmherst52–29TuftsChristopher Newport, St Thomas
2018
DetailsRochester, MNMayo Civic CenterAmherst65–45BowdoinThomas More, Wartburg
2019Salem, VACregger CenterThomas More81–67BowdoinScranton, St. Thomas (MN)
2020
DetailsColumbus, OHCapital University Performance ArenaCanceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
DetailsSalem, VACregger Center
2022
DetailsPittsburgh, PAUPMC Cooper FieldhouseHope71–58UW-WhitewaterAmherst, Trine
2023
DetailsDallas, TXAmerican Airlines CenterTransylvania57–52Christopher NewportSmith, Rhode Island College
2024
DetailsColumbus, OHCapital University Performance ArenaNYU (2)51–41SmithTransylvania, Wartburg
2025
DetailsSalem, VACregger CenterNYU (3)77–49SmithWisconsin-Oshkosh, Wisconsin-Stout
2026

Championships

Active programs

TeamTitlesYears
Washington University Bears}}[](washington-university-bears)51998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2010
Amherst Mammoths}}[](amherst-mammoths)32011, 2017, 2018
Hope Flying Dutch}}[](hope-flying-dutch-women-s-basketball)31990, 2006, 2022
NYU Violets}}[](nyu-violets)31997, 2024, 2025
DePauw Tigers}}****22007, 2013
Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers}}****21987, 2002
Capital Crusaders}}[](capital-crusaders)21994, 1995
Elizabethtown Blue Jays}}****21982, 1989
Transylvania Pioneers}}[](transylvania-pioneers)12023
Fairleigh Dickinson–Florham Devils}}[](fdu-florham-devils)12014
Illinois Wesleyan Titans}}[](illinois-wesleyan-titans)12012
George Fox Bruins}}****12009
Howard Payne Yellow Jackets}}****12008
Millikin Big Blue}}[](millikin-big-blue)12005
Wilmington Quakers}}[](wilmington-quakers)12004
Trinity Tigers}}****12003
Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans}}****11996
Central Dutch}}[](central-dutch)11993
Alma Scots}}[](alma-scots)11992
Concordia Cobbers}}****11988
Salem State Vikings}}[](salem-state-vikings)11986
Scranton Royals}}[](scranton-royals)11985
North Central Cardinals}}[](north-central-cardinals)11983

Former programs

TeamTitlesYears
Thomas More Saints}}[](thomas-more-saints)2, 2016, 2019
St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies}}[](st-thomas-minnesota-tommies-women-s-basketball)11991
Rust Bearcats}}**11984

Final Fours

Schools in italics no longer compete in NCAA Division III.

AppearancesSchool
10Washington University in St. Louis
8Amherst, Scranton
6St. Thomas (MN)
5Capital, Southern Maine
4Elizabethtown, Salem State, Thomas More, Tufts, UW-Whitewater
3Christopher Newport, DePauw, Eastern Connecticut, George Fox, Hope, NYU, Rochester, UW–Eau Claire, UW–Stevens Point
2Centre, Clark, Concordia–Moorhead, Illinois Wesleyan, Messiah, Millikin, Mount Union, North Central (IL), Rust, Saint Benedict, St. John Fisher, UNC Greensboro, UW–Oshkosh, Bowdoin, Wartburg

Footnotes

References

References

  1. "DIVISION III WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORDS BOOK". NCAA.
  2. (March 22, 2003). "Wooley's jump shot proves to be game-winner". ESPN.
  3. (March 21, 2004). "Lady Quakers win first national title". ESPN.
  4. (March 20, 2005). "Ippel leads Millikin with 25 points". ESPN.
  5. (March 22, 2009). "George Fox finishes perfect season". ESPN.
  6. (March 20, 2010). "Washington University wins fifth Division III title since 1998". ESPN.
  7. ESPNBoston.com. (March 17, 2012). "Amherst College women lose consolation".
  8. (November 17, 2016). "D3 team has to vacate a title because Randy Moss' daughter stayed with a coach while recovering from injury". Vox Media.
  9. (March 21, 2015). "Thomas More College vs. George Fox U.".
  10. (December 15, 2015). "Women’s basketball championship play dates decided". NCAA.
  11. (April 5, 2016). "Thomas More caps off second-straight undefeated season with second-straight title".
  12. (March 17, 2018). "Perfect Champions! Amherst Completes Undefeated Season as National Champs". Amherst College.
  13. (March 23, 2018). "No ESPN, no endorsement deals, no problem for Amherst College basketball champs". BostonGlobe.com.
  14. Sarver, Troy. (March 16, 2019). "Division III women's basketball: Thomas More wins national championship".
  15. (April 24, 2019). "Combined championships for NCAA basketball planned". NCAA.
  16. (October 22, 2020). "Future NCAA host site selections through 2026". NCAA.
  17. Bates, Greg. (March 22, 2014). "Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham wins NCAA Division 3 women's national championship".
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