2013 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament
The 2013 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament was played from March 23 through April 9, 2013. Tennessee continued its streak of making every NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at 32 consecutive appearances. Kansas made the Regional Semifinals for the second year in a row as a double-digit seed, UConn made it into the Final Four for the sixth consecutive year, the longest such streak, and Louisville became the first team seeded lower than fourth in a region to advance to the championship game. For the first time in tournament history, the same four teams were #1 seeds as in the previous year.
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Season | 2012–13 | ||||
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Teams | 64 | ||||
Finals site | New Orleans Arena New Orleans, Louisiana | ||||
Champions | Connecticut Huskies (8th title, 8th title game, 14th Final Four) | ||||
Runner-up | Louisville Cardinals (2nd title game) | ||||
Semifinalists |
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Winning coach | Geno Auriemma (8th title) | ||||
MOP | Breanna Stewart (Connecticut) | ||||
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Subregionals
The format is similar to the Men's Tournament, except that there are 64 teams; this in turn means there is no "First Four" round. Thirty-one automatic bids for conference champions and 33 at-large bids were available.
The subregionals were played from March 23 through March 26. Sites chosen to host first- and second-round games in 2013 include:[1][2]

















- March 23 and 25
- Coors Events Center, Boulder, Colorado, Host: University of Colorado
- Comcast Center, College Park, Maryland, Host: University of Maryland
- Reed Arena, College Station, Texas, Host: Texas A&M University
- St. John Arena, Columbus, Ohio, Host: Ohio State University
- Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee, Host: University of Tennessee
- United Spirit Arena, Lubbock, Texas, Host: Texas Tech University
- McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington, Host: Gonzaga University
- Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Connecticut, Host: University of Connecticut
- March 24 and 26
- Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Host: Louisiana State University
- Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina, Host: Duke University
- Carver–Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa, Host: The University of Iowa
- KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky, Host: University of Louisville
- Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, Delaware, Host: University of Delaware
- Carnesecca Arena, Queens, New York, Host: St. John's University
- Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California, Host: Stanford University
- Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas, Host: Baylor University
Regionals and Final Four
The Regionals, named for the city rather than the region of geographic importance since 2005, held from March 30 to April 2, were at these sites:[1]






- March 30 and April 1
- Spokane Regional Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington, Host: Washington State University
- Bridgeport Regional Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Host: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Fairfield University
- March 31 and April 2
- Norfolk Regional Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, Virginia, Host: Old Dominion University
- Oklahoma City Regional Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Host: Big 12 Conference
A regional had been scheduled at Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. However, the NCAA moved the regional to Connecticut because of a recently passed state law allowing single-game betting for professional and collegiate games. NCAA rules do not allow tournament events to be held in states that allow single-game betting.[3]
The Final Four was held on April 7 & 9 at the New Orleans Arena[4][5][6][7] in New Orleans,[1] hosted by the University of New Orleans.[8] This was the third time the Final Four was played in New Orleans. The event was held in New Orleans in 1991, at the Kiefer Lakefront UNO Arena. The event returned to New Orleans in 2004, when the games were held at the New Orleans Arena.[9]
Tournament records
- Points in a Final Four game—Connecticut scored 93 points against Louisville in the Championship game, tied for the second most points scored in a Final Four game
- Winning margin—Connecticut defeated Louisville 93–60 in the Championship game; the margin of 33 points is the largest in Final Four history
- Three-pointers made—Connecticut hit 13 three-pointers in the Championship game, which is the most ever made in a Final Four game
- Assists—Connecticut recorded 24 assists in the Championship game against Louisville, the most ever recorded in a Final Four game since the NCAA began recording assists in 1985. (Broken by Connecticut in 2014)
- Blocked shots—Connecticut recorded 12 blocked shots in the Championship game against Louisville; the most ever recorded in a Final Four game
- Three-pointer percentage—Breanna Stewart hit seven of her eight three-point attempts in the final two games; the percentage of 87.5% is the highest recorded in the two Final Four games[10]
Qualified teams
Automatic qualifiers
The following teams were automatic qualifiers for the 2013 NCAA field by virtue of winning their conference's tournament (except for the Ivy League, whose regular-season champion received the automatic bid).
Conference | School | Last Appearance | # of Appearances |
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America East | Albany | 2012 | 2 |
Atlantic 10 | Saint Joseph's | 2000 | 12 |
ACC | Duke | 2012 | 20 |
Atlantic Sun | Stetson | 2011 | 3 |
Big 12 | Baylor | 2012 | 12 |
Big East | Notre Dame | 2012 | 20 |
Big Sky | Montana | 2011 | 20 |
Big South | Liberty | 2012 | 15 |
Big Ten | Purdue | 2012 | 23 |
Big West | Cal Poly | Never | 1 |
Colonial | Delaware | 2012 | 4 |
C-USA | Tulsa | 2006 | 2 |
Horizon | Green Bay | 2012 | 14 |
Ivy League | Princeton | 2012 | 4 |
MAAC | Marist | 2012 | 9 |
MAC | Central Michigan | 1984 | 3 |
MEAC | Hampton | 2012 | 7 |
Missouri Valley | Wichita State | Never | 1 |
Mountain West | Fresno State | 2012 | 5 |
Northeast | Quinnipiac | Never | 1 |
Ohio Valley | Tennessee–Martin | 2012 | 3 |
Pac-12 | Stanford | 2012 | 27 |
Patriot | Navy | 2012 | 3 |
SEC | Texas A&M | 2012 | 10 |
Southern | Chattanooga | 2010 | 11 |
Southland | Oral Roberts | 2008 | 6 |
SWAC | Prairie View A&M | 2012 | 5 |
Summit | South Dakota State | 2012 | 5 |
Sun Belt | Middle Tennessee | 2012 | 16 |
West Coast | Gonzaga | 2012 | 6 |
WAC | Idaho | 1985 | 2 |
Tournament seeds
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Kentucky vs. Navy, Oklahoma State vs. Duke, and Notre Dame vs. Iowa aired on ESPNU. Purdue vs. Louisville aired on ESPNEWS. All other first and second round games aired on ESPN2
Game summaries
Oklahoma City Regional
Almost all first-round games were won by the higher-seeded team except for Creighton, the 10 seed who upset Syracuse 61–56. The top seed, Baylor won easily, by 42 points over Prairie View A&M. The only other game within single digit margin was 6 seed Oklahoma beating Central Michigan by five points.
In the second round, three of the four games followed expectations, with the only upset being the 5 seed Louisville over 4 seed Purdue. In the third round, 2 seed Tennessee beat 6 seed Oklahoma as expected, but Louisville upset top seeded Baylor in a result some have called one of the greatest upsets in women's basketball history. Baylor won the National Championship in 2012, going undefeated during the season, and had returned every starter. While they lost one game in the current regular season, point guard Odyssey Sims was injured early in that game. The team had not lost a game in two years when playing at full strength. Louisville, the third best team in the Big East, hit sixteen of 25 three-point attempts, and held Griner to 14 points, after she had averaged 33 points in the first two games.[11] [12][13][14]
Bracket
* – Denotes overtime period
Oklahoma City Regional
First Round | Second Round | Regional Semifinals | Regional Finals | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Prairie View A&M | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
Waco, TX – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Florida State | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Florida State | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Princeton | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Baylor | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisville | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisville | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Middle Tennessee | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisville | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
Louisville, KY – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Purdue | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Purdue | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Liberty | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Louisville | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Oklahoma | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Central Michigan | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Oklahoma | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
Columbus, OH – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | UCLA | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | UCLA | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Stetson | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Oklahoma | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Syracuse | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Creighton | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Creighton | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
Knoxville, TN – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Tennessee | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Oral Roberts | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
Spokane Regional
First Round | Second Round | Regional Semifinals | Regional Finals | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Tulsa | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
Stanford, CA – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Michigan | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Michigan | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Villanova | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Georgia | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Iowa State | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Gonzaga | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Iowa State | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
Spokane, WA – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Georgia | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Georgia | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Montana | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Georgia | 62* | |||||||||||||||||
2 | California | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | LSU | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Green Bay | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | LSU | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
Baton Rouge, LA – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Penn State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Penn State | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Cal Poly | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | LSU | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | California | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Texas Tech | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | South Florida | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | South Florida | 78* | |||||||||||||||||
Lubbock, TX – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | California | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | California | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Fresno State | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
Norfolk Regional
First Round | Second Round | Regional Semifinals | Regional Finals | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Tennessee-Martin | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
Iowa City, IA – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | Iowa | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Miami | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Iowa | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Kansas | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Colorado | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Kansas | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Kansas | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
Boulder, CO – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | South Carolina | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | South Carolina | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | South Dakota State | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Notre Dame | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Duke | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Nebraska | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Chattanooga | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Nebraska | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
College Station, TX – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Texas A&M | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Texas A&M | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Wichita State | 45 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Nebraska | 45 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Duke | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Oklahoma State | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | DePaul | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Oklahoma State | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
Durham, NC – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Duke | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Duke | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Hampton | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
Bridgeport Regional
First Round | Second Round | Regional Semifinals | Regional Finals | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 105 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Idaho | 37 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
Storrs, CT – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Vanderbilt | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Vanderbilt | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Saint Joseph's | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Maryland | 50 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Michigan State | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Marist | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Michigan State | 49 | |||||||||||||||||
College Park, MD – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Maryland | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Maryland | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Quinnipiac | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Kentucky | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Delaware | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | West Virginia | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Delaware | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
Newark, DE – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | North Carolina | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | North Carolina | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Albany | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Delaware | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Kentucky | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Dayton | 96** | |||||||||||||||||
10 | St. John's | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Dayton | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
Jamaica, NY – Sun/Tues | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Kentucky | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Kentucky | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Navy | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
Final Four – New Orleans, Louisiana
National Semifinals April 7 | National Championship Game April 9 | ||||||||
OKC5 | Louisville | 64 | |||||||
SPK2 | California | 57 | |||||||
OKC5 | Louisville | 60 | |||||||
BRP1 | Connecticut | 93 | |||||||
NRF1 | Notre Dame | 65 | |||||||
BRP1 | Connecticut | 83 | |||||||
All-Tournament Team
- Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
- Bria Hartley, Connecticut
- Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
- Kelly Faris, Connecticut
- Antonita Slaughter, Louisville[10]
Game officials
- Dennis DeMayo (Semi-Final)
- Charles Gonzalez (Semi-Final)
- Felicia Grinter (Semi-Final)
- Dee Kantner (Semi-Final)
- Tina Napier (Semi-Final)
- Mark Zentz (Semi-Final)
- Denise Brooks (Final)
- Lisa Mattingly (Final)
- Brenda Pantoja (Final)[10]
Media coverage
Television
ESPN had US television rights to all games during the tournament. For the first and second round, ESPN aired select games nationally on ESPN, ESPNU, or ESPNews. All other games were aired regionally on ESPN or ESPN2 and streamed online via ESPN3. Most of the nation got whip-a-round coverage during this time, which allowed ESPN to rotate between the games and focus the nation on the one that was the closest. The regional semifinals were split between ESPN and ESPN2, and ESPN aired the regional finals, national semifinals, and championship match.[15]
Studio host and analysts
- Kevin Negandhi (Host)
- Kara Lawson (Analyst)
- Carolyn Peck (Analyst)
Commentary teams
First & Second Rounds Saturday/Monday
Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight Saturday/Monday
Final Four
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First & Second Rounds Sunday/Tuesday
Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight Sunday/Tuesday
Championship
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Radio
Dial Global Sports had exclusive radio rights from the regional finals on through the championship.
Regional Finals Monday[16]
Final Four[17]
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Regional Finals Tuesday
Championship
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See also
References
- "Sites for 2013 tournament announced". NCAA. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- "NCAA® DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 DATES AND SITES" (PDF). NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
- "New Jersey state law on wagering forces championship relocation". NCAA. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
- "New Orleans lands 2013 Women's Final Four". Nola.com. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- "tulane green wave logo TULANE SPORTS CENTRAL". Nola.com. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- "New Exterior Marks New Era At Superdome". New Orleans CVB. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- "Big Time Sports are Booming in New Orleans". Louisiana Superdome. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- "New Orleans to Host Back to Back Final Fours!". Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- "2013 NCAA® WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR® FACTS AND FIGURES" (PDF). NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
- Nixon, Rick. "2016 Women's Final Four Record Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- PARCHMAN, WILL (April 1, 2013). "Shocking ending for Lady Bears in 82-81 loss to Louisville". Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- "No Ordinary Upset as Griner and No. 1 Baylor Fall". New York Times. March 31, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- Fagan, Kate (March 31, 2013). "Five biggest NCAA tourney upsets". ESPN. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- Grant, Michael. "Louisville women's toppling of top-rated Baylor considered the biggest upset in tournament history". courier-journal.com. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- Margolis, Rachel (March 19, 2013). "ESPN Home to NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Coverage". ESPN. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
- "March Madness 2013: NCAA Women's Tournament Sweet 16 & Elite 8 TV Schedule". Eye on Sky and Air Sports. March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- "NCAA Women's Final Four and Championship Broadcast Information". Eye on Sky and Air Sports. April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.