16 sites for 1st and 2nd Rounds

Friday afternoon, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee announced that beginning in 2009, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship will feature 16 pre-determined first- and second-round sites with four teams assigned to each in order to enhance the student-athlete experience and attendance.

The committee will solicit bids and select eight additional first- and second-round sites for both the 2009 and 2010 championships.

(Memo from The HRR to the city of Houston, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority; UH and Rice athletics -- make a bid.)

The committee also revised the bracketing principles to provide more flexibility to assign teams to sites in closer geographic proximity. The revision eliminated the principle that stated “the first three teams must be separated from a conference,” but maintained that conference teams will not meet until the regional final game. All other principles will be applied while placing teams in the bracket.

“The Division I Women’s Basketball Committee is committed to the growth of the game and the championship,” said Judy Southard, senior associate director of athletics at Louisiana State University and chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. “We will continue to work with membership groups to assess, identify and provide answers to our future growth initiatives. All of these changes will help tremendously in this regard. ”

2009 dates and sites (as of 9/21/07)

2010 dates and sites (as of 9/21/07)