In 1982, the first Division I NCAA women's basketball tournament was held. The NCAA was able to offer incentives, such as payment of transportation costs, to participating members, something the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was not able to do. When former AIAW powerhouses like Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, and Old Dominion decided to participate in the NCAA tournament, the AIAW tournament lost much of its appeal and popularity.
NBC canceled its TV contract with the association, and in mid-1982 the AIAW stopped operations in all sports. Following the last AIAW sanctioned event in 1982, the AIAW pursued a federal antitrust suit against the NCAA. But one year later, after the presiding judge ruled against the organization, the AIAW ceased existence on June 30, 1983.
Under NCAA governance, scholarships increased. However, several problems the NCAA was facing, then and now, began to also affect women's intercollegiate athletics. Examples of these include recruiting irregularities and increased turnover in coaching positions for revenue-producing sports.
Several AIAW championships were televised by the TVS Television Network in 1979.
Television DateNetworkLocationPlay-by-play announcerColor analyst(s)Sideline reporter(s)Rules analyst(s)Studio hostStudio analyst(s) 1982 CBS (championship game) Norfolk Scope (Norfolk, Virginia) Frank Glieber Cathy Rush 1983 CBS (championship game) Norfolk Scope (Norfolk, Virginia) Frank Glieber Ann Meyers 1984 CBS (championship game) Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, California) Frank Glieber Ann Meyers 1985 CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas) Frank Glieber Jim Thacker Pat SummittMimi Griffin 1986 CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Rupp Arena (Lexington, Kentucky) Gary BenderLeandra Reilly Mimi Griffin 1987 CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas) Tim BrantLeandra Reilly Mimi GriffinCheryl Miller 1988 CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Tacoma Dome (Tacoma, Washington) Tim BrantRoger Twibell Mimi GriffinCheryl Miller 1989 CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Tacoma Dome (Tacoma, Washington) Tim BrantSteve Physioc Mimi GriffinCheryl Miller 1990 CBS (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Thompson–Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tennessee) Tim BrantBob Rathbun Mimi Griffin Andrea Joyce Andrea Joyce 1991 CBS Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana) Brad Nessler Mimi Griffin Andrea Joyce and Mary Carillo 1992 CBS Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles, California) Brad Nessler Ann Meyers Andrea Joyce 1993 CBS The Omni (Atlanta, Georgia) Tim Ryan Ann Meyers Andrea Joyce and Mary Carillo 1994 CBS Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, Virginia) Tim Ryan Ann Meyers Andrea Joyce 1995 CBS Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Sean McDonough Ann Meyers Dan Bonner Andrea Joyce Sheryl Swoopes 1996 ESPN Charlotte Coliseum (Charlotte, North Carolina) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Robin Roberts Mimi Griffin 1997 ESPN Riverfront Coliseum (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Robin Roberts Mimi Griffin and Rebecca Lobo 1998 ESPN Kemper Arena (Kansas City, Missouri) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Robin Roberts Mimi Griffin and Rebecca Lobo 1999 ESPN San Jose Arena (San Jose, California) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Pam Ward and Jennifer Azzi Robin Roberts Mimi Griffin and Rebecca Lobo 2000 ESPN First Union Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Michele Tafoya and Vera Jones-Soleyna Robin Roberts Jay Bilas and Vera Jones-Soleyna 2001 ESPN Savvis Center (St. Louis, Missouri) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Michele Tafoya and Pam Ward Robin Roberts Nell Fortner and Vera Jones 2002 ESPN Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Robin Roberts Nell Fortner and Vera Jones 2003 ESPN Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Georgia) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Doris Burke and Pam Ward Rece Davis Nell Fortner and Stacey Dales 2004 ESPN New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Doris Burke Rece Davis Nell Fortner and Stacey Dales 2005 ESPN RCA Dome (Indianapolis, Indiana) Mike Patrick Ann Meyers Doris Burke and Mark Jones Rece Davis Stacey Dales and Lisa Leslie 2006 ESPN TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts) Mike Patrick Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Mark Jones Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Stacey Dales 2007 ESPN Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, Ohio) Mike Patrick Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Mark Jones Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Stacey Dales 2008 ESPN St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, Florida) Mike Patrick Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Stacey Dales 2009 ESPN Scottrade Center (St. Louis, Missouri) Mike Patrick Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck 2010 ESPN Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck 2011 ESPN Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck 2012 ESPN Pepsi Center (Denver, Colorado) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo Trey Wingo Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck 2013 ESPN New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo Kevin Negandhi Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck 2014 ESPN Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke Holly Rowe Kevin Negandhi Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo 2015 ESPN Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke Holly Rowe Kevin Negandhi Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo 2016 ESPN Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana) Beth Mowins Doris Burke Holly Rowe Kevin Negandhi Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo 2017 ESPN American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas) Dave O'Brien Doris Burke and Kara Lawson Holly Rowe Maria Taylor Rebecca Lobo and Andy Landers 2018 ESPN Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio) Adam Amin Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe Maria Taylor Rebecca Lobo, Nell Fortner and Andy Landers 2019 ESPN Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida) Adam Amin Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe Maria Taylor Rebecca Lobo, Nell Fortner and Andy Landers 2020Not held because of the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 ESPN Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) Ryan Ruocco Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe and LaChina Robinson Maria Taylor Andy Landers and Carolyn Peck 2022 ESPN Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Ryan Ruocco Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe and Andraya Carter Elle Duncan Rebecca Lobo, Nikki Fargas and Carolyn Peck 2023 ABC (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas) Ryan Ruocco Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe and Andraya Carter Elle Duncan Rebecca Lobo, Monica McNutt, Carolyn Peck and Andraya Carter 2024 ABC (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, Ohio) Ryan Ruocco Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe Lisa Mattingly and Denny Meyer Elle Duncan Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike, Carolyn Peck and Aliyah Boston 2025 ABC (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida) Ryan Ruocco Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe Violet Palmer Elle Duncan Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike 2026 ABC (championship game)ESPN (national semifinals) Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, Arizona) Ryan Ruocco Rebecca Lobo Holly Rowe Dee Kantner Christine Williamson Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike
Notes There was no TV coverage of the national semifinals prior to 1985. All 63 games were broadcast on television from 2003 to 2019 on ESPN and ESPN2 with added coverage on ESPNU and ESPN3 since 2006. Local teams are shown on each channel when available, with "whip-around" coverage during the first and second rounds designed to showcase the most competitive contests in the rest of the country. All regional semifinals, regional finals and Final Four games were televised nationally in exclusive windows. In 2021 ESPN3 coverage was dropped (except for streaming of ABC games). Instead all 63 games were shown nationally in exclusive windows on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ABC. Beginning in 2022 the tournament expanded to 67 games with all being shown nationally in exclusive windows on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ABC.
Radio DateNetworkLocationPlay-by-play announcerColor analyst(s)Sideline reporter(s)Studio host 2006 Westwood One TD Banknorth Garden (Boston) Beth Mowins Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Brad Sham 2007 Westwood One Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, Ohio) Beth Mowins Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2008 Westwood One St. Pete Times Forum (St. Petersburg, Florida) Beth Mowins Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2009 Westwood One Scottrade Center (St. Louis, Missouri) Beth Mowins Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2010 Westwood One Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) Beth Mowins Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2011 Westwood One Conseco Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana) Beth Mowins Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2012 Dial Global Pepsi Center (Denver, Colorado) Dave Ryan Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2013 Dial Global New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, Louisiana) Dave Ryan Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2014 Westwood One Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee) Dave Ryan Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Joe Tolleson 2015 Westwood One Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida) John Sadak Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2016 Westwood One Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana) John Sadak Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2017 Westwood One American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas) John Sadak Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2018 Westwood One Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio) John Sadak Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2019 Westwood One Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida) John Sadak Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2020Not held because of the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Westwood One Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) Ryan Radtke Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2022 Westwood One Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Ryan Radtke Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2023 Westwood One American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas) Ryan Radtke Debbie Antonelli Krista Blunk Lance Medow 2024 Westwood One Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, Ohio) Ryan Radtke Debbie Antonelli Ros Gold-Onwude Lance Medow 2025 Westwood One Amalie Arena (Tampa, Florida) Ryan Radtke Debbie Antonelli Ros Gold-Onwude J.B. Long 2026 Westwood One Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, Arizona) Ryan Radtke Debbie Antonelli Ros Gold-Onwude J.B. Long
References
External links Women's National Championship numbers game.