The Atlantic 10 women’s basketball tournament is the annual postseason championship event for women’s basketball teams affiliated with the Atlantic 10 Conference (A‑10), an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The tournament determines the conference’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Championship.
History
- The inaugural tournament was held in 1983, shortly after the conference began sponsoring women’s basketball.
- Since its inception, the tournament has been conducted each spring, typically in early March, preceding the NCAA tournament field selection.
Format
- All full‑member institutions that field a women’s basketball team are eligible to participate. As of the latest seasons, the conference comprises 15 members, though the number of participating teams may vary if schools are in transition or have suspended programs.
- Seeding is based on regular‑season conference records. Tiebreakers follow the conference’s established procedures, which consider head‑to‑head results, records against common opponents, and overall win‑loss percentages.
- The tournament is single‑elimination, with higher‑seeded teams receiving byes in the early rounds depending on the total field size. The final rounds are normally played at a neutral venue selected by the conference.
Recent Venues
- The event has been hosted at various neutral sites, including the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York; the Barclays Center in 2022 and 2023; and the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. The location is announced several months in advance to facilitate logistics for teams and fans.
Championship Record
- Historically, the University of Dayton, George Washington University, and St. Boniface (now Saint Boniface University) have each captured multiple titles. Dayton holds the record for the most tournament championships, having won the event ten times as of 2023.
- The most recent champion (2024) is the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which defeated the University of Dayton in the final.
NCAA Tournament Implications
- The tournament champion receives the Atlantic 10 Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Championship. Teams that do not win the tournament may still be selected for at‑large bids based on overall season performance, though historically the A‑10 has secured multiple at‑large entries.
Broadcast and Media
- The championship game is typically broadcast nationally via ESPN platforms, with earlier rounds streamed on the conference’s digital network or regional sports networks. The Atlantic 10 also provides live statistical updates and live‑streaming services through its official website.
Significance
- The tournament serves both as a culmination of the conference season and a showcase for emerging talent within the Atlantic 10. It offers teams an opportunity to secure a postseason berth and provides increased exposure for players, coaches, and member institutions.
