South Florida needed to win the American Women’s Basketball Championship to guarantee its spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulls embraced the challenge.
No. 3 seed South Florida (23-10) defeated No. 9 seed Rice (17-17), 69-62, in the 2025 American Women’s Basketball Championship final last Wednesday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With their third win over Rice this season, the Bulls earned The American’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, March 16 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
This is South Florida’s second American Athletic Conference Championship tournament win, as the Bulls became just the second team in conference history to win multiple conference tournament titles joining UConn (7).
USF women’s basketball’s success under coach Joe Fernandez
USF has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 25 seasons.
The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, has won over 450 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference
NCAA Selection Sunday
Where: Sunday at 8 p.m.
TV: ESPN
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: USF women’s basketball March Madness bracket predictions for 2025 NCAA Tournament
