Women’s March Madness 2025 national title odds: South Carolina, UConn early betting favorites
South Carolina and Connecticut opened as the favorites to win it all, maintaining the top spots in the odds.
Going for a second consecutive national championship and third title in the last four seasons, South Carolina brings a balanced team once again. Healthy and thriving behind star Paige Bueckers in her final season, UConn seeks its first national championship in eight years.
“South Carolina and UConn are the most-bet teams to win the National Championship,” Hannah Luther, trader at BetMGM, said. “These favorites will be the most popular teams to win and cover with bettors throughout the tournament. The sportsbook will be cheering against the Gamecocks and Huskies.”
The two powerhouses are followed by four intriguing teams making up a quality second tier.
Los Angeles rivals UCLA and USC and SEC co-champion Texas remain involved in the national title picture as the other No. 1 seeds besides South Carolina. And despite dipping to a No. 3 seed, Notre Dame is still a threat thanks to its talented backcourt.
Here’s a look at the women’s national championship odds after Selection Sunday:
South Carolina and Connecticut are the teams to beat
Defending champion South Carolina (+275) claims the top spot in the national title odds. Playing a ridiculous schedule to prepare for the tournament, the Gamecocks only lost to UCLA, UConn and Texas during the season.
The 29-point home loss to the Huskies in mid-February was a wake-up call that South Carolina needed. Motivated by the selection committee’s decision to put UCLA as the No. 1 overall seed, South Carolina is dangerous heading into March.
Dawn Staley’s reaction to not being the No. 1 overall seed at this year’s NCAA Tournament:
“I mean, I’m not in the room… Obviously, I think we did much more than probably any other overall No. 1 seed. We outdid ourselves even from last year.”@GamecockWBB | @wachfoxpic.twitter.com/uuS9CwC20t
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) March 17, 2025
During the Gamecocks’ seven-game winning streak, they’ve won every game by double digits, putting away fellow No. 1 seed Texas by 19 in the SEC Tournament championship.
Heavily favored to reach the Final Four out of Region 2 in Birmingham, No. 1 seed South Carolina beat the regional’s No. 2 seed, Duke, by double digits in non-conference play.
After an impressive road win over South Carolina, Connecticut (+280) previously held the top spot in the national title odds. Playing at an All-American level, Bueckers is talented enough to take over any game. Sharpshooter Azzi Fudd and double-double threat Sarah Strong round out the tournament’s most talented trio.
In Region 4 in Spokane, the biggest obstacle facing the No. 2 seed Huskies is No. 1 seed USC — which defeated UConn in Hartford in December.
Talented second tier capable of also winning a title
Despite earning the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, UCLA (+500) finds itself behind South Carolina and UConn on the betting board.
The Bruins beat the Gamecocks by 15 earlier this season and only lost twice to rival and fellow No. 1 seed USC during the regular season. UCLA avenged those two losses by beating the Trojans in the third matchup in the Big Ten Tournament championship.
Bowing out of the Sweet 16 each of the last two years, UCLA lacks the pedigree of some other top-seeded programs.
USC (+525) reached the Elite Eight last season behind star JuJu Watkins. Now, the National Player of the Year frontrunner looks to take the No. 1 seed Trojans to the program’s first Final Four since 1986.
Top seed in Region 4 in Spokane, the Trojans potentially have to beat UConn for a second time this season in the Elite Eight.
The top seed in Region 3 in Birmingham, Texas (+600) tied South Carolina for the SEC regular season title before falling to the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament title game. An elite defense getting stops is key for Texas because they shoot poorly from three-point range (29.6 percent).
Notre Dame (+600) went from the No. 1 team in the country to a No. 3 seed in Region 3 in just 21 days after losing three of its last five games. The backcourt duo of Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles have the talent to fuel a deep tournament run.
The Fighting Irish defeated the top seed in its regional, Texas, in overtime earlier this season but lost to No. 2 seed — and potential Sweet 16 opponent — TCU.
Severe drop after the top six teams
Outside of the top six teams, there is a huge drop in odds. Second-tier teams finish at +600 before the board plummets to NC State and LSU (both +4000).
Making the Final Four last season, NC State is a No. 2 seed in Region 1 in Spokane. Winners of 15 of the last 17 games, the perimeter-oriented Wolfpack own conference wins over Duke and Notre Dame.
LSU started the season 20-0 but finished third in the deep SEC. Injuries contributed to the Tigers losing three of the last four games. An ankle injury to star Aneesah Morrow is worth monitoring during the tournament.
TCU (+6000) is the No. 2 seed in Region 3 in Birmingham. The Horned Frogs face a difficult path to a Final Four with top-seeded Texas and No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the same quadrant. Earlier this season, TCU knocked off Notre Dame on the way to an unlikely 31-win season and Big 12 title.
After winning the ACC conference tournament by defeating Notre Dame and NC State, Duke (+6600) secured the No. 2 seed in Region 2 in Birmingham. The Blue Devils made the Sweet 16 as a No. 7 seed last season and aim for a rematch with No. 1 seed South Carolina in a potential Elite Eight game.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins, South Carolina Gamecocks, Connecticut Huskies, Women's College Basketball, Sports Betting
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