The NCAA Tournament will be here before you know it.
In just a few short weeks, the bracket will come out, and the chaos over trying to figure out which teams to pay attention to or what games to watch will begin.
Parity has become more evident in women's basketball over the years, and while conference tournaments still have the opportunity to shake things up, these are five mid-major teams to pay attention to in March. If they make it to the Big Dance, look out.
Rhode Island Rams - Atlantic 10 Conference
The Rams are at the top of the conference with impressive, double-figure wins over conference foes Richmond and George Mason. Not only that, but Rhode Island showed what it's capable of during nonconference play.
It picked up a win over a Big East opponent in Providence. Rhode Island also battled in tight contests with Princeton and Rutgers, but the biggest win came on the road against an ACC opponent.
The Rams took down then-ranked No. 16 NC State. That game was a statement and foreshadowed the type of season they would have.
They have the ability to win big games due to their defense. Rhode Island's opponents are averaging less than 60 points per game on 36.8% shooting, which is 27th-best in the NCAA.
If this team can play the game at the pace it wants, it can help dictate the outcome. The Rams did it against the Wolfpack, and they are capable of doing it again in March.
Rice Owls - American Conference
As of Feb. 18, Rice has won 17 games in a row. Being able to string together wins in March is important, and this team has proven it can do that.
The Owls picked up notable wins over Houston, UNLV, and Middle Tennessee State in the early part of the season.
Like Rhode Island, Rice is another team that heavily relies on its defense, also holding opponents to less than 60 points per game while allowing 37.6% shooting from the field.
This team doesn't have just one scorer it relies on; it has a trio that can fill it up. Dominique Ennis, Shelby Hayes, and Victoria Flores are all averaging 12 or more points per game. Those three have also each had one or more outings this season where they have scored 20 or more points.
Between the defense and scoring options, Rice is a team that can find itself on the right end of an upset in March.
North Dakota State - Summit League
Unlike Rice or Rhode Island, North Dakota State presents a different style of play—one driven by its ability to score.
The Bison are led by Avery Koenen, who is extremely difficult to stop. She averages just shy of 19 points and 12 rebounds per game, which are top five in both categories for the conference.
The forward is efficient, shooting 64% from the floor. Her size is also what makes her tough to slow down, standing at 6-foot-3.
North Dakota State is also one of the best 3-point-shooting teams in the country. As a unit, it shoots 36.8% from deep, which is 17th-best in the NCAA.
This team doesn't have to rely just on Koenen, as it has Molly Lenz, who is shooting over 41% from 3-point range. Jory Collins has a team that has the ability to score in different ways, making it dangerous.
Columbia Lions - Ivy League
This is where things get interesting every year—the Ivy League.
During the regular season, Columbia swept Princeton in both meetings, making it the favorite to win the league and become the automatic qualifier.
The Lions not only beat the Tigers twice, but in nonconference play, they picked up wins over Butler and North Dakota State. They were also just a bucket shy of defeating Kansas State.
Megan Griffith isn't a stranger to the NCAA Tournament, either. The three-time Ivy League Coach of the Year led her team to at-large bids the last two seasons. Last year, it picked up a win over Washington in the First Four.
She's laid down the culture, and her team understands what it takes to win in March, and Riley Weiss, who is averaging almost 20 points a game, is a massive part of that.
Princeton Tigers - Ivy League
Another Ivy League team? Yes.
The last couple of seasons, this conference hasn't been a one-bid league. In fact, in 2025, three teams represented the Ivy League in the NCAA Tournament.
Princeton could do the same thing again this season. Its resume speaks for itself. It has a NET ranking of 47. The Tigers have wins over Penn State, Georgia Tech, Belmont, Rutgers, Villanova, and many more.
Carla Berube's team has a lot of depth, with five different players averaging 10 or more points per game. Her team averages better stats than its opposition in every statistical category.
If the Tigers aren't able to win the conference tournament, they will likely be one of the only, if not the only, mid-major teams to get an at-large bid this season.
