2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

American college basketball tournament August 2023 March 2026 Women's 2003 2003 NCAA Women's Final Four logo.svg 0.7 64 Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia Connecticut Huskies 4th 4th 7th Tennessee Volunteers 10th 14th Texas Longhorns 3rd Duke Blue Devils 3rd Geno Auriemma 4th Diana Taurasi Connecticut 334,587 The 2003 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 22, 2003, and concluded on April 8, 2003, when the Connecticut Huskies (UConn) won their second straight national title. The Final Four was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6–8, 2003. UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma, defeated archrival Tennessee, coached by Pat Summitt, 73–68 in the championship game. UConn's Diana Taurasi was named Most Outstanding Player. This was the first year of a new format, in which the final game is held on the Tuesday following the men's championship, in contrast to prior years, when it was held on Sunday evening, between the men's semi-final and final. The game now is the final game of the Division 1 collegiate basketball season. Tournament records Rebounds – Connecticut recorded 22 rebounds in the Championship game against Tennessee, setting the record for fewest rebounds in an NCAA tournament Championship game. Free throws – Villanova attempted zero free throws in the Mideast Regional final game against Tennessee, one of only two times a team has attempted zero free throws in an NCAA Regional game Three-point field goals made – Diana Taurasi made 20 three-point field goals, tying the record for most three-point field goals in an NCAA tournament Free throws – Tennessee completed 128 free throws, setting the record for made free throws in an NCAA tournament Qualifying teams – automatic Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA tournament. Automatic bids     Record   Qualifying school Conference Regular Season Conference Seed Alabama State University SWAC 0.667 20–10 0.833 15–3 16 Austin Peay State University Ohio Valley Conference 0.9 27–3 1.016 16–0 14 Boston University America East 0.533 16–14 0.625 10–6 16 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Southern Conference 0.867 26–4 0.889 16–2 12 Duke University ACC 0.969 31–1 1.016 16–0 1 The George Washington University Atlantic 10 0.8 24–6 0.938 15–1 7 Georgia State University Atlantic Sun Conference 0.667 20–10 0.75 12–4 16 University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Horizon League 0.9 27–3 0.938 15–1 8 Hampton University MEAC 0.742 23–8 0.941 16–1 15 Harvard University Ivy League 0.846 22–4 1.014 14–0 14 College of the Holy Cross Patriot League 0.774 24–7 0.929 13–1 13 Liberty University Big South Conference 0.897 26–3 1.014 14–0 13 Louisiana Tech University WAC 0.935 29–2 1.018 18–0 5 Louisiana State University SEC 0.9 27–3 0.786 11–3 1 Manhattan College MAAC 0.69 20–9 0.833 15–3 14 Missouri State University Missouri Valley Conference 0.6 18–12 0.611 11–7 15 University of New Mexico Mountain West 0.733 22–8 0.643 9–5 6 Old Dominion University Colonial 0.677 21–10 0.833 15–3 12 Pepperdine University West Coast Conference 0.759 22–7 0.857 12–2 12 Purdue University Big Ten 0.839 26–5 0.75 12–4 2 St. Francis (PA) Northeast Conference 0.767 23–7 0.889 16–2 15 Stanford University Pac-10 0.867 26–4 0.833 15–3 3 Texas Christian University Conference USA 0.594 19–13 0.571 8–6 9 University of Texas at Austin Big 12 0.833 25–5 0.938 15–1 2 Texas State University Southland 0.581 18–13 0.7 14–6 16 University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 0.867 26–4 0.938 15–1 7 Valparaiso University Mid-Continent 0.6 18–12 0.571 8–6 15 Villanova University Big East 0.833 25–5 0.75 12–4 2 Weber State University Big Sky Conference 0.724 21–8 0.786 11–3 13 Western Kentucky University Sun Belt Conference 0.733 22–8 0.857 12–2 13 Western Michigan University MAC 0.645 20–11 0.625 10–6 14 Qualifying teams – at-large Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations. At-large Bids     Record   Qualifying school Conference Regular season Conference Seed University of Arizona Pacific-10 0.733 22–8 0.722 13–5 6 University of Arkansas Southeastern 0.677 21–10 0.5 7–7 7 Boston College Big East 0.714 20–8 0.75 12–4 5 Brigham Young University Mountain West 0.633 19–11 0.571 8–6 11 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Conference USA 0.724 21–8 0.857 12–2 12 University of Cincinnati Conference USA 0.767 23–7 0.786 11–3 10 University of Colorado at Boulder Big 12 0.759 22–7 0.688 11–5 6 University of Connecticut Big East 0.969 31–1 1.016 16–0 1 DePaul University Conference USA 0.71 22–9 0.714 10–4 9 University of Georgia Southeastern 0.679 19–9 0.714 10–4 5 Georgia Institute of Technology Atlantic Coast 0.667 20–10 0.5 8–8 10 University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Big Ten 0.607 17–11 0.563 9–7 9 Kansas State University Big 12 0.875 28–4 0.875 14–2 3 University of Miami Big East 0.6 18–12 0.5 8–8 11 Michigan State University Big Ten 0.607 17–11 0.625 10–6 8 University of Minnesota Big Ten 0.821 23–5 0.75 12–4 6 Mississippi State University Southeastern 0.767 23–7 0.714 10–4 3 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Atlantic Coast 0.844 27–5 0.813 13–3 3 University of Notre Dame Big East 0.655 19–10 0.625 10–6 11 Ohio State University Big Ten 0.7 21–9 0.625 10–6 4 University of Oklahoma Big 12 0.613 19–12 0.563 9–7 10 Pennsylvania State University Big Ten 0.75 24–8 0.813 13–3 4 Rutgers University Big East 0.741 20–7 0.813 13–3 4 University of South Carolina Southeastern 0.759 22–7 0.643 9–5 5 University of Tennessee Southeastern 0.875 28–4 1.014 14–0 1 Texas Tech University Big 12 0.839 26–5 0.813 13–3 2 Tulane University Conference USA 0.679 19–9 0.714 10–4 11 University of Utah Mountain West 0.793 23–6 0.857 12–2 8 Vanderbilt University Southeastern 0.7 21–9 0.643 9–5 4 University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 0.552 16–13 0.563 9–7 8 Virginia Tech Big East 0.7 21–9 0.625 10–6 7 University of Washington Pacific-10 0.759 22–7 0.722 13–5 9 Xavier University Atlantic 10 0.69 20–9 0.688 11–5 10 Bids by conference Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In twenty-two cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from nine of the conferences. Bids Conference Teams 7 Big East Villanova, Boston College, Connecticut, Miami Fla., Notre Dame, Rutgers, Virginia Tech 7 Southeastern LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi St., South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt 6 Big Ten Purdue, Illinois, Michigan St., Minnesota, Ohio St., Penn St. 5 Big 12 Texas, Colorado, Kansas St., Oklahoma, Texas Tech 5 Conference USA TCU, Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Tulane 4 Atlantic Coast Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia 3 Mountain West New Mexico, BYU, Utah 3 Pacific-10 Stanford, Arizona, Washington 2 Atlantic 10 George Washington, Xavier 1 America East Boston U. 1 Atlantic Sun Georgia St. 1 Big Sky Weber St. 1 Big South Liberty 1 Big West UC Santa Barb. 1 Colonial Old Dominion 1 Horizon Green Bay 1 Ivy Harvard 1 Metro Atlantic Manhattan 1 Mid-American Western Mich. 1 Mid-Continent Valparaiso 1 Mid-Eastern Hampton 1 Missouri Valley Missouri St. 1 Northeast St. Francis Pa. 1 Ohio Valley Austin Peay 1 Patriot Holy Cross 1 Southern Chattanooga 1 Southland Texas St. 1 Southwestern Alabama St. 1 Sun Belt Western Ky. 1 West Coast Pepperdine 1 Western Athletic Louisiana Tech 2003 NCAA tournament schedule and venues USA 500 right 2003 NCAA NCAA first and second round venues USA green pog.svg 40.433322 -86.916144 top West Lafayette USA green pog.svg 41.805292 -72.254194 top Storrs USA green pog.svg 39.200361 -96.593833 top Manhattan USA green pog.svg 36.884169 -76.301231 top Norfolk USA green pog.svg 35.187438 -97.444504 top Norman USA green pog.svg 35.951167 -83.925028 left Knoxville USA green pog.svg 40.004639 -105.260583 bottom Boulder USA green pog.svg 40.808889 -77.855833 right University Park USA green pog.svg 33.9428 -83.378 bottom Athens USA green pog.svg 35.783333 -78.669722 bottom Raleigh USA green pog.svg 35.066936 -106.632308 left Albuquerque USA green pog.svg 33.581261 -101.886636 top Lubbock USA green pog.svg 44.041622 -123.074067 right Eugene USA green pog.svg 37.429646 -122.160528 right Stanford USA green pog.svg 39.131101 -84.514207 right Cincinnati USA green pog.svg 32.5321 -92.6584 right Ruston USA 500 right 2003 NCAA regionals and Final Four USA blue pog.svg 39.735556 -84.2 left Dayton USA blue pog.svg 35.951167 -83.925028 left Knoxville USA blue pog.svg 35.066936 -106.632308 bottom Albuquerque USA blue pog.svg 37.429646 -122.160528 right Stanford USA red pog.svg 33.7575 -84.400833 bottom Atlanta In 2003, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1–16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In 2003, a change was implemented in the way first and second round sites were determined. From 1982 (the year of the first NCAA women's basketball tournament) through 2002, the first rounds sites were offered to the top seeds. Starting in 2003, sixteen sites for the first two rounds were determined approximately a year before the team selections and seedings were completed. First and Second rounds The following lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations: March 22 and 24 East Region Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana (Host: Purdue University) Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, Virginia (Host: Old Dominion University) Mideast Region Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee (Host: University of Tennessee) CU Events Center, Boulder, Colorado (Host: University of Colorado Boulder) Midwest Region Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Georgia (Host: University of Georgia) The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Host: University of New Mexico) West Region McArthur Court, Eugene, Oregon (Host: University of Oregon) Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California (Host: Stanford University) March 23 and 25 East Region Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Connecticut (Host: University of Connecticut) Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas (Host: Kansas State University) Mideast Region Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Oklahoma (Host: University of Oklahoma) Bryce Jordan Center, State College, Pennsylvania (Host: Pennsylvania State University) Midwest Region Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina (Host: North Carolina State University) United Spirit Arena, Lubbock, Texas (Host: Texas Tech University) West Region Shoemaker Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Host: University of Cincinnati) Thomas Assembly Center, Ruston, Louisiana (Host: Louisiana Tech University) Regional semifinals and finals The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 29 to April 1 at these sites: March 29 and 31 Mideast Regional, Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee (Host: University of Tennessee) Midwest Regional, The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Host: University of New Mexico) March 30 and April 1 East Regional, University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton) West Regional, Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California (Host: Stanford University) Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held April 6 and April 8 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome, (Host: Georgia Institute of Technology) Bids by state The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. Virginia had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids. thumb|right|500 px|NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 2003 Bids State Teams 5 Virginia Hampton, Liberty, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech 4 Massachusetts Boston U., Harvard, Holy Cross, Boston College 4 Tennessee Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Vanderbilt 4 Texas TCU, Texas, Texas St., Texas Tech 3 California Pepperdine, Stanford, UC Santa Barb. 3 Georgia Georgia St., Georgia, Georgia Tech 3 Indiana Purdue, Valparaiso, Notre Dame 3 Louisiana Louisiana Tech, LSU, Tulane 3 North Carolina Duke, Charlotte, North Carolina 3 Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio St., Xavier 3 Utah Weber St., BYU, Utah 2 Illinois DePaul, Illinois 2 Michigan Western Mich., Michigan St. 2 New York Manhattan, St. Francis Pa. 2 Pennsylvania Villanova, Penn St. 1 Alabama Alabama St. 1 Arizona Arizona 1 Arkansas Arkansas 1 Colorado Colorado 1 Connecticut Connecticut 1 District of Columbia George Washington 1 Florida Miami Fla. 1 Kansas Kansas St. 1 Kentucky Western Ky. 1 Minnesota Minnesota 1 Mississippi Mississippi St. 1 Missouri Missouri St. 1 New Jersey Rutgers 1 New Mexico New Mexico 1 Oklahoma Oklahoma 1 South Carolina South Carolina 1 Washington Washington 1 Wisconsin Green Bay Brackets Data Source Mideast Region – Knoxville, Tennessee First roundMarch 22 and 23 Second roundMarch 24 and 25 Regional semifinalsMarch 29 Regional finalsMarch 31 Knoxville, Tennessee – Sat/Mon State College, Pennsylvania – Sun/Tue Boulder, Colorado – Sat/Mon Norman, Oklahoma – Sun/Tue Tennessee Alabama State 95 43 Virginia Illinois 72 56 South Carolina UT-Chattanooga 68 54 Penn State Holy Cross 64 33 Colorado BYU 84 45 North Carolina Austin Peay 72 70 George Washington Oklahoma 71 61 Villanova Saint Francis 51 36 1 Tennessee 8 Virginia 81 51 5 South Carolina 4 Penn State 67 77 6 Colorado 3 North Carolina 86 67 7 George Washington 2 Villanova 57 70 1 Tennessee 4 Penn State 86 58 6 Colorado 2 Villanova 51 53 1 Tennessee 2 Villanova 73 49 Midwest Region – Albuquerque, New Mexico First roundMarch 22 and 23 Second roundMarch 24 and 25 Regional semifinalsMarch 29 Regional finalsMarch 31 Raleigh, North Carolina – Sun/Tue Athens, Georgia – Sat/Mon Albuquerque, New Mexico – Sat/Mon Lubbock, Texas – Sun/Tue Duke Georgia State 66 48 Utah DePaul 73 64 Georgia Charlotte 80 61 Rutgers Western Kentucky 64 52 New Mexico Miami (FL) 91 85 Mississippi State Manhattan 73 47 UC Santa Barbara Xavier 71 62 Texas Tech Missouri State 67 59 1 Duke 8 Utah 65 54 5 Georgia 4 Rutgers 74 64 6 New Mexico 3 Mississippi State 73 61 7 UC Santa Barbara 2 Texas Tech 68 72 1 Duke 5 Georgia 66 63 6 New Mexico 2 Texas Tech 48 71 1 Duke 2 Texas Tech 57 51 East Region – Dayton, Ohio First roundMarch 22 and 23 Second roundMarch 24 and 25 Regional semifinalsMarch 30 Regional finalsApril 1 Storrs, Connecticut – Sun/Tue Norfolk, Virginia – Sat/Mon Manhattan, Kansas – Sun/Tue West Lafayette, Indiana – Sat/Mon Connecticut Boston University 91 44 Michigan State TCU 47 50 Boston College Old Dominion 73 72 Vanderbilt Liberty 54 44 Arizona Notre Dame 47 59 Kansas State Harvard 79 69 Virginia Tech Georgia Tech 61 59 Purdue Valparaiso 66 51 1 Connecticut 9 TCU 81 66 5 Boston College 4 Vanderbilt 86 85 11 Notre Dame 3 Kansas State 59 53 7 Virginia Tech 2 Purdue 62 80 1 Connecticut 5 Boston College 70 49 11 Notre Dame 2 Purdue 47 66 1 Connecticut 2 Purdue 73 64 West Region – Stanford, California First roundMarch 22 and 23 Second roundMarch 24 and 25 Regional semifinalsMarch 30 Regional finalsApril 1 Eugene, Oregon – Sat/Mon Ruston, Louisiana – Sun/Tue Stanford, California – Sat/Mon Cincinnati, Ohio – Sun/Tue LSU Texas State 86 50 Green Bay Washington 78 65 Louisiana Tech Pepperdine 94 60 Ohio State Weber State 66 44 Minnesota Tulane 68 48 Stanford Western Michigan 82 66 Arkansas Cincinnati 71 57 Texas Hampton 90 46 1 LSU 8 Green Bay 80 69 5 Louisiana Tech 4 Ohio State 74 61 6 Minnesota 3 Stanford 68 56 7 Arkansas 2 Texas 50 67 1 LSU 5 Louisiana Tech 69 63 6 Minnesota 2 Texas 60 73 1 LSU 2 Texas 60 78 Final Four – Atlanta, Georgia National semifinalsApril 6 National championshipApril 8 ME1 Tennessee 66 MW1 Duke 56 E1 Connecticut 71 W2 Texas 69 ME1 Tennessee 68 E1 Connecticut 73 E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West. Record by conference Conference# of BidsRecordWin %Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourChampionship Game Big East L 15–6 .714 L L 2 1 1 Southeastern 7 14–7 .667 7 3 2 1 1 Big Ten 6 8–6 .571 4 3 1 0 0 Big 12 5 10–5 .667 4 3 2 1 0 Conference USA 5 1–5 .167 1 0 0 0 0 Atlantic Coast 4 6–4 .600 3 1 1 1 0 Mountain West 3 3–3 .500 2 1 0 0 0 Pacific-10 3 1–3 .250 1 0 0 0 0 Atlantic 10 2 1–2 .333 1 0 0 0 0 Western Athletic 1 2–1 .667 1 1 0 0 0 Big West 1 1–1 .500 1 0 0 0 0 Horizon 1 1–1 .500 1 0 0 0 0 Nineteen conferences went 0–1: America East, Atlantic Sun Conference, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Colonial, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Missouri Valley Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt Conference, and West Coast Conference All-Tournament team Diana Taurasi, Connecticut Ann Strother, Connecticut Alana Beard, Duke Gwen Jackson, Tennessee Kara Lawson, Tennessee Game officials Scott Yarbrough (semifinal) Joe Cunningham (semifinal) June Courteau (semifinal) Sally Bell (semifinal) Dee Kantner (semifinal) Eric Larson (semifinal) Wesley Dean (final) Melissa Barlow (final) Lisa Mattingly (final) See also NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 2003 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament Notes Nixon Rick Official 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/WFF12.pdf NCAA 22 April 2012 November 7, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151107014710/http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/WFF12.pdf dead HAVEL CARRIE J. The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship: an analysis of first and second rounds and the change to predetermined sites http://www.oregonpdf.org/print-script.cfm?path=../pdf\&src=PE4792Havel%2819-1%29.pdf 20 April 2012 2005 1 http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4269-official-2012-ncaa-womens-final-four-record-book.aspx Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book February 2012 NCAA 2012-04-17 Attendance and Sites http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_final4/2012/Attend.pdf NCAA 19 March 2012 2003 DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP HANDBOOK http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/champ_handbooks/basketball/2003/d1_w_basketball.pdf NCAA 19 April 2012 Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Tournament NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Category:Basketball competitions in Atlanta Category:Women's sports in Atlanta Category:College basketball tournaments in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:2003 in Atlanta Category:2003 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state)