1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

American college basketball tournament August 2023 March 2026 Women's 1998 1998WomensFinalFourLogo.jpg 150px 64 Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri Tennessee Volunteers 6th 8th 11th Louisiana Tech Techsters 6th 9th NC State Wolfpack 1st Arkansas Razorbacks 1st Pat Summitt 6th Chamique Holdsclaw Tennessee The 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 13, 1998, and concluded on March 29, 1998, when Tennessee won the national title. The Final Four was held at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 27–29, 1998. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, NC State, and Arkansas qualified for the Final Four. Tennessee and Louisiana Tech won their semi-final Final Four matchups and continued on to the championship. Tennessee defeated Louisiana Tech 93–75 to take their sixth title, and complete an undefeated season (39–0). For the first time in the history of the women's tournament, and in the 64-team tournament era on both the men's and women's side, two teams – Tennessee and Liberty – entered the tournament unbeaten (this feat was replicated in 2014 by the women's teams from Connecticut and Notre Dame). In the opening round of the Mideast Regional, the top-seed Lady Vols blew out 16th-seeded Liberty 102–58. However, in the West Regional, the expected 1–16 blowout did not happen. In that matchup, Harvard defeated an injury-plagued #1 seed Stanford on its home court 71–67. This was the first time in the men's or women's tournament that a #16 seed had beaten a #1 seed, a feat that would not be repeated until 2018 in the men's tournament. No team seeded lower than 13 has won a round of 64 game in the women's tournament since. In addition, the 9th-seeded Arkansas made the Final Four, becoming and remaining the lowest seeded team the lowest seeded team to ever reach the Final Four in the women's tournament. Only 10th-seeded Oregon in 2017, 10th-seeded Creighton in 2022 and 11th-seeded Gonzaga in 2011 have even reached an Elite Eight to be in position to break this record. In addition, Arkansas remains the only 9-seed to even reach the Elite Eight in the women's tournament. This is the last time that two number 1 seeds failed to make the Sweet 16, a feat not repeated until 2023 tournament. Tournament records Free throws – Chasity Melvin, North Carolina State, attempted 15 free throws in the semi-final game against Louisiana Tech, setting the record for most free throw attempts in a Final Four game. Winning margin – Tennessee defeated Arkansas 86–58 in the semi-final game. The winning margin of 28 points set the record for winning margin in a Final Four game. Three-point field goals – Julie Krommenhoek completed eight three-point field goals in a first round game in the West region, setting the record for most three-point field goals scored in an NCAA tournament game. Three-point field goal percentage – Kellie Jolly, Tennessee, hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the championship game against Louisiana Tech, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players. Steals – Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion, recorded fourteen steals, setting the record for most steals in an NCAA tournament game, since the statistic was first recorded in 1988. Free throws – Purdue made 39 free throws in a Midwest region first round game against Washington, setting the record for most free throws scored in an NCAA tournament game. Field goals made – Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee, scored 64 field goals in the tournament, setting the record for most field goals made in a tournament. Field goals attempted – Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee, attempted 131 field goals in the tournament, setting the record for most field goals attempted in a tournament. Steals – Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion, recorded 23 steals, setting the record for most steals in an NCAA tournament, since the statistic was first recorded in 1988. Louisville's Emily Engstler tied this record in 2022.Nixon Rick 2023 Women's Final Four Championship Record Book http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_final_four_records_book/2023/WFFBook.pdf 26 March 2023 NCAA 85 Furthest advance – Harvard, as a 16 seed, advanced to the second round, representing the only time a 16 seed has advanced. Qualifying teams – automatic Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Thirty conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1998 NCAA tournament. Automatic bids     Record   Qualifying school Conference Regular Season Conference Seed University of Connecticut Big East 0.939 31–2 0.944 17–1 2 Drake University Missouri Valley Conference 0.862 25–4 0.944 17–1 5 Fairfield University MAAC 0.69 20–9 0.778 14–4 15 Florida International University Trans America 0.966 28–1 0.938 15–1 7 Grambling State University SWAC 0.793 23–6 0.875 14–2 16 University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Horizon League 0.724 21–8 0.786 11–3 14 Harvard University Ivy League 0.846 22–4 0.857 12–2 16 College of the Holy Cross Patriot League 0.724 21–8 0.833 10–2 14 Howard University MEAC 0.793 23–6 0.889 16–2 15 Kent State University MAC 0.793 23–6 1.018 18–0 13 Liberty University Big South Conference 1.028 28–0 1.012 12–0 16 Louisiana Tech University Sun Belt Conference 0.897 26–3 0.929 13–1 3 University of Maine America East 0.724 21–8 0.722 13–5 13 University of Memphis Conference USA 0.759 22–7 0.875 14–2 5 Middle Tennessee State University Ohio Valley Conference 0.621 18–11 0.611 11–7 15 University of Montana Big Sky Conference 0.828 24–5 0.938 15–1 14 University of New Mexico WAC 0.813 26–6 0.714 10–4 8 University of North Carolina ACC 0.8 24–6 0.688 11–5 2 Old Dominion University Colonial 0.931 27–2 1.016 16–0 1 Purdue University Big Ten 0.69 20–9 0.625 10–6 4 Santa Clara University West Coast Conference 0.767 23–7 0.786 11–3 14 St. Francis (PA) Northeast Conference 0.759 22–7 0.875 14–2 16 Stanford University Pac-10 0.808 21–5 0.944 17–1 1 Stephen F. Austin State University Southland 0.893 25–3 0.938 15–1 9 University of Tennessee SEC 1.033 33–0 1.014 14–0 1 Texas Tech University Big 12 Conference 0.862 25–4 0.938 15–1 1 University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 0.839 26–5 0.933 14–1 11 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Southern Conference 0.724 21–8 0.75 12–4 15 Virginia Tech Atlantic 10 0.7 21–9 0.688 11–5 11 Youngstown State University Mid-Continent 0.931 27–2 0.938 15–1 12 Qualifying teams – at-large Thirty-four additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations. At-large bids     Record   Qualifying school Conference Regular Season Conference Seed University of Alabama Southeastern 0.71 22–9 0.714 10–4 2 University of Arizona Pacific-10 0.778 21–6 0.778 14–4 3 University of Arkansas Southeastern 0.643 18–10 0.5 7–7 9 Clemson University Atlantic Coast 0.774 24–7 0.75 12–4 6 Colorado State University Western Athletic 0.821 23–5 0.786 11–3 12 Duke University Atlantic Coast 0.75 21–7 0.813 13–3 2 University of Florida Southeastern 0.724 21–8 0.714 10–4 3 The George Washington University Atlantic 10 0.679 19–9 0.75 12–4 10 University of Georgia Southeastern 0.63 17–10 0.571 8–6 7 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Western Athletic 0.889 24–3 0.929 13–1 8 University of Illinois Big Ten 0.667 18–9 0.75 12–4 3 University of Iowa Big Ten 0.63 17–10 0.813 13–3 4 Iowa State University Big 12 0.774 24–7 0.75 12–4 4 University of Kansas Big 12 0.724 21–8 0.688 11–5 5 University of Louisville Conference USA 0.633 19–11 0.75 12–4 10 Marquette University Conference USA 0.786 22–6 0.813 13–3 10 University of Massachusetts Atlantic 10 0.655 19–10 0.688 11–5 13 University of Miami Big East 0.679 19–9 0.722 13–5 11 University of Michigan Big Ten 0.679 19–9 0.625 10–6 10 Missouri State University Missouri Valley 0.828 24–5 0.778 14–4 8 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Big 12 0.71 22–9 0.688 11–5 9 North Carolina State University Atlantic Coast 0.778 21–6 0.75 12–4 4 University of Notre Dame Big East 0.69 20–9 0.667 12–6 9 University of Oregon Pacific-10 0.654 17–9 0.722 13–5 12 Rutgers University Big East 0.69 20–9 0.778 14–4 5 Southern Methodist University Western Athletic 0.75 21–7 0.786 11–3 11 Tulane University Conference USA 0.778 21–6 0.75 12–4 12 University of California, Los Angeles Pacific-10 0.704 19–8 0.778 14–4 7 University of Utah Western Athletic 0.808 21–5 0.786 11–3 7 Vanderbilt University Southeastern 0.714 20–8 0.643 9–5 6 University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 0.667 18–9 0.563 9–7 6 University of Washington Pacific-10 0.667 18–9 0.5 9–9 13 Western Kentucky University Sun Belt 0.758 25–8 0.857 12–2 8 University of Wisconsin–Madison Big Ten 0.7 21–9 0.563 9–7 6 Bids by conference Thirty conferences earned an automatic bid. In nineteen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-four additional at-large teams were selected from eleven of the conferences. Bids Conference Teams 6 Southeastern Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Vanderbilt 5 Atlantic Coast North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, North Carolina St., Virginia 5 Big Ten Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin 5 Pacific-10 Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Washington 5 Western Athletic New Mexico, Colorado St., Hawaii, SMU, Utah 4 Big 12 Texas Tech, Iowa St., Kansas, Nebraska 4 Big East Connecticut, Miami, Notre Dame, Rutgers 4 Conference USA Memphis, Louisville, Marquette, Tulane 3 Atlantic 10 Virginia Tech, George Washington, Massachusetts 2 Missouri Valley Drake, Missouri St. 2 Sun Belt Louisiana Tech, Western Ky. 1 America East Maine 1 Big Sky Montana 1 Big South Liberty 1 Big West UC Santa Barb. 1 Colonial Old Dominion 1 Horizon Green Bay 1 Ivy Harvard 1 Metro Atlantic Fairfield 1 Mid-American Kent St. 1 Mid-Continent Youngstown St. 1 Mid-Eastern Howard 1 Northeast St. Francis (PA) 1 Ohio Valley Middle Tenn. 1 Patriot Holy Cross 1 Southern UNC Greensboro 1 Southland Stephen F. Austin 1 Southwestern Grambling 1 Trans America FIU 1 West Coast Santa Clara First and second rounds USA 500 right 1998 NCAA NCAA first and second round venues USA green pog.svg 36.885959 -76.311494 right Norfolk USA green pog.svg 35.783333 -78.669722 right Raleigh USA green pog.svg 41.805292 -72.254194 top Storrs USA green pog.svg 32.2303 -110.94595 top Tucson USA green pog.svg 35.909526 -79.045408 bottom Chapel Hill USA green pog.svg 35.951167 -83.925028 left Knoxville USA green pog.svg 40.096259 -88.235956 left Champaign USA green pog.svg 42.02101 -93.634763 top Ames USA green pog.svg 32.5321 -92.6584 left Ruston USA green pog.svg 40.433322 -86.916144 right West Lafayette USA green pog.svg 33.202939 -87.539706 right Tuscaloosa USA green pog.svg 33.59 -101.8775 top Lubbock USA green pog.svg 41.663611 -91.554444 right Iowa City USA green pog.svg 37.429646 -122.160528 right Stanford USA green pog.svg 29.649365 -82.351102 right Gainesville USA green pog.svg 35.997528 -78.942306 top Durham In 1998, 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 the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first round game. In all cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity. The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations: Region RndHostVenue City State East 1&2 Old Dominion University Old Dominion University Fieldhouse Norfolk Virginia East 1&2 North Carolina State University Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh North Carolina East 1&2 University of Connecticut Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs Connecticut East 1&2 University of Arizona McKale Center Tucson Arizona Mideast 1&2 University of North Carolina Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill North Carolina Mideast 1&2 University of Tennessee Thompson-Boling Arena Knoxville Tennessee Mideast 1&2 University of Illinois Assembly Hall (Champaign) Champaign Illinois Mideast 1&2 Iowa State University Hilton Coliseum Ames Iowa Midwest 1&2 Louisiana Tech University Thomas Assembly Center Ruston Louisiana Midwest 1&2 Purdue University Mackey Arena West Lafayette Indiana Midwest 1&2 University of Alabama Coleman Coliseum Tuscaloosa Alabama Midwest 1&2 Texas Tech University Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Lubbock Texas West 1&2 University of Iowa Carver–Hawkeye Arena Iowa City Iowa West 1&2 Stanford University Maples Pavilion Stanford California West 1&2 University of Florida O'Connell Center Gainesville Florida West 1&2 Duke University Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham North Carolina Regionals and Final Four USA 500 right 1998 NCAA regionals and Final Four USA blue pog.svg 36.144611 -86.80742 right Nashville USA blue pog.svg 33.59 -101.8775 left Lubbock USA blue pog.svg 39.735556 -84.2 right Dayton USA blue pog.svg 37.750278 -122.203056 right Oakland USA red pog.svg 39.091944 -94.605833 right Kansas City The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 20 to March 23 at these sites: Mideast Regional Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt University), Nashville, Tennessee (Host: Vanderbilt University) Midwest Regional Lubbock Municipal Coliseum, Lubbock, Texas (Host: Texas Tech University) East Regional University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton) West Regional Oracle Arena, Oakland, California (Host: University of California, Santa Barbara) Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held March 27 and March 29 in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Kemper Arena Bids by state The sixty-four teams came from thirty-four states, plus Washington, D.C. Four states, California, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina each had the most teams with four bids. Sixteen states did not have any teams receiving bids. thumb|right|500 px|NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 1998 Bids State Teams 4 California Santa Clara, Stanford, UC Santa Barb., UCLA 4 North Carolina North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Duke, North Carolina St. 4 Tennessee Memphis, Middle Tenn., Tennessee, Vanderbilt 4 Virginia Liberty, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech, Virginia 3 Florida FIU, Florida, Miami 3 Iowa Drake, Iowa, Iowa St. 3 Louisiana Grambling, Louisiana Tech, Tulane 3 Massachusetts Harvard, Holy Cross, Massachusetts 3 Texas Stephen F. Austin, Texas Tech, SMU 3 Wisconsin Green Bay, Marquette, Wisconsin 2 Connecticut Connecticut, Fairfield 2 District of Columbia Howard, George Washington 2 Indiana Purdue, Notre Dame 2 Kentucky Louisville, Western Ky. 2 Ohio Kent St., Youngstown St. 1 Alabama Alabama 1 Arizona Arizona 1 Arkansas Arkansas 1 Colorado Colorado St. 1 Georgia Georgia 1 Hawaii Hawaii 1 Illinois Illinois 1 Kansas Kansas 1 Maine Maine 1 Michigan Michigan 1 Missouri Missouri St. 1 Montana Montana 1 Nebraska Nebraska 1 New Jersey Rutgers 1 New Mexico New Mexico 1 Pennsylvania St. Francis 1 Oregon Oregon 1 South Carolina Clemson 1 Utah Utah 1 Washington Washington Brackets Data source East Region - Dayton, OH First roundMarch 13 Second roundMarch 15 Regional semifinalsMarch 21 Regional finalsMarch 23 Norfolk, VA Raleigh, NC Tucson, AZ Storrs, CT Old Dominion Saint Francis 92 39 New Mexico Nebraska 59 76 Memphis Youngstown State 80 91 NC State Maine 89 64 Virginia SMU 77 68 Arizona Santa Clara 75 63 Georgia George Washington 72 74 Connecticut Fairfield 93 52 1 Old Dominion 9 Nebraska 75 60 12 Youngstown State 4 NC State 61 88 6 Virginia 3 Arizona 77 94 10 George Washington 2 Connecticut 67 75 1 Old Dominion 4 NC State 54 55 3 Arizona 2 Connecticut 57 74 4 NC State 2 Connecticut 60 52 Mideast Region - Nashville, TN First roundMarch 13 and 14 Second roundMarch 15 and 16 Regional semifinalsMarch 21 Regional finalsMarch 23 Knoxville, TN – Sat/Mon Ames, IA – Sat/Mon Champaign, IL – Sat/Mon Chapel Hill, NC – Fri/Sun Tennessee Liberty 102 58 Western Kentucky Stephen F. Austin 88 76 Rutgers Oregon 79 76 Iowa State Kent State 79 76 Vanderbilt UC Santa Barbara 71 76 Illinois Green Bay 82 58 FIU Marquette 59 45 North Carolina Howard 91 71 1 Tennessee 8 Western Kentucky 82 62 5 Rutgers 4 Iowa State 62 61 11 UC Santa Barbara 3 Illinois 65 69 7 FIU 2 North Carolina 72 85 1 Tennessee 5 Rutgers 92 60 3 Illinois 2 North Carolina 74 80 1 Tennessee 2 North Carolina 76 70 Midwest Region - Lubbock, TX First roundMarch 13 and 14 Second roundMarch 15 and 16 Regional semifinalsMarch 21 Regional finalsMarch 23 Lubbock, TX – Fri/Sun West Lafayette, IN – Sat/Mon Ruston, LA – Sat/Mon Tuscaloosa, AL – Fri/Sun Texas Tech Grambling State 87 75 SW Missouri State Notre Dame 64 78 Drake Colorado State 75 81 Purdue Washington 88 71 Clemson Miami (FL) 60 49 Louisiana Tech Holy Cross 86 58 UCLA Michigan 65 58 Alabama UNC Greensboro 94 46 1 Texas Tech 9 Notre Dame 59 74 12 Colorado State 4 Purdue 63 77 6 Clemson 3 Louisiana Tech 52 74 7 UCLA 2 Alabama 74 75 9 Notre Dame 4 Purdue 65 70 3 Louisiana Tech 2 Alabama 71 57 4 Purdue 3 Louisiana Tech 65 72 West Region - Oakland, CA First roundMarch 14 Second roundMarch 16 Regional semifinalsMarch 21 Regional finalsMarch 23 Stanford, CA Iowa City, IA Gainesville, FL Durham, NC Stanford Harvard 67 71 Hawaii Arkansas 70 76 Kansas Tulane 72 68 Iowa Massachusetts 77 59 Wisconsin Virginia Tech 64 75 Florida Montana 85 64 Utah Louisville 61 69 Duke Middle Tennessee 92 67 16 Harvard 9 Arkansas 64 82 5 Kansas 4 Iowa 62 58 11 Virginia Tech 3 Florida 57 89 10 Louisville 2 Duke 53 69 9 Arkansas 5 Kansas 79 63 3 Florida 2 Duke 58 71 9 Arkansas 2 Duke 77 72 Final Four – Kansas City, Missouri National semifinalsMarch 27 National championshipMarch 29 E4 NC State 65 MW3 Louisiana Tech 84 ME1 Tennessee 86 W9 Arkansas 58 MW3 Louisiana Tech 75 ME1 Tennessee 93 E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West. Record by conference Sixteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play: Conference# of BidsRecordWin %Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourChampionship Game Southeastern 6 0.737 14–5 .737 4 4 2 2 1 Atlantic Coast 5 0.706 12–5 .706 5 3 3 1 – Big Ten 5 0.545 6–5 .545 3 2 1 – – Pacific-10 5 0.375 3–5 .375 2 1 – – – Western Athletic 5 0.167 1–5 .167 1 – – – – Big East 4 0.636 7–4 .636 3 3 1 – – Big 12 4 0.556 5–4 .556 4 1 – – – Conference USA 4 0.2 1–4 .200 1 – – – – Atlantic 10 3 0.4 2–3 .400 2 – – – – Sun Belt 2 0.75 6–2 .750 2 1 1 1 1 Missouri Valley 2 0 0–2 – – – – – – Colonial 1 0.667 2–1 .667 1 1 – – – Big West 1 0.5 1–1 .500 1 – – – – Ivy 1 0.5 1–1 .500 1 – – – – Mid-Continent 1 0.5 1–1 .500 1 – – – – Trans America 1 0.5 1–1 .500 1 – – – – Fourteen conferences went 0–1: America East, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Horizon League, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, Southland, SWAC, and West Coast Conference All-Tournament team Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee Tamika Catchings, Tennessee Kellie Jolly, Tennessee Tamicha Jackson, Louisiana Tech Chasity Melvin, North Carolina St. Game officials Art Bomengen (semifinal) Melissa Barlow (semifinal) Karen Wilhite (semifinal) Dennis Mayer (semifinal) Scott Yarbrough (semifinal) Teresa Dahlem (semifinal) Sally Bell (final) Bob Trammell (final) Wesley Dean (final) See also 1997–98 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team 1998 Harvard vs. Stanford women's basketball game 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 1998 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament 1998 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament 1998 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament 1998 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament Notes Attendance and Sites http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_final4/2012/Attend.pdf NCAA 19 March 2012 Nixon Rick Official 2012 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 Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Category:Basketball competitions in Lubbock, Texas