![]()  | |||||
| Teams | 64 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina  | ||||
| Champions | Tennessee Volunteers (4th title) | ||||
| Runner-up | Georgia Bulldogs (2nd title game) | ||||
| Semifinalists | 
  | ||||
  | |||||
The 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament took place March 15–31, 1996. The Final Four consisted of Connecticut, Georgia, Stanford, and Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Georgia 83–65 in the championship game.[1]
Tournament records
- Three-point field goal percentage – Nykesha Sales, Connecticut, hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the semi-final game against Tennessee, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
 - Three-point field goal percentage – Abby Conklin, Tennessee hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the championship game against Georgia, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
 - Three-point field goals – Harvard hit 16 three-point field goals in a Mideast first-round game, setting the record for most three-point field goals in an NCAA tournament game, subsequently tied by two other teams.[2]
 
Qualifying teams – automatic
Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid.[2]
Qualifying teams – at-large
Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[2]
| At-large Bids | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | ||||
| Qualifying School | Conference | Regular Season  | 
Conference | Seed | 
| University of Alabama | Southeastern | 22–7 | 7–4 | 4 | 
| Auburn University | Southeastern | 20–8 | 6–5 | 6 | 
| DePaul University | Conference USA | 20–9 | 13–1 | 7 | 
| Duke University | Atlantic Coast | 25–6 | 12–4 | 4 | 
| University of Florida | Southeastern | 21–8 | 6–5 | 5 | 
| University of Georgia | Southeastern | 23–4 | 10–1 | 2 | 
| University of Iowa | Big Ten | 25–3 | 15–1 | 2 | 
| James Madison University | Colonial | 21–8 | 12–4 | 13 | 
| University of Kansas | Big Eight | 20–9 | 11–3 | 4 | 
| Kent State University | Mid-American | 23–6 | 16–2 | 10 | 
| University of Massachusetts | Atlantic 10 | 20–9 | 11–5 | 8 | 
| Michigan State University | Big Ten | 17–10 | 9–7 | 9 | 
| Middle Tennessee State University | Ohio Valley | 24–5 | 13–3 | 13 | 
| University of Mississippi | Southeastern | 18–10 | 6–5 | 7 | 
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Big Eight | 19–9 | 8–6 | 9 | 
| North Carolina State University | Atlantic Coast | 19–9 | 10–6 | 5 | 
| University of Notre Dame | Big East | 22–7 | 15–3 | 12 | 
| Ohio State University | Big Ten | 20–12 | 8–8 | 9 | 
| Oklahoma State University–Stillwater | Big Eight | 19–9 | 8–6 | 7 | 
| University of Oregon | Pacific-10 | 18–10 | 10–8 | 11 | 
| Oregon State University | Pacific-10 | 19–10 | 11–7 | 6 | 
| University of Portland | West Coast | 23–6 | 12–2 | 13 | 
| Purdue University | Big Ten | 20–10 | 11–5 | 5 | 
| University of Rhode Island | Atlantic 10 | 21–7 | 13–3 | 10 | 
| Southern Methodist University | Southwest | 19–10 | 9–5 | 10 | 
| University of Southern Mississippi | Conference USA | 21–7 | 11–3 | 9 | 
| University of Texas at Austin | Southwest | 20–8 | 13–1 | 5 | 
| Texas Tech University | Southwest | 25–4 | 13–1 | 4 | 
| Tulane University | Conference USA | 21–9 | 9–5 | 14 | 
| University of Utah | Western Athletic | 21–7 | 12–2 | 8 | 
| Vanderbilt University | Southeastern | 20–7 | 7–4 | 3 | 
| University of Virginia | Atlantic Coast | 23–6 | 13–3 | 3 | 
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | Big Ten | 21–7 | 12–4 | 6 | 
Bids by conference
Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In seventeen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from fourteen of the conferences.[2]
| Bids | Conference | Teams | 
| 7 | Southeastern | Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt | 
| 6 | Big Ten | Penn St., Iowa, Michigan St., Ohio St., Purdue, Wisconsin | 
| 4 | Atlantic Coast | Clemson, Duke, North Carolina St., Virginia | 
| 4 | Big Eight | Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma St. | 
| 4 | Conference USA | Memphis, DePaul, Southern Miss., Tulane | 
| 4 | Southwest | Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech | 
| 3 | Atlantic 10 | George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island | 
| 3 | Pacific-10 | Stanford, Oregon, Oregon St. | 
| 2 | Big East | Connecticut, Notre Dame | 
| 2 | Colonial | Old Dominion, James Madison | 
| 2 | Mid-American | Toledo, Kent St. | 
| 2 | Ohio Valley | Austin Peay, Middle Tenn. | 
| 2 | West Coast | San Francisco, Portland | 
| 2 | Western Athletic | Colorado St., Utah | 
| 1 | Big Sky | Montana | 
| 1 | Big South | Radford | 
| 1 | Big West | Hawaii | 
| 1 | Ivy | Harvard | 
| 1 | Metro Atlantic | Manhattan | 
| 1 | Mid-Continent | Youngstown St. | 
| 1 | Mid-Eastern | Howard | 
| 1 | Midwestern Collegiate | Butler | 
| 1 | Missouri Valley | Missouri St. | 
| 1 | North Atlantic | Maine | 
| 1 | Northeast | St. Francis (PA) | 
| 1 | Patriot | Holy Cross | 
| 1 | Southern | Appalachian St. | 
| 1 | Southland | Stephen F. Austin | 
| 1 | Southwestern | Grambling State | 
| 1 | Sun Belt | Louisiana Tech | 
| 1 | Trans-America | UCF | 
First and second rounds

In 1996, 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.[3]
The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:
Regionals and Final Four

The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites:
- East Regional University Hall (University of Virginia), Charlottesville, Virginia (Host: University of Virginia)
 - Midwest Regional William R. Johnson Coliseum, Nacogdoches, Texas (Host: Stephen F. Austin University)
 - West Regional Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Seattle, Washington (Host: University of Washington)
 - Mideast Regional Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois (Host: DePaul University)
 
Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held March 29 and March 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Coliseum, (co-hosted by Davidson College and UNC Charlotte).
Bids by state
The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. Texas and Tennessee had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[2]

| Bids | State | Teams | 
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Tennessee | Austin Peay, Memphis, Tennessee, Middle Tenn., Vanderbilt | 
| 5 | Texas | Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech | 
| 4 | Ohio | Toledo, Youngstown St., Kent St., Ohio St. | 
| 4 | Virginia | Old Dominion, Radford, James Madison, Virginia | 
| 3 | Indiana | Butler, Notre Dame, Purdue | 
| 3 | Louisiana | Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, Tulane | 
| 3 | Massachusetts | Harvard, Holy Cross, Massachusetts | 
| 3 | North Carolina | Appalachian St., Duke, North Carolina St. | 
| 3 | Oregon | Oregon, Oregon St., Portland | 
| 2 | Alabama | Alabama, Auburn | 
| 2 | California | San Francisco, Stanford | 
| 2 | Colorado | Colorado, Colorado St. | 
| 2 | District of Columbia | George Washington, Howard | 
| 2 | Florida | UCF, Florida | 
| 2 | Mississippi | Ole Miss, Southern Miss. | 
| 1 | New York | Manhattan | 
| 1 | Connecticut | Connecticut | 
| 1 | Georgia | Georgia | 
| 1 | Hawaii | Hawaii | 
| 1 | Illinois | DePaul | 
| 1 | Iowa | Iowa | 
| 1 | Kansas | Kansas | 
| 1 | Maine | Maine | 
| 1 | Michigan | Michigan St. | 
| 1 | Missouri | Missouri St. | 
| 1 | Montana | Montana | 
| 1 | Nebraska | Nebraska | 
| 1 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma St. | 
| 2 | Pennsylvania | Penn St., St Francis | 
| 1 | Rhode Island | Rhode Island | 
| 1 | South Carolina | Clemson | 
| 1 | Utah | Utah | 
| 1 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 
Brackets
East Region
| First round March 15 and 16  | Second round March 17 and 18  | Regional semifinals March 23 University Hall Charlottesville, VA  | Regional finals March 25 University Hall Charlottesville, VA  | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Radford | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
| Knoxville, TN | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Ohio State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Memphis | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Ohio State | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Kansas | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Texas | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | SW Missouri St. | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Texas | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lawrence, KS | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Kansas | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Kansas | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Middle Tennessee State | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Virginia | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | George Washington | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Maine | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | George Washington | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
| Charlottesville, VA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Virginia | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Virginia | 100 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Manhattan | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Virginia | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Old Dominion | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Ole Miss | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Toledo | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Toledo | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| Norfolk, VA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Old Dominion | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Old Dominion | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Holy Cross | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
Mideast Region
| First round March 15 and 16  | Second round March 17 and 18  | Regional semifinals March 23 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL  | Regional finals March 25 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL  | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Howard | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| Storrs, CT | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Michigan State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Massachusetts | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Michigan State | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | San Francisco | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Florida | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | San Francisco | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | San Francisco | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
| Durham, NC | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Duke | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Duke | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | James Madison | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Vanderbilt | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Wisconsin | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Oregon | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Wisconsin | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| Nashville, TN | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Vanderbilt | 96 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Vanderbilt | 100 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Harvard | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Vanderbilt | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Iowa | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | DePaul | 96 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | SMU | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | DePaul | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| Iowa City, IA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Iowa | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Iowa | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Butler | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
Midwest Region
| First round March 15 and 16  | Second round March 17 and 18  | Regional semifinals March 23 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas  | Regional finals March 25 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas  | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Central Florida | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ruston, LA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Southern Mississippi | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Utah | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Southern Mississippi | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Texas Tech | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Purdue | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Notre Dame | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Notre Dame | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lubbock, Texas | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Texas Tech | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Texas Tech | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Portland | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Georgia | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Oregon State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
| Clemson, SC | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Clemson | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Clemson | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Austin Peay | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Georgia | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Rhode Island | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| Athens, GA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Georgia | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Georgia | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | St. Francis PA | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
West Region
| First round March 15 and 16  | Second round March 17 and 18  | Regional semifinals March 23 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA  | Regional finals March 25 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA  | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Grambling State | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stanford, CA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Colorado State | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Colorado State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Nebraska | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Alabama | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | North Carolina State | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Montana | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | North Carolina State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| Tuscaloosa, AL | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Alabama | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Alabama | 95 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Appalachian State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Hawaii | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| Boulder, CO | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Colorado | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Colorado | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Tulane | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penn State | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Texas A&M | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Kent State | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Kent State | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
| University Park, PA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penn State | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penn State | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Youngstown State | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
Final Four – Charlotte, North Carolina
| National semifinals March 29  | National championship March 31  | ||||||||
| E1 | Tennessee | 88 | |||||||
| ME1 | Connecticut | 83 (OT) | |||||||
| E1 | Tennessee | 83 | |||||||
| MW2 | Georgia | 65 | |||||||
| MW2 | Georgia | 86 | |||||||
| W1 | Stanford | 76 | |||||||
Record by conference
Sixteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[2]
| Conference | # of Bids | Record | Win % | Round of 32  | 
Sweet Sixteen  | 
Elite Eight  | 
Final Four  | 
Championship Game  | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern | 7 | 19–6 | .760 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 
| Big Ten | 6 | 7–6 | .538 | 5 | 2 | – | – | – | 
| Atlantic Coast | 4 | 6–4 | .600 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 
| Big Eight | 4 | 4–4 | .500 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | 
| Southwest | 4 | 3–4 | .429 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | 
| Conference USA | 4 | 2–4 | .333 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 
| Pacific-10 | 3 | 4–3 | .571 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 
| Atlantic 10 | 3 | 1–3 | .250 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 
| Big East | 2 | 5–2 | .714 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 
| Colonial | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 
| Mid-American | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 
| West Coast | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 
| Western Athletic | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 
| Ohio Valley | 2 | 0–2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 
| Sun Belt | 1 | 3–1 | .750 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 
| Southland | 1 | 2–1 | .667 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 
Fifteen conferences went 0-1: Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Ivy League, MAAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Midwestern Collegiate, Missouri Valley Conference, North Atlantic Conference, Northeast Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, SWAC, and Trans America[2]
All-Tournament team
- Michelle M. Marciniak, Tennessee
 - Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
 - Tiffani Johnson, Tennessee
 - La'Keshia Frett, Georgia
 - Saudia Roundtree, Georgia [2]
 
Game officials
- Art Bomegen (semifinal)
 - Doug Cloud (semifinal)
 - Wes Dean (semifinal)
 - John Morningstar (semifinal)
 - Bob Trammell (semifinal)
 - Scott Yarborough (semifinal)
 - Sally Bell (final)
 - Dee Kantner (final)
 - Violet Palmer (final) [2]
 
This was the first year the NCAA used three officials in tournament games, which was the standard for men's games since the 1978-79 season. Several conferences, including the SEC, assigned three officials to its regular season and conference tournament games for several seasons before the NCAA changed its rules.
See also
- 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
 - 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
 - 1996 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
 - 1996 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
 - 1996 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament
 
References
- ↑ Gregory Cooper. "1996 Tournament". Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Nixon, Rick. "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
 - ↑ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
 
