Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Tournament
The Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament serves as the definitive conference championship for the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). Since its inception in 1983, this high-stakes event has determined which team earns the prestigious automatic bid to the NCAA women's basketball tournament, the pinnacle of collegiate competition.
Key Facts
- Established: 1983
- Current Champion: Rhode Island
- Most Titles: George Washington (7 championships)
- Current Venue: Henrico Sports & Events Center in Henrico, Virginia
- Participants: 14 league schools
- Format: Single-elimination
Tournament Structure and Seeding
The tournament utilizes a single-elimination format, meaning a team is removed from the competition immediately following a single loss. Seeding is determined by the teams' records during the regular season, with head-to-head match-ups serving as the primary tie-breaker to decide rankings.
The Opening Rounds and Byes
To reward regular-season success, the A-10 employs a tiered system of byes. The top nine teams in the conference receive a first-round bye. The remaining teams compete in the opening round as follows: the #12 seed faces #13, #11 faces #14, and #10 faces #15.
The Path to the Quarterfinals
The top four seeds are granted a "double-bye," allowing them to skip directly to the quarterfinals. The second round consists of the following matchups:
- #5 seed vs. winner of #12/#13
- #6 seed vs. winner of #11/#14
- #7 seed vs. winner of #10/#15
- #8 seed vs. #9 seed
The Final Eight
Once the second round concludes, the tournament transitions into a standard eight-team bracket. The top four seeds enter the fray to face the survivors of the previous rounds: #1 plays the winner of the #8/#9 game; #2 plays the winner of the #7/#10/#15 path; #3 plays the winner of the #6/#11/#14 path; and #4 plays the winner of the #5/#12/#13 path.
Tournament Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Conference | Atlantic 10 (A-10) |
| Number of Teams | 14 |
| Current Location | Henrico, Virginia |
| Current Stadium | Henrico Sports & Events Center |
| Most Championships | George Washington (7) |
| Current Champion | Rhode Island |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams participate in the Atlantic 10 tournament?
A total of 14 league schools participate in the tournament.
What is the reward for winning the tournament?
The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
Which school has won the most Atlantic 10 championships?
George Washington holds the record for the most championships, with a total of seven titles.
How is seeding determined for the tournament?
Seeding is based on regular-season records, and head-to-head match-ups are used as tie-breakers.
Where is the tournament currently held?
The tournament is currently played at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Henrico, Virginia.