1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

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. 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 2 Drake University Missouri Valley Conference 5 Fairfield University MAAC 15 Florida International University Trans America 7 Grambling State University SWAC 16 University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Horizon League 14 Harvard University Ivy League 16 College of the Holy Cross Patriot League 14 Howard University MEAC 15 Kent State University MAC 13 Liberty University Big South Conference 16 Louisiana Tech University Sun Belt Conference 3 University of Maine America East 13 University of Memphis Conference USA 5 Middle Tennessee State University Ohio Valley Conference 15 University of Montana Big Sky Conference 14 University of New Mexico WAC 8 University of North Carolina ACC 2 Old Dominion University Colonial 1 Purdue University Big Ten 4 Santa Clara University West Coast Conference 14 St. Francis (PA) Northeast Conference 16 Stanford University Pac-10 1 Stephen F. Austin State University Southland 9 University of Tennessee SEC 1 Texas Tech University Big 12 Conference 1 University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 11 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Southern Conference 15 Virginia Tech Atlantic 10 11 Youngstown State University Mid-Continent 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 2 University of Arizona Pacific-10 3 University of Arkansas Southeastern 9 Clemson University Atlantic Coast 6 Colorado State University Western Athletic 12 Duke University Atlantic Coast 2 University of Florida Southeastern 3 The George Washington University Atlantic 10 10 University of Georgia Southeastern 7 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Western Athletic 8 University of Illinois Big Ten 3 University of Iowa Big Ten 4 Iowa State University Big 12 4 University of Kansas Big 12 5 University of Louisville Conference USA 10 Marquette University Conference USA 10 University of Massachusetts Atlantic 10 13 University of Miami Big East 11 University of Michigan Big Ten 10 Missouri State University Missouri Valley 8 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Big 12 9 North Carolina State University Atlantic Coast 4 University of Notre Dame Big East 9 University of Oregon Pacific-10 12 Rutgers University Big East 5 Southern Methodist University Western Athletic 11 Tulane University Conference USA 12 University of California, Los Angeles Pacific-10 7 University of Utah Western Athletic 7 Vanderbilt University Southeastern 6 University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 6 University of Washington Pacific-10 13 Western Kentucky University Sun Belt 8 University of Wisconsin–Madison Big Ten 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

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

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.

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