The 1989 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 15 and ended on April 2. The tournament expanded from 40 to 48 teams. The Final Four consisted of Auburn, Louisiana Tech, Tennessee, and Maryland, with Tennessee winning its second title with a 76–60 victory over Auburn. Tennessee's Bridgette Gordon was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Records Auburn has only six turnovers in the National Semi-final game against Louisiana Tech, the fewest turnovers recorded in a Final Four game.

Bridgette Gordon scored 17 points from the free throw line in the East Regional final between Tennessee and Long Beach state, the most ever scored in an NCAA tournament game.

Maryland had 25 steals in a game against Stephen F. Austin in the West Regional semifinal, the most in an NCAA tournament game, since the statistic has been recorded (starting in 1988).

Jennifer Azzi hit nine of eleven three point attempts over the course of the tournament, the best percentage ever recorded in a tournament game (minimum- 1.5 made per game)

Stanford hit 22 of 33 three point attempts over the course of the tournament, the best percentage ever recorded in a tournament game (minimum - three games)

Qualifying teams – automatic Forty-eight teams were selected to participate in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. Nineteen conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1989 NCAA tournament.

Automatic bids     Record   Qualifying school Conference Regular Season Conference Seed Bowling Green State University MAC 9 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Southern Conference 12 University of Colorado at Boulder Big Eight 3 University of Connecticut Big East 8 College of the Holy Cross MAAC 9 Illinois State University Missouri Valley Conference 7 James Madison University Colonial 6 California State University, Long Beach Big West Conference 2 University of Maryland, College Park ACC 1 University of Montana Big Sky Conference 10 Ohio State University Big Ten 3 University of South Carolina Metro 6 Stanford University Pac-10 2 University of Tennessee SEC 1 Tennessee Technological University Ohio Valley Conference 11 University of Texas at Austin Southwest 2 University of Utah High Country 11 West Virginia University Atlantic 10 12 Western Kentucky University Sun Belt Conference 5

Qualifying teams – at-large Twenty-nine additional teams were selected to complete the forty-eight invitations.

At-large bids     Record   Qualifying school Conference Regular Season Conference Seed University of Arkansas Southwest 12 Auburn University Southeastern 1 California State University, Fullerton Big West 7 University of Cincinnati Metro 8 Clemson University Atlantic Coast 4 University of Georgia Southeastern 5 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Big West 12 University of Iowa Big Ten 3 La Salle University Metro Atlantic 9 Louisiana Tech University American South 1 Louisiana State University Southeastern 4 University of Miami Independent 8 University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Southeastern 3 North Carolina State University Atlantic Coast 2 Northwestern State University Southland 10 Oklahoma State University–Stillwater Big Eight 9 Old Dominion University Sun Belt 6 Providence College Big East 11 Purdue University Big Ten 5 Rutgers University Atlantic 10 7 University of Southern Mississippi Metro 10 Saint Joseph's University Atlantic 10 10 Stephen F. Austin State University Southland 4 Temple University Atlantic 10 8 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Big West 6 Vanderbilt University Southeastern 7 Villanova University Big East 11 University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 4 University of Washington Pacific-10 5

Bids by conference Nineteen conferences earned an automatic bid. In seven cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Two conferences, Southland and American South sent a single representative as an at-large team. One team earned an at-large bid as an Independent Twenty-six additional at-large teams were selected from ten of the conferences.

Bids Conference Teams 6

Southeastern

Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt 4

Big West

Cal St Fullerton, Hawaii, Long Beach St, UNLV 4

Atlantic Coast

Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina St, Virginia 4

Atlantic 10

Rutgers, St Joseph's, Temple, West Virginia 3

Metro

Cincinnati, South Carolina, Southern Miss 3

Big Ten

Iowa, Ohio St, Purdue 3

Big East

Connecticut, Providence, Villanova 2

Sun Belt

Old Dominion, Western Ky 2

Southwest

Arkansas, Texas 2

Southland

Northwestern St, Stephen F. Austin 2

Pacific-10

Stanford, Washington 2

Metro Atlantic

Holy Cross, La Salle 2

Big Eight

Colorado, Oklahoma St 1

Southern

Chattanooga 1

Ohio Valley

Tennessee Tech 1

Missouri Valley

Illinois St 1

Mid-American

Bowling Green 1

Independent

Miami 1

High Country

Utah 1

Colonial

James Madison 1

Big Sky

Montana 1

American South

Louisiana Tech

First and second rounds In 1989, the field expanded to 48 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1–12 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 8 and 9 faced each other for the opportunity to face the 1 seed in the second round, seeds 7 and 10 played for the opportunity to face the 2 seed, seeds 5 and 12 played for the opportunity to face the 4 seed, and seeds 6 and 11 played for the opportunity to face the 3 seed. In the first two rounds, the higher seed was given the opportunity to host the first-round game. In most cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity. The exceptions:

Fifth seeded Purdue played fourth seeded LSU at Purdue Tenth seeded Montana played seventh seeded Cal St. Fullerton at Montana Ninth seeded Oklahoma State played eighth seeded Miami(FL) at Oklahoma State Seventh seeded Vanderbilt played tenth seeded St. Joseph's at St. Joseph's Ninth seeded Bowling Green played eighth seeded Cincinnati at Bowling Green

Because Purdue was also a first round venue, there are only 31 rather than 32 first and second round venues

The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the thirty-one first and second round locations:

Region RndHostVenue City State East

1

Western Kentucky University

E.A. Diddle Arena

Bowling Green

Kentucky East

1

James Madison University

James Madison University Convocation Center

Harrisonburg

Virginia East

1

University of Connecticut

Hugh S. Greer Field House

Storrs

Connecticut East

1

Vanderbilt University

Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt University)

Nashville

Tennessee East

1

University of Tennessee

Thompson-Boling Arena

Knoxville

Tennessee East

2

Ohio State University

St. John Arena

Columbus

Ohio East

2

Long Beach State

University Gym (Gold Mine)

Long Beach

California East

2

University of Virginia

University Hall (University of Virginia)

Charlottesville

Virginia Mideast

1

University of Georgia

Georgia Coliseum (Stegeman Coliseum)

Athens

Georgia Mideast

1

Rutgers University

Louis Brown Athletic Center

Piscataway

New Jersey Mideast

1

Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University Fieldhouse

Norfolk

Virginia Mideast

1

Temple University

McGonigle Hall

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Mideast

2

North Carolina State University

Reynolds Coliseum

Raleigh

North Carolina Mideast

2

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

Tad Smith Coliseum

Oxford

Mississippi Mideast

2

Auburn University

Memorial Coliseum (Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum)

Auburn

Alabama Mideast

2

Clemson University

Littlejohn Coliseum

Clemson

South Carolina Midwest

1

University of South Carolina

Carolina Coliseum

Columbia

South Carolina Midwest

1

Oklahoma State University

Gallagher-Iba Arena

Stillwater

Oklahoma Midwest

1

Illinois State University

Redbird Arena

Normal

Illinois Midwest 1 & 2 Purdue University Mackey Arena West Lafayette Indiana Midwest

2

Louisiana Tech University

Thomas Assembly Center

Ruston

Louisiana Midwest

2

University of Iowa

Carver–Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City

Iowa Midwest

2

Stanford University

Maples Pavilion

Stanford

California West

1

University of Montana

Dahlberg Arena

Missoula

Montana West 1 University of Washington Hec Edmundson Pavilion Seattle Washington West

1

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

South Gym

Las Vegas

Nevada West

1

Bowling Green State University

Anderson Arena

Bowling Green

Ohio West

2

University of Maryland

Cole Field House

College Park

Maryland West

2

University of Texas

Frank Erwin Center

Austin

Texas West

2

University of Colorado

CU Events Center (Coors Events Center)

Boulder

Colorado West

2

Stephen F. Austin University

William R. Johnson Coliseum

Nacogdoches

Texas

Regionals and Final Four

The regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites:

East Regional E.A. Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, Kentucky (Host: Western Kentucky University) Mideast Regional Memorial Coliseum (Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum), Auburn, Alabama (Host: Auburn University) Midwest Regional Thomas Assembly Center, Ruston, Louisiana (Host: Louisiana Tech University) West Regional Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas (Host: University of Texas)

Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held March 31 and April 2 in Tacoma, Washington at the Tacoma Dome, hosted by the University of Washington.

Bids by state

The forty-eight teams came from thirty-one states. Pennsylvania and Tennessee had the most teams with four each. Nineteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.

Bids State Teams 4

Pennsylvania

La Salle, St. Joseph's, Temple, Villanova 4

Tennessee

Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt 3

California

Long Beach St., Stanford, Cal St. Fullerton 3

Louisiana

Louisiana Tech, LSU, Northwestern St. 3

Ohio

Bowling Green, Ohio St., Cincinnati 3

Virginia

James Madison, Old Dominion, Virginia 2

Mississippi

Ole Miss, Southern Miss. 2

South Carolina

South Carolina, Clemson 2

Texas

Texas, Stephen F. Austin 1

Alabama

Auburn 1

Arkansas

Arkansas 1

Colorado

Colorado 1

Connecticut

Connecticut 1

Florida

Miami FL 1

Georgia

Georgia 1

Hawaii

Hawaii 1

Illinois

Illinois St.. 1

Indiana

Purdue 1

Iowa

Iowa 1

Kentucky

Western Ky. 1

Maryland

Maryland 1

Massachusetts

Holy Cross 1

Montana

Montana 1

Nevada

UNLV 1

New Jersey

Rutgers 1

North Carolina

North Carolina St. 1

Oklahoma

Oklahoma St. 1

Rhode Island

Providence 1

Utah

Utah 1

Washington

Washington 1

West Virginia

West Virginia

Brackets First and second-round games played at higher seed except where noted.

Mideast regional – Auburn, AL (Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum)

Midwest regional – Ruston, LA (Thomas Assembly Center)

East regional – Bowling Green, KY (E.A. Diddle Arena)

West regional – Austin, Texas (Frank Erwin Center)

Final Four – Tacoma, WA (Tacoma Dome)

Record by conference Nineteen 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

.722

5

4

3

2

2 Atlantic Coast

4

.600

4

4

1

1

– Atlantic 10

4

.500

4

–

–

–

– Big West

4

.500

2

2

1

–

– Big Ten

3

.500

3

2

–

–

– Big East

3

–

–

–

–

–

– Metro

3

–

–

–

–

–

– Pacific-10

2

.600

2

1

1

–

– Southwest

2

.500

1

1

1

–

– Big Eight

2

.333

2

–

–

–

– Metro Atlantic

2

.333

1

–

–

–

– Southland

2

.333

1

1

–

–

– Sun Belt

2

.333

1

–

–

–

– American South

1

.750

1

1

1

1

– Big Sky

1

.500

1

–

–

–

– Colonial

1

.500

1

–

–

–

– Mid-American

1

.500

1

–

–

–

– Missouri Valley

1