The field of 64 teams, which will compete for the 44th NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, was announced this afternoon by the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee.  Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Champ UIC will represent the MVC - the Flames are making their first appearance in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.

Download Bracket (PDF)

First Round (South Bend, Ind.)
Ohio State vs. #8 Georgia, Nov. 15, 3 pm ET 
UIC at #1 Notre Dame, Nov. 15, 6 pm ET




An MVC women's soccer team has faced Notre Dame only once in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.  Valparaiso lost to Notre Dame, 2-0, in 2023.  Ironically, Valparaiso, like UIC this season, earned the MVC Tournament championship title as a No. 6 seed.

MVC Women's Soccer NCAA Tournament History (1-25-3)
(Home: 0-1; Away: 1-17-3; Neutral: 0-8)

MVC Teams to Advance to Second Round
2013:  First Round: T, 1-1 (Illinois State at Louisville, ILS 4-3 PKs)
2014:  First Round: W, 3-2 (Illinois State at South Florida)
2016:  First Round: T, 2-2 (Illinois State at Michigan, ILS 5-4 PKs)

MVC Results in NCAA Tournament -- Last 2 Seasons
2023:  First Round: L, 0-2 (Valparaiso at Notre Dame)
2024:  First Round: L, 1-2 (Missouri State at Iowa)


The Flames (8-7-6, 3-3-3 MVC) are one of two teams that will make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament this coming weekend. Saturday's match at Notre Dame's Alumni Stadium will mark the inaugural meeting between UIC and Notre Dame in women’s soccer.
 
"The opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament is every college athlete's goal and dream. This team has been on a phenomenal ride and has made history at UIC. We are looking forward to competing on Saturday night and will be ready. Notre Dame has proven this season to be among the best teams in the country, if not the best. They are extremely well-coached and we will have to be locked in and ready from the start."

UIC earned the MVC's automatic qualifier after defeating Illinois State, 2-1 on penalties following a 0-0 tie. Hannah Gryzik and Kaysey Castro converted their attempts while tournament MVP Sara Sanabria came up with three huge saves to give the Flames their first conference title.
 
Notre Dame (14-1-3, 8-1-1 ACC) is coming off a 5-4 penalty shootout loss to Stanford in the ACC Championship match following a 2-2 tie. The Fighting Irish have won three NCAA national championships in their history, most recently in 2010. This year, Notre Dame has been ranked in the top five nearly every week, including three weeks at No. 1.

Thirty conferences were granted automatic bids for the 2025 championship, while the remaining 34 teams were selected at-large.

The 44th annual NCAA Women’s College Cup will be played Dec. 5 and 8 at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., with the University of Kansas and Kansas City Sports Commission serving as hosts. North Carolina is the defending national champion, winning the program’s twenty-third national championship last season.