| Teams | 64 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | ||||
| Champions | Tennessee Volunteers (4th title, 6th title game, 9th Final Four) | ||||
| Runner-up | Georgia Bulldogs (2nd title game, 4th Final Four) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
| ||||
| Winning coach | Pat Summitt (4th title) | ||||
| MOP | Michelle Marciniak (Tennessee) | ||||
| |||||
The1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament took place from March 15–31, 1996. The Final Four consisted ofConnecticut,Georgia,Stanford, andTennessee. Tennessee defeated Georgia 83–65 in the championship game.[1]
Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid.[2]
Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[2]
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 |
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:
The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites:
Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held on March 29 and March 31 inCharlotte,North Carolina at theCharlotte Coliseum, (co-hosted byDavidson College andUNC Charlotte).
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 |
| First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Radford | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
| Knoxville, TN – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Ohio State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Memphis | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Ohio State | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Kansas | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Texas | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Southwest Missouri State | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Texas | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lawrence, KS – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Old Dominion | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Old Dominion | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Holy Cross | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
| First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Howard | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| Storrs, CT – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Michigan State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Massachusetts | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Michigan State | 60OT | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Connecticut | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | San Francisco | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Florida | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | San Francisco | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | San Francisco | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
| Durham, NC – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Iowa | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Iowa | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Butler | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | UCF | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ruston, LA – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Southern Miss | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Utah | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Southern Miss | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Texas Tech | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Purdue | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Notre Dame | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Notre Dame | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| Lubbock, TX – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 93OT | |||||||||||||||||
| Clemson, SC – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Georgia | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Georgia | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Saint Francis | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Grambling State | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stanford, CA – Sat/Mon | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Colorado State | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Colorado State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Nebraska | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 78OT | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Alabama | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | NC State | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Montana | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | NC State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| Tuscaloosa, AL – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Alabama | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Alabama | 95 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Appalachian State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Stanford | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Hawaii | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Auburn | 68OT | |||||||||||||||||
| Boulder, CO – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 – Fri/Sun | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penn State | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Penn State | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Youngstown State | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| National semifinals March 29 | National championship March 31 | ||||||||
| E1 | Tennessee | 88OT | |||||||
| ME1 | Connecticut | 83 | |||||||
| E1 | Tennessee | 83 | |||||||
| MW2 | Georgia | 65 | |||||||
| MW2 | Georgia | 86 | |||||||
| W1 | Stanford | 76 | |||||||
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, andTrans America[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 theSEC, assigned three officials to its regular season and conference tournament games for several seasons before the NCAA changed its rules.