Predicting Every 2025 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Game

For the first time since the Big 12 was formed, the women’s basketball tournament will take place without Oklahoma or Texas in the field.

Since the Longhorns won last year’s tournament, beating Iowa State in the final, the conference will have a new tournament champion.

TCU won the regular-season title with a win over Baylor on Sunday evening. It would not be unusual to see the Horned Frogs not win the title in Kansas City.

The last team to win the regular-season crown and the tournament title was Baylor back in 2021. From 2011-21, the Bears failed to win the regular-season title once and the tournament title once when contested (not counting 2020).

This is also the first year of the five-day, 16-team tournament. There are quadruple headers for each of the first three days, followed by the semifinals and the finals.

The winner of the tournament receives the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

So, who gets the bid? Below is my prediction for every game, including a score. If one of these scores is correct, consider me lucky.

First Round: Wednesday

Game 1: No. 12 BYU vs. No. 13 UCF – 11 a.m. CT, ESPN+

This game is worth watching for the offensive stylings of BYU’s Delaney Gibb and UCF’s Kaitlin Peterson. The Cougars have a slightly deeper team and will advance. BYU 78, UCF 74

Game 2: No. 9 Colorado vs. No. 16 Houston – 1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Houston has lost 12 straight games. Colorado will likely make easy work of the Cougars, and then the waiting on Ronald Hughey’s job security begins. Colorado 81, Houston 63

Game 3: No. 10 Cincinnati vs. No. 15 Arizona State – 5:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Jillian Hayes will be the center of attention for Cincinnati, and Arizona State probably won’t slow her down. Cincinnati 67, Arizona State 55

Game 4: No. 11 Kansas vs. No. 14 Texas Tech – 8 p.m. CT, ESPN+

This could be a really good individual showdown between Kansas’ S’mya Nichols and Texas Tech’s Jasmine Shavers. Kansas won the only matchup. Kansas 69, Texas Tech 62

Second Round: Thursday

Game 5: No. 5 K-State vs. No. 12 BYU – 11 a.m. CT, ESPN+

With Ayoka Lee, the Wildcats dominated the Cougars. Without her? K-State probably still wins. Temira Poindexter had 24 points in their only meeting. Kansas State 73, BYU 60

Game 6 – No. 8 Arizona vs. No. 9 Colorado – 1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Arizona lost the first meeting by seven points. A true 50/50 game. This time, Arizona’s Breya Cunningham stays out of foul trouble, and the Wildcats advance. Arizona 71, Colorado 66

Game 7 – No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Cincinnati – 5:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Does Cincinnati have an answer for ISU’s Audi Crooks? If so, the Bearcats can keep it close. But the Cyclones are desperate to cement their March Madness ticket. Iowa State 71, Cincinnati 61

Game 8 – No. 6 Utah vs. No. 11 Kansas – 8 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Utah won the initial meeting by 18 points. The Utes have the depth and the offense, led by Gianna Kneepkens, to win. Utah 79, Kansas 70

Quarterfinals: Friday

Game 9 – No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 5 Kansas State – 11 a.m. CT, ESPNU

West Virginia just beat Kansas State (without Lee) by 13 in Morgantown. Expect significant adjustments from K-State. But if the Wildcats turn it over 21 times again, then the Mountaineers win. West Virginia 68, Kansas State 63

Game 10 – No. 1 TCU vs. No. 8 Arizona – 1:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU

Arizona probably needs this game to assure itself of an invitation to March Madness. The Wildcats kept up with the Horned Frogs in Tucson but lost by 12. Arizona must find a way to slow TCU down. That’s the rub. TCU 79, Arizona 70

Game 11 – No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 7 Iowa State – 5:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Baylor beat Iowa State by 15 not long ago. How? Limiting Crooks to 14 points. That’s where the size of Aaronette Vonleh is a difference for Baylor. Baylor didn’t have Darianna Littlepage-Buggs for that first game, either. Baylor 73, Iowa State 70

Game 12 – No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 6 Utah – 8 p.m. CT, ESPN+

I think this is the upset game in the quarterfinals. The Cowgirls and Utes played two weeks ago in Salt Lake City, and OSU won by four points. It should be close again. Kneepkens make the difference. Utah 78, Oklahoma State 76

Semifinals: Saturday

Game 13 – No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 1 TCU – 3 p.m. CT, ESPN+

TCU beat WVU by 21 points in the only meeting two weeks ago. That will be fresh in the Mountaineers’ minds. But speeding up TCU with a press only helps them. TCU 67, West Virginia 60

Game 14 – No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 6 Utah – 5:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+

Baylor won the initial meeting by nine points three weeks into league play. Baylor can spend some time scouting ahead. Something tells me the Bears will be highly motivated when they see who wins the first semifinal. Baylor 73, Utah 69

Final: Sunday*

Game 15 – No. 1 TCU vs. No. 2 Baylor – 4 p.m. CT, ESPN

So, the tournament nearly goes chalk to this point. TCU won the first two meetings by a combined eight points. What’s the saying? You never want to face a team you’ve already beaten twice? Something tells me Baylor figures it out this time. Baylor 71, TCU 70

*Should BYU advance to the Championship the game will be played Monday.