The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team has secured a No. 4 seed in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and will host the First and Second Rounds at Historic Memorial Coliseum. This marks the seventh time in program history that the Wildcats have been selected to host the early rounds of the tournament, giving them a valuable home-court advantage.
No. 4 Kentucky (22-7) is set to face No. 13 Liberty (26-6, C-USA Tournament Champions) in the First Round on Friday, March 21. The other game in Lexington will feature fifth-seeded Kansas State against 12th-seeded Fairfield, also on Friday. The winners of these matchups will battle in the Second Round on Sunday, March 23, with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Head coach Kenny Brooks emphasized the significance of hosting the first two rounds. “It’s a big difference. Five years ago, when we first heard our name at Virginia Tech, I was just hoping to get in, I didn’t care about seeding. Being on that four line, and being able to host, it means the world. It gives you a home-court advantage and gives you an opportunity to advance. It’s very, very important.”
Georgia Amoore’s Leadership Will Be Key
Veteran point guard Georgia Amoore will be a crucial leader for the Wildcats. This will be Amoore’s fifth NCAA Tournament, and Brooks is confident in her ability to guide the team.
“Everyone’s going to be experiencing this thing for the first time,” Brooks said. “We’re going to lean heavily on Georgia and her experiences, and she’s going to lead us. The kids are willing to follow her and her demeanor, and I think that’s going to be a big key for us to advance.”
Building a Championship-Caliber Team
When Brooks arrived in Lexington last spring, hosting the NCAA Tournament wasn’t on his radar. His focus was on assembling a strong roster and coaching staff. Over time, the Wildcats overcame adversity and developed a unique identity that propelled them to this moment.
“You didn’t know what to expect,” Brooks admitted. “We hit the ground running. We were trying to put together a roster, a staff, a schedule. We had some adversity over the summer, so we had time to reinvent ourselves. In doing so, we became unique in a lot of different ways and just built off of that.”
