WOMENS COLLEGE CUP: The Road Narrows — Upsets, Powerhouse Performances and more

Nov 22, 2025 57 Views Womens College Soccer

The 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship is officially underway, and the field has already delivered a wild opening stretch. The bracket, revealed during Monday’s Selection Show on Nov. 10 live on NCAA.com, features 64 teams—30 automatic qualifiers and 34 at-large selections—with sixteen programs earning seeds Nos. 1 through 4.

Now, as the nation turns its focus toward Kansas City, Missouri and the Women’s College Cup at CPCK Stadium, the second and third rounds have already reshaped the national title picture.

FIRST ROUND RECAP (NOV. 14–15)

The tournament kicked off with dominant performances from the top seeds and several early upsets that hinted at what was coming.

Notable Results

All four No. 1 seeds — Stanford, Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Notre Dame — advanced, each showing early championship form.
Lipscomb stunned No. 6 Mississippi State, one of the first true bracket shakers.
North Carolina rolled past Tennessee 3–1, a strong opening statement for the ACC powerhouse.
Close calls for BYU, Alabama, and others showed that depth across the field may be the highest it’s been in years.

With the initial 32 teams advancing, the stage was set for a high-stakes second round.

SECOND ROUND SHOCKWAVES (NOV. 20–21)

The second round was defined by overtime drama, defensive grit, and one of the biggest upsets in recent tournament history.

Thursday, Nov. 20

Ohio State delivered the tournament’s first major upset, knocking off No. 1 Notre Dame 1–0 in double overtime to blow open the top-left quadrant of the bracket.
No. 1 Virginia remained dominant, dispatching Penn State 2–0 behind a relentless attacking effort.
Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, Colorado, and Washington punched their tickets to round three with strong, composed performances.
Georgetown advanced on penalties (4–3) after battling West Virginia to a 1–1 draw.
Baylor edged Wisconsin 1–0, continuing a quietly impressive run.
Florida State advanced over Lipscomb, ending the Cinderella story but not without resistance.

Friday, Nov. 21

TCU exploded for a 4–0 win over Memphis, one of the most dominant results of the round.
LSU held off Iowa 2–1, setting up a massive SEC test in round three.
North Carolina moved on in penalties (4–3) vs. Texas Tech, surviving a hard-nosed defensive battle.
BYU defeated UCLA in PKs, leaning on veteran composure.
Vanderbilt outlasted Clemson 3–2 in a tournament classic.
Stanford lit up the scoreboard, outscoring Alabama 7–3 in a wild offensive showcase.

With favorites surviving and big names falling, the bracket tightened dramatically entering round three.

THIRD ROUND MATCHUPS SET (NOV. 23–24)

The surviving 16 teams now move into the most pivotal early round of the tournament — the stage where College Cup contenders separate themselves from the rest.

Sunday, Nov. 23

No. 2 Georgetown vs. No. 3 Florida State — Elite midfield vs. elite pace.
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 3 Colorado — A balanced battle of technique and athleticism.
No. 5 Baylor vs. Ohio State — The Buckeyes carry upset swagger after shocking Notre Dame.
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Kansas — A heavyweight clash of blue-blood programs.
No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 4 Washington — Offense meets stubborn defensive structure.

Monday, Nov. 24

No. 2 TCU vs. North Carolina, 2 p.m.
No. 1 Vanderbilt vs. No. 4 LSU, 3 p.m.
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 5 BYU, 4 p.m.Three marquee showdowns with major quarterfinal implications.

LOOKING AHEAD: QUARTERFINALS TO THE COLLEGE CUP

Quarterfinals will be held Nov. 28–29, with eight teams battling for the right to head to Kansas City for the Women’s College Cup.

Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 5
National Championship: Monday, Dec. 8

With one No. 1 seed already gone, several No. 2 and No. 3 seeds gaining momentum, and multiple unseeded teams showing they belong in the spotlight, the race for the national championship is wide open.

Expect the unexpected as the journey continues.