AP coverage advisory: NCAA women's tournament

To help with your planning, here is a look at some of what AP is planning for the upcoming for NCA women's tournament. For questions, please email Assistant Sports Editor Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org). You can also call (212) 621-1630; Sports Photos, ext. 1918; Graphics, ext. 6907. For up-to-the-minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477

This advisory will be updated and is subject to change. All times Eastern.

TOURNAMENT GAMES/PREVIEWS

Each NCAA women's tournament game will be approximately 600 words, with photos. We plan broader regional previews for each round and select features throughout the tournament.

KEY DATES

Selection Monday and final AP Top 25 poll: March 15

AP women's All-America team release: March 17

First round begins: March 21

AP women's player, coach of the year announced: March 31

Final Four: April 2

National championship game: April 4

Saturday

BKW--NCAA Tournament Preview

SAN ANTONIO '“ In an unprecedented season because of the coronavirus pandemic, the women's basketball NCAA tournament may be one of the most wide-open and unpredictable with nearly a dozen teams having a chance to win the championship. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Upcoming: 650 words, photos by 3 p.m.

BKW--NCAA-Hemisfair Region Preview

AUSTIN, Texas - Vic Schaefer came achingly close to two national championships at Mississippi State. Now he's laying the foundation of a new powerhouse at Texas as he leads the Longhorns into the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 seed in the Hemisfair Regional with forward Charli Collier. By Jim Vertuno. Sent: 800 words, photos.

BKW-NCAA-River Walk Region Preview

UConn and Baylor didn't get to play their scheduled December matchup because Bear's coach Kim Mulkey came down with COVID-19. They have a chance to meet again as the top two seeds in the NCAA Tournament's River Walk regional, but UConn must first win a couple games without coach Geno Auriemma, who begins the tournament isolating at home with the coronavirus. By Pat Eaton-Robb. Upcoming: 700 words, photos

BKW-NCAA-Alamo Region Preview

SAN ANTONIO - Stanford takes its first No. 1 seed since 2013 into coach Tara VanDerveer's record 35th NCAA Tournament, and the 33rd in a row for the Cardinal. The 16-team Alamo Region also includes another team from northern California team (UC Davis) and two SEC teams. Fourth-seeded Arkansas has wins this season over both UConn and Baylor, the top two seeds in another region. Alamo Region sixth seed Oregon, in the last Final Four, has lost five of its last six games. By Stephen Hawkins. 700 words, photos.

BKW-NCAA-Mercado Region Preview

SAN ANTONIO - Top-seeded NC State with star Elissa Cunane is a slight favorite in the Mercado Region of the NCAA Tournament, but No. 2 seed Texas A&M and its bevy of veterans could be poised to knocked the Wolfpack off. And third-seed Arizona can't be overlooked in this region with two-way standout and Pac-12 player of the year Aari McDonald leading the way. By Kristie Rieken. Upcoming: 700 words, photos

Sunday

Games Begin

PREVIOUSLY SENT

BKW--NCAA-Outside The Bubble

SAN ANTONIO '“ While the teams are adhering to strict COVID protocols in Texas to stay healthy to play in the NCAA Tournament, there is a different scene outside of their controlled environments. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Sent: 700 words, photos. Friday

BKW-NCAA-Early Enrollees

When Dominique Darius arrived at UCLA in late December eager to quickly rediscover her form after playing minimal organized basketball for nine months, coach Cori Close made on thing immediately clear: Darius didn't have to hit big shots right away, she just needed to learn. Players like Darius who graduated early from high school not only got a head start on their college basketball careers and gained valuable experience but were counted upon to help teams across the country keep their seasons going when players were held out for COVID-19 protocols and quarantines. Now, some will get their moment on the NCAA Tournament stage. By Janie McCauley. : Sent: 850 words, photos. Friday

BKW--NCAA-TOURNAMENT INEQUITIES

SAN ANTONIO -- The NCAA apologized after inequities showed themselves between the men's and women's basketball tournaments with the organization vowing to do better. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Sent. 500 words, photo. Sent

Also:

- BKW-NCAA Women's Tournament-Notebook. Sent

BKW--NCAA-Staley-Sister's Leukemia

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley is fiery and animated on the sidelines. But when her sister, Tracey Underwood, was diagnosed with leukemia last year it wasn't about a game, it was life and death. Raising awareness for the need of more African-American donors in the fight against Leukemia, an effort close to her and her family. By Pete Iacobelli. Sent: 900 words, photos. Thursday

BKW--NCAA-Talented Freshman

UConn freshman Paige Bueckers has attracted most of the national attention this season, but from Oregon to Iowa and Stanford to Louisville many of the top teams in the NCAA Tournament are relying on first-year players as they make a run at a national championship. By Pat Eaton-Robb. Sent: 600 words, photos. Thursday

BKW-NCAA-Washington State's Rise

At the start of the season, Washington State coach Kamie Ethridge pointed to the rafters at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman and asked her team to note the lack of banners. The Cougars had been to the NCAA Tournament just once, back in 1991. Now, 30 years later, Washington State is back, led by a paid of sisters from New Zealand. By Anne M. Peterson. 600 words, photos. Sent

Also:

- BKW-NCAA Women's Tournament-Notebook. Sent

BKW--AP All-America

Paige Bueckers is the third freshman to ever make The Associated Press women's All-America team. The UConn star has already delivered record-breaking performances for the top-ranked Huskies. Bueckers received 28 first place votes from the national panel of 30 media members that vote each week in the AP Top 25 poll. She was joined by Dana Evans of Louisville, Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Rhyne Howard of Kentucky and NaLyssa Smith of Baylor. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Sent: 825 words, photos. Wednesday

BKW-NCAA-COVID Impact

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Just making the NCAA Tournament this season already feels like a big win for teams that dealt with stops, starts and pauses due to COVID-19 tests and quarantines. Belmont went a month between games with nine postponements and a couple cancellations keeping the Bruins from even practicing, and they had plenty of company just trying to finish the season - making this NCAA Tournament even more special. By Teresa M. Walker. Sent: 800 words, photos. Wednesday

BKW--NCAA-Bracket Breakdown

The women's NCAA Tournament field is set and now the fun begins with 64 teams descending on the San Antonio region for the tournament. This will be a tournament like no other with every game played on neutral courts and teams that make the Final Four having to basically live out of a hotel room for three weeks. A look at what to keep an eye on over the next few weeks when filling out tournament brackets. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. 750 words, photos. Tuesday

BKW--NCAA Tournament

The NCAA will reveal the 64 teams that will play in the women's tournament that will be held entirely in the San Antonio region. UConn and Stanford are expected to be two of the top seeds. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Sent, 750 words. Monday

BKW-NCAA Tournament-Things to Know

Tennessee's run of NCAA Tournament appearances that seemed certain the end a year ago has continued this year as the Lady Vols made the field for the 39th time. That's each season since the NCAA started a women's tournament. Tennessee's streak was in jeopardy a year ago, but COVID-19 canceled the event. The 13th-ranked Lady Vols are seeded third and will meet No. 14 seed Middle Tennessee on Sunday in the first round. Tennessee coach Kellie Harper would like to end a streak that Lady Vols fans can't stand - getting back to the Final Four for the first time in 13 years. By Pete Iacobelli. Sent: 700 words, photos. Monday

BKW-Virus Outbreak-Auriemma

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss at least the first two rounds of the the NCAA Tournament. UConn says the Hall of Famer received a positive result from a test taken Sunday and isn't experiencing any symptoms. The team's head physician says contact tracing protocols revealed that Auriemma didn't have close contact with any other team member since Friday. The rest of the team, which has tested negative, plans to leave Tuesday for the tournament in San Antonio, where they are scheduled to take on 16th-seeded High Point on Sunday. By Pat Eaton-Robb. Sent: 700 words, photos. Monday