NCAA’s new format and sites force women’s basketball teams to ramp up the travel, especially to Seattle

SEATTLE — You can get here from there.

But a plane ticket, or a highly dependable car and a wealth of patience, are prerequisites.

There’s nothing resembling a home-court advantage for any of the eight teams assigned to the two Seattle regions at the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

“Obviously, we're a long ways from (home),” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said Thursday. “I really believe that if this site would have been five hours from Iowa City, we would have 10,000 Hawkeye fans here.

“It’s just unfortunate that our fans won't be able to support us live.”

This year, the NCAA went away from its traditional regional format for the women’s game.

Instead of four regional sites of four teams apiece, there are now two sites, both of which have two different regionals of four teams each.

At Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, a region named “Seattle Region 4” houses Iowa, Colorado, Mississippi and Louisville. Seattle Region 3 consists of Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Ohio State and Connecticut.

Of those eight teams, Colorado is the closest, 1,304 miles and a 20-hour car ride away. Iowa is next-best in proximity at 1,852 miles and 28 hours.

“I know (our fans) will be watching on television, but there's something special about a real electric arena, with great atmosphere,” Bluder said. “I think if this was played in the Midwest, we would have had that. I really do.

“So that's unfortunate, but at the same time, we're glad we are here. We think Seattle's going to be a great host site. The city seems really nice, our hotel's great, everything's been wonderful.

“But, yeah, I wish it was closer to home.”

From a Midwesterner’s perspective, it’s not going to get any better anytime soon.

Next year’s regionals will be held at Albany, N.Y., and Portland, Ore. In 2025, it’s Birmingham, Ala., and Spokane, Wash. In 2026: Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, Calif.

Despite the lack of local flavor, a Climate Pledge spokesman said that most tickets for the lower bowl of the arena have been sold for Friday and Saturday’s semifinals.

“This is a city that supports women's basketball,” Iowa’s Caitlin Clark said. “Sure, would I love to be closer to the Midwest where it was a drivable distance for Iowa fans? Absolutely. But I'm not going to complain about being in the Sweet 16,

“I'm honestly just really happy to be here. I'm ready to play basketball, doesn't really matter where it's at.”

The third-ranked Hawkeyes (28-6) face No. 21 Colorado (25-8) in the first Seattle 4 Region semifinal (6:30 p.m. Iowa time, ESPN), with Louisville and Mississippi to follow at 9 p.m.

Seattle Region 3 semifinals are Saturday: Virginia Tech-Tennessee and UConn-Ohio State.

While no participating teams in Seattle are within 20 hours by automobile, six in Greenville, S.C., are 10 hours or less.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com