By Katie Green, Manager of Athletics Communications and Media

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (Bracket | Video Announcement | Schedule) The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the 32 qualifiers and bracket for the 38th annual NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Wells Fargo. The event returns to Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Mont., March 14 – 20.

This year’s field consists of 14 automatic berths, 17 at-large selections and championship host Rocky Mountain (Mont.). Automatic qualification is given to conference regular-season champions, regular-season runners-up, tournament champions or tournament runners-up depending on the league. At-large teams were determined using the final regular-season Coaches’ Top 25 poll released today, which can be found HERE.

The NAIA Network – the association’s official video streaming home – will broadcast the first 30 games leading up to the championship final on ESPN3. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single-day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information CLICK HERE.

For more information on the 2018 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, CLICK HERE.

Qualifier Highlights:

• There are no unbeaten teams at this year’s championship. The closest is LSU Shreveport (La.) with only one loss on the season.

• Campbellsville (Ky.) holds the longest active appearance streak in Division I women’s basketball with 26 appearances. Wayland Baptist (Texas) follows with 25 appearances.

• There are only four teams that have won a national championship in this year’s field: MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Oklahoma City, Vanguard (Calif.) and Westmont (Calif.).

• The only team in the field to win back-to-back titles was Oklahoma City.

• The 2017 Champion, Oklahoma City returns to the 2018 national championship looking for its 10th title.

• Three semifinalists are back from the 2017 championship: Campbellsville, Vanguard and Oklahoma City.

• There are 23 teams that competed in the 2017 national championship and return in 2018.

• There are five teams in the field that have 20 or more tournament appearances: Campbellsville, Wayland Baptist, Oklahoma City, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), and Vanguard.

• Arizona Christian, Grand View (Iowa) and Menlo (Calif.) qualified for the first time in program history. All three teams were at-large berths.

• Rocky Mountain (Mont.) boasts its third appearance. Two of the three tournament appearances have been host bids.

• The Heart of America and Golden State Athletic Conferences each boast five programs in the 2018 field.

2018 Division I Women's Basketball National Championship Qualifiers