Wondering who won the NCAA basketball championship depends on the season, division, and year in question. This overview provides verified, year-by-year results for the NCAA men’s tournament (commonly called March Madness) and the NCAA women’s tournament, highlighting the national champion crowned each spring. Below you will find an organized table listing champions, runner-ups, and key scores, followed by background on selection processes, historic trends, and how to interpret outcomes for any given season.
Men’s NCAA Basketball Champions by Year
The NCAA men’s basketball championship has been held annually since 1939. While many programs have multiple titles, a handful of schools appear most frequently in the list. The table below captures the last 20 seasons for quick reference and includes the runner-up and final score for context.
Recent Season Results (Last 20 Years)
| Season | Champion | Runner-Up | Score | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UConn | Purdue | 75–60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | UConn | San Diego State | 76–59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Kansas | North Carolina | 72–69 (OT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Baylor | Gonzaga | 86–70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Canceled (COVID-19) | N/A | No champion crowned | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Virginia | Texas Tech | 85–77 (OT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Villanova | Michigan | 69–57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | North Carolina | Gonzaga | 71–65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Villanova | North Carolina | 77–74 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Duke | Wisconsin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | UConn | Kentucky | 60–54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Louisville | Michigan | 82–76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Kentucky | Kansas | 67–59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | UConn | Butler | 53–41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Duke | Butler | 61–59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | North Carolina | Michigan State | 89–72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Kansas | Memphis | 75–68 (OT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Florida | Ohio State | 84–75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Florida | UCLA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Connecticut | Georgia Tech | 82–73 |
Women’s NCAA Basketball Champions by Year
The NCAA women’s basketball championship began in 1982. Multiple programs have strong traditions, with some schools winning titles across different decades. Below is a compact year-by-year table for the most recent two decades, including runner-up and score.
Recent Season Results (Last 20 Years)
| Season | Champion | Runner-Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | South Carolina | Iowa | 87–75 |
| 2023 | LSU | Iowa | 102–85 |
| 2022 | UConn | Iowa | 53–51 |
| 2021 | Stanford | Arizona State | 54–53 |
| 2020 | Canceled (COVID-19) | N/A | No champion crowned |
| 2019 | UConn | Notre Dame | 81–56 |
| 2018 | Louisiana Tech | Mississippi State | 58–52 |
| 2017 | South Carolina | Mississippi State | 67–55 |
| 2016 | Connecticut | Syracuse | 82–51 |
| 2015 | Connecticut | Notre Dame | 63–53 |
| 2014 | Connecticut | Notre Dame | 79–58 |
| 2013 | UCONN | Louisville | 93–60 |
| 2012 | Baylor | Notre Dame | 80–61 |
| 2011 | UConn | Arizona State | 93–64 |
| 2010 | UConn | Stanford | 53–47 |
| 2009 | UConn | Louisville | 76–54 |
| 2008 | Tennessee | Stanford | 64–48 |
| 2007 | Tennessee | Rutgers | 59–46 |
| 2006 | Maryland | Duke | 78–75 (OT) |
| 2005 | Baylor | Michigan State | 84–62 |
Understanding Selection and Format
For the men’s tournament, 68 teams qualify through automatic bids (conference champions) and at-large bids selected by the NCAA Selection Committee. Teams are seeded 1 through 16 within four regions and compete in a single-elimination bracket. The women’s tournament follows a similar structure but with 64 teams and a long-standing tradition of regional seeds. Both tournaments culminate in a national championship game usually held in early April (men’s) and early April (women’s). Understanding seeding, region composition, and selection criteria helps contextualize why certain matchups occur and how champions are determined.
Historic Programs and Trends
Certain programs have a remarkable number of championships. For men, UCLA leads with 11 titles, followed by North Carolina and Kentucky. For women, UConn stands out with 11 titles, building dominance in the 2000s and 2010s. Other schools—such as Duke, Tennessee, and Stanford—have multiple championships spanning different eras. Trends show increased parity in recent years, with more programs reaching the Final Four and championship game. This reflects better coaching, player development, and competitive balance across conferences.
How to Find the Champion for a Specific Year
If you need the champion for a particular season, start by confirming the year and division (Division I, II, or III). Most references to “the NCAA championship” imply Division I. For a quick lookup, consult the official NCAA.org site, which maintains authoritative year-by-year records. Sports reference sites and databases also aggregate this data but cross-checking with the NCAA’s own historical archives ensures accuracy. Note that the 2020 men’s and women’s tournaments were canceled due to the pandemic, so no champion was crowned that year.
Key Definitions and Terms
- March Madness — The popular nickname for the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
- Final Four — The semifinal round of the NCAA tournament, featuring four teams.
- At-Large Bid — An invitation to the tournament granted to teams that did not win their conference tournament.
- Seed — The ranking assigned to a team within its region, influencing matchups in the bracket.
- Conference Champion — The winner of an NCAA-sanctioned conference tournament, earning an automatic bid.
Why Accurate Championship Information Matters
Correctly identifying the NCAA championship winner matters for historical record-keeping, analytics, alumni pride, and media references. With decades of data available, relying on verified sources ensures that comparisons, debates, and analyses are based on facts. For institutions, championships influence recruiting, fundraising, and legacy. For fans, they anchor memories and traditions. Using authoritative sources protects against misinformation and maintains credibility across sports discourse.
Next Steps and Further Reading
For deeper insights, explore NCAA official archives, conference histories, and program-specific pages. Look for breakdowns of Final Four appearances, all-time scoring leaders, and evolving tournament formats. Understanding championship history enriches your perspective on current teams and emerging rivalries. Stay curious, verify claims, and prioritize primary sources when researching this iconic part of college basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which school has the most NCAA men’s basketball championships?
UCLA leads with 11 national titles, followed by North Carolina and Kentucky.
Which school has the most NCAA women’s basketball championships?
UConn holds the record with 11 women’s NCAA basketball titles.
Was there a championship in 2020?
No — both the 2020 NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so no champion was crowned.
How are NCAA tournament teams selected?
Teams earn automatic bids by winning their conference tournament or at-large bids via a committee that evaluates metrics like record, strength of schedule, and tournament performance.
Where can I verify a specific year’s champion?
Visit NCAA.org or consult verified sports reference pages that cite primary NCAA records to confirm any given season’s champion.
How often does the format change?
Tournament formats are generally stable; notable changes for the men’s event included expanding to 68 teams in 2011. The women’s tournament has been largely steady at 64 teams since its expansion in the early 1990s.