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ESPN jumps the gun, reveals NCAA Women’s hoops bracket early

By Sarabeth Pollock

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: NCAA March Madness logo before an Elite Eight matchup between the Villanova Wildcats and the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats defeated the Red Raiders 71-59. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: NCAA March Madness logo before an Elite Eight matchup between the Villanova Wildcats and the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats defeated the Red Raiders 71-59. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Blame it on the Madness: ESPN jumped the gun on Monday afternoon by revealing the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket hours early.

It’s hard waiting for the Women’s Selection Show to air, and it turns out that ESPN is just like the rest of us as patience gave out and the network accidentally revealed part of the 2019 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket hours before the Selection Show. That said, we might as well talk about what they revealed.

Eagle-eyed Twitter user @BlakeDuDonis spotted the revelation and immediately took pictures of the brackets as they came across the screen.

From the look of it, and assuming it’s accurate, Louisville is the No. 1 seed in the Albany Region, Notre Dame is the No. 1 seed in the Chicago Region, Mississippi State is the top seed in the Portland Region and Baylor is at the top of the Greensboro Region.

Here’s a look at the top seed matchups: Baylor will meet No. 16 Abilene Christian University in Waco, Texas. Mississippi State takes on No. 16 Southern in Starkville, Mississippi. Louisville will meet No. 16 Robert Morris University in Louisville, Kentucky, and Notre Dame will play at home against No. 16 Bethune-Cookman.

Among the notable matchups revealed in the leak is No. 2 UConn facing No. 15 Towson on Saturday in the Albany Region. Bucknell, which finished the season with a 28-5 record, drew a No. 12 seed and will meet No. 5 Florida State University (23-8). This is the first NCAA appearance for Bethune Cookman, who punched their ticket to the Big Dance after a thrilling victory in the MEAC Tournament.

For fans looking for more analysis of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket, along with reactions from the teams, the Selection Show takes place on Monday evening. Teams that don’t make the cut for the Big Dance will learn about invitations to the National Invitation Tournament, which will release its bracket Monday night.

Next. Enter SI's Real-time Bracket Challenge 2019 Here. dark

First Round action begins on Friday, March 22 at campus sites and continues with the Second Round beginning Sunday, March 25.