The 2021 NCAA Women’s College Cup is finally here after a lengthy qualification period that saw 64 teams compete for postseason glory.
The semifinals will take place on Friday, December 3, with the championship match following on either Sunday, December 5 or Monday, December 6.
Florida State will take on Rutgers during the semifinals, while Santa Clara will face off against BYU.
Both Florida State and Santa Clara are no strangers to the Women’s College Cup, having competed in last year’s championship game. While Santa Clara came out on top last year, Florida will be looking to make amends.
Storylines heading into the tournament
The Florida State Seminoles are Women’s College Cup regulars. They’ve only won the NCAA Division I tournament twice—in 2014 and 2018.
Santa Clara is in the same boat as the Seminoles, as they’ve won the tournament two times—in 2001 and 2020. Both Florida State and Santa Clara will look to join Stanford and Notre Dame, each with three titles.
This year marks Rutgers’ first NCAA tournament appearance in six years. The Scarlet Knights finished their Big Ten Conference season with a 10–0–0 record.
Meanwhile, BYU is making its first Women’s College Cup appearance after posting an 8–1–0 West Coast Conference (WCC) record. They shared the WCC Championship title spoils with Santa Clara, who ended the WCC season with the same standings.
Where is the 2021 Women’s College Cup?
Buck Shaw Field of Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, California will play host to the 2021 Women’s College Cup.
Initially, the tournament was to take place at PayPal Park in San Jose. However, a scheduling conflict with the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs forced the venue change.
What channel has the NCAA Women’s College Cup?
The 2021 NCAA Women’s College Cup will air exclusively on ESPNU. This continues the tradition of College Cup games airing on the networks of ESPN.
| Date | Time | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, December 3 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Rutgers vs. Florida State |
| Friday, December 3 | 9:30 p.m. ET | Santa Clara vs. BYU |
| Sunday, December 5* | 8:00 p.m. ET | Championship Game |
