March Madness 2024: 16% of Women’s Players From Outside U.S.

Forty-three countries will be represented at the women’s NCAA Tournament this year. Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

International talent was a big part of last year’s women’s NCAA Tournament and will likely impact play on the court this year, too.

There are more than 800 players in Division I women’s basketball with a non-U.S. residence listed as their hometown, and all but 14 of the 68 teams in this year’s tournament field feature at least one such player on their roster.

Overall, 16% of the players on rosters within the 2024 bracket hail from outside the U.S. Half of No. 16 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s roster this year is comprised of international talent, the most of any team in the tournament.

Five teams in this year’s bracket have an international makeup of more than 40%, according to the Sports Roster Data Project at the University of Maryland.

Among all Division I teams, Spain is the most represented with 144 players, followed by Canada, Australia, Sweden and France.

Out of March Madness teams, Australia leads the way as the home of 15% of the tourney’s international talent. In all, 42 countries beyond the U.S. will be represented among the 68 tournament rosters.

One of the most high-profile international players in the tournament is No. 1 seed South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, who hails from Brazil.

The undefeated Gamecocks will be without the 6-foot-7 center in the first round because of her role in the scuffle between South Carolina and LSU players in the SEC title game. Another big international name is Nebraska sharpshooter Jaz Shelley, a native of Australia.

The 2024 women’s NCAA Tournament began Wednesday with the tipoff of the First Four. The first round begins Friday.