The 2001 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 16 and ended on April 1. The tournament featured 64 teams. The Final Four, held at the Savvis Center (now Scottrade Center) in St. Louis, consisted of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State), with Notre Dame defeating Purdue 68-66 to win its first NCAA title. Notre Dame's Ruth Riley was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.