Its history may not be as storied as the men's game, but for women's basketball, its time has come.

With an expanded 64-team NCAA Tournament bracket, interest in the women's game has reached unprecedented levels. And with the first-ever advance sellout for the women's Final Four, the stakes in the 'Road to Richmond' have never been higher.

But while the stakes may be higher, it's a sure bet that the 64 participants will be playing with just one thing on their minds -- to win the national championship.

This year's favorite is Tennessee, currently ranked No. 1.

At 29-1, the Volunteers certainly have to be considered the odds-on favorites, but it won't be easy.

So with that in mind, let's take a look at the women's field and pick out the contenders, the pretenders and the sleepers.

-- East Region: No. 3 Connecticut (1st seed) and No. 4 North Carolina (3rd).

After falling to Tennessee in last season's Sweet 16, North Carolina is looking to go even farther this season. With homecourt advantage through the first two rounds, look for the Tar Heels to advance. In fact, expect them to advance all the way to Richmond.

Connecticut roared to the Big East title with a 27-2 record, including a 17-0 home mark. The Huskies should advance, but not to Richmond.

-- Mideast Region: No. 1 Tennessee (1), No. 7 USC (2).

Although seeded in what could be the tournament's toughest bracket, the Volunteers seem to be headed back to the Final Four and a chance for a repeat. There may be a few close-calls, but Tennessee will be hard to beat.

Cheryl Miller's USC club is a solid club, capable of making a deep run. However, don't bet on them to upset Tennessee.

-- Midwest Region: No. 2 Penn State (1), No. 9 Texas Tech (2).

Finally, the Lady Lions seem ready to crawl out from under the shadow of the disappointment of tournaments past. After suffering devastating losses to James Madison in 1991 and Georgetown in 1993, Penn State is headed to Richmond.

But beating defending national champion Texas Tech won't be easy, either. Tech also will host its first two tournament games and, if the Red Raiders win, they get to play in nearby Austin. It won't be their homecourt, but you may not be able to tell if their faithful throng decide to make the trip.

-- West Region: No. 8 Purdue (1), No. 11 Stanford (2).

Stanford (22-5) gets to host its first four tournament games at Maples Pavilion, where the Cardinal sport an amazing 105-2 record. The 'experts' are picking the Cardinal ride their home court advantage into the Final Four, but they're not getting the nod here.

Instead, don't be suprised to see Penn State rival and Big Ten co-champ Purdue get the bid from the West. Lin Dunn's squad is big, deep and fast, and the more-talented Boilermakers should be able to neutralize Stanford's home court advantage, should they meet in the regional finals.

-- East: Rutgers (5), or Western Kentucky (12).

Look for the winner of this first round matchup to roll to a regional final. The winner will have to travel to overrated Southern Miss (No. 22). While playing in Hattiesburg, either Rutgers or WKU should advance.

The Scarlet Knights (22-7) were the only team to knock off No. 1 Tennessee this year, and will be hard to top if they make it to the third and fourth rounds, which will be played at Rutgers.

Western Kentucky could also be a darkhorse. Two years removed from the national title game, the Hilltoppers (23-9) are eager to return to the spotlight.

In either case, UConn appears ripe for an upset in the Sweet 16.

-- Mideast: SW Missouri State (6).

SW Missouri State shocked the NCAA by advancing to the Final Four in 1992 and the Sweet 16 last season. The Lady Bruins do it again, upsetting No. 10 Virginia along the way.

-- Midwest: Oklahoma State (12).

Don't be surprised if the Cowgirls (20-8) upset surging Texas, even though the game is in Austin. Oklahoma State's pressure defense could catch the Longhorns unprepared.

-- West: No. 5 Colorado (3).

It's hard to call the nation's No. 5 team a sleeper, but the Lady Buffaloes will be a heavy underdog if, as expected, they meet home-standing Stanford in the Sweet 16. The Lady Buffs, however, have earned a reputation as road-warriors, and look for them to stun the Cardinal in Palo Alto.

-- No. 12 Vanderbilt (2-East), No. 22 Southern Miss (4-East), Notre Dame (7-East).

The Commodores were a Final Four team last year, but that was last year. But despite their 23-7 record, this year's Vanderbilt squad is probably the nation's most overrated team. An easy slate sends them to the Sweet 16, where they'll likely face North Carolina. The Tar Heels send them packing before the first half is over.

While Southern Miss won the Metro and compiled a gaudy won-lost record, this corner's not convinced. The Golden Eagles bow out with a home loss in the second round.

Notre Dame (22-6) got an automatic bid by winning the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, which they belong to in all sports except football and men's basketball. Notre Dame did not play an exceptional schedule, and their No. 7 seed is probably undeserved. Minnesota and Big Ten Player of the Year Carol Ann Shudlick school Notre Dame and show this wanna-be basketball school how the game was meant to be played.

Let the games begin!