Sure it's no secret, but it's no American Idol either. The women's game has been nipping at the heels of the cultural consciousness for about ten years now, but hasn't quite grabbed the meaty flesh of its full attention.

This gives the women's tourney something the men's tournament doesn't have -- potential. As yet undiscovered by mainstream America, the women's tournament has scalability, while the men's tourney has been doomed to shark jumpage ever since ESPN lost the contract to broadcast the opening rounds back in the 90s.

The 25th annual women's tournament tips off Saturday with games in Chicago, Denver, Nashville, and Tucson.

Women's basketball clipart from Jam'n Art.