Everything You Need to Know Before the Women’s NCAA Tournament Tips Off Today
Double Madness! Thursday was great. Friday is even better. That’s because the Women’s NCAA Tournament joins the fun. Sixteen more games are on today’s slate, and we’re cracking open the women’s tourney with a preview of who to watch (coaches, players, trends and more).
Top Teams/Players to Watch (The Favorites)
Unlike the chaos that often follows the men’s tournament, the women’s bracket is usually much more “chalky.” That’s not a bad thing, it’s just a more predictable spread of talent where the top teams are usually so skilled and disciplined that falling early in the tourney is less likely. The top eight teams are all viable candidates to win it all. Realistically, ten teams are head and shoulders above the competition. Those are the 1s, 2s, and a pair of 3-seeds in LSU (defending champs) and UConn (perpetual power). Obviously, undefeated South Carolina (33-0) is the juggernaut favorite. Iowa and the NCAA record-breaking phenom, Caitlin Clark, will be the top ticket. But if you haven’t seen USC’s Juju Watkins, try. She’s a bucket, and she could flip this tournament on its head.
Top Seeds
1s: South Carolina, Iowa, USC, Texas
2s: Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford, Ohio State
3s: UConn, LSU, Oregon State, NC State
4s: Gonzaga, Va. Tech, Indiana, Kansas State
Don’t Expect to Find Cinderella
No team seeded beyond the 3-line has ever won the women’s bracket. That’s not to say it couldn’t change, but it’s highly unlikely. This year’s champion is almost certainly in the top-4 seeds (above). In fact, 1-seeds have won 22 of the 29 women’s tournaments, while 2-seeds (4) and 3-seeds (3) have captured the other seven. Stanford (2), Notre Dame (2), LSU (3) and UConn (3) appear to be the non-1-seeds with a legit chance to do damage. Cinderella? Hard to say.
South Carolina’s Chance at Perfection
Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team was undefeated last year before they ran into Iowa in the Final Four. They’re back in the tourney with another perfect record on the line (33-0). Nine teams in women’s college hoops history have run the table and completed a perfect season with a national championship. UConn owns six of those seasons. Texas (1985-86), Tennessee (1997-98), and Baylor (2011-12) own the other three. The Gamecocks have never pulled it off, but it might be the year.
Last 5 Women’s Champs
2023: LSU (34-2)
2022: South Carolina (35-2)
2021: Stanford (31-2)
2020: Canceled (COVID-19)
2019: Baylor (37-1)
When Do The Top Players Start?
South Carolina takes the court this afternoon. So does 3-seed LSU and Kim Mulkey’s bunch. The star draws of Caitlin Clark (Iowa) and Juju Watkins (USC) will hit the women’s tourney tomorrow. Click the link below for the full schedule and enjoy some more basketball.
🏀 Women’s NCAA Tournament Bracket
🗓️ Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule
Read More
ESPN: Player Profiles: The Top-25 Players to Watch in Women’s March Madness
Yahoo! Sports: Undefeated South Carolina is the Overwhelming NCAA Women’s Tournament Favorite
