No. 1 University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins (75), No. 5 University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels (70)
The Bruins put together an impressive season, finishing with a record of 28-2. They also secured the Big Ten championship after beating the University of Southern California (USC) by a final score of 72–67. UCLA is led by junior Lauren Betts, who averages 19.6 points per game (ppg) and 9.7 rebounds per game (rpg). Bett’s inside presence will go a long way to counter Ole Miss’s balanced scoring. Four players on Ole Miss average more than ten ppg. They don’t have a single scorer to rely on, making them more challenging to defend and game plan for. While the Rebels have put together a solid season, finishing 6th in the competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC), I don’t expect this to be a close game, considering UCLA’s deep roster and veteran stars like Betts and junior Kiki Rice.
No. 3 Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers (82), No. 2 North Carolina State University (NC State) Wolfpack (77)
Both teams have been inconsistent this season, with LSU recently losing in an upset to No. 25–ranked Ole Miss. The offensive output from both teams has been impressive. NC State averages 77.9 ppg, and LSU averages 85.1 ppg. What puts the Tigers over the edge for me is that three of their starters average more than 17 ppg: senior Aneesa Morrow, sophomore Mikaylah Williams and junior Flau’Jae Johnson. Johnson leads the way with 18.9 ppg. I don’t think the Wolfpack will have an answer for LSU’s big three.
No. 1 University of South Carolina Gamecocks (88), No. 4 University of Maryland Terrapins (59)
Maryland has struggled against top-ten Associated Press (AP) poll–ranked opponents this season. They got blown out by 38 points against No. 5–ranked Texas and suffered losses to No. 1–ranked UCLA and No. 4–ranked USC. These losses were expected due to Maryland’s lower ranking. However, losing by more than 15 points against UCLA and Texas shows that the Terrapins can’t compete against the top teams in the nation. Maryland’s only win against a top-10 AP poll–ranked opponent came earlier in the season when they beat No. 7–ranked Duke. In this game, their leading scorer, junior Kaylene Smikle, erupted for 23 points. South Carolina, on the other hand, has beaten five top-10 AP poll–ranked teams, including Texas, whom they beat by 19 points in their most recent regular season game. To secure their ticket to the Sweet 16, the Terrapins defeated No. 5–ranked Alabama in a comeback win that went to double overtime. This win shows their resilience and ability to come back when down by a large deficit. But I don’t think Maryland will be able to handle South Carolina’s strength and maturity as the reigning NCAA tournament champion.
No. 2 Duke University Blue Devils (65), No. 3 University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (UNC) Tar Heels (61)
These long-time rivals have matched up twice in the regular season. In their first meeting, the Tar Heels blew a 16-point lead in the second half but managed to pull away in overtime for the win. Most recently, Duke beat UNC 68–53 and finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), one spot ahead of UNC. Freshman Toby Fournier has emerged as a standout for the Blue Devils, as she leads the team in scoring with 13.4 ppg and is second in rebounds with 5.2 rpg. Fournier was named ACC Freshman of the Year this season. She is the program’s sixth recipient of the award. This game will be close, but Duke’s recent dominant win over UNC gives me the confidence to pick the Blue Devils.
No. 1 University of Southern California (USC) Trojans (82), No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats (71)
Offensively, USC and Kansas State are evenly matched. Kansas State averages 79.5 ppg and USC averages a slightly better 81.5 ppg. The Wildcats started their season off strong with a record of 19-1 before losing their star player, senior Ayoka Lee, to injury. Lee returned for the postseason and had an immediate impact. She is a strong defensive presence in the paint and will contest drives from USC. Unfortunately, Big-Ten Player of the Year sophomore Juju Watkins tore her ACL during the round of 32 and will undergo surgery. She will miss the rest of the tournament, which is a huge blow to the Trojans. It will be crucial for other USC players to step up in her absence. I believe first-team all-Big Ten player senior Kiki Irafen will be enough to earn USC a win over Kansas State, but I don’t know if the Trojans can make it any further than the Elite Eight without Watkins.
No. 2 University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies (78), No. 3 University of Oklahoma Sooners (69)
Oklahoma junior Reagan Beers has put together a terrific season for the Sooners. She averages a team-high 17.5 ppg and 9.3 rebounds. That said, UConn has shown little to no weakness throughout the season. They placed first in net rankings, which takes into account winning percentage, strength of schedule, game location and more. Graduate student Paige Bueckers and freshman Sarah Strong have been standouts for the Huskies, leading their team in scoring with 19.0 ppg for Bueckers and 16.0 ppg for Strong. Beers will play well, but I don’t think the Sooners will have enough to stop Bueckers and the Huskies.
No. 1 University of Texas Longhorns (79), No. 5 University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers (73)
Texas has only lost to two teams, Notre Dame and South Carolina, this season. They are led by sophomore Madison Booker, who averages 16.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg. One thing the Longhorns will have to clean up heading into the tournament is their accuracy beyond the arc. Throughout the season, they have struggled with consistency and shoot a mediocre 30 percent from three-point range. This weakness was highlighted during the SEC Championship against South Carolina when they shot an abysmal 12.5 percent from three. In Tennessee and Texas’ only matchup of the season, Texas narrowly won, 80-76. The Lady Vols held Texas to 16.7 percent from the three-point line. However, only two of Tennessee’s players scored over 10 points. Both teams have significant areas of growth, but Texas’ dominance throughout the season is enough for me to put them over the Lady Vols.
No. 2 Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs (74), No. 3 University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (80)
Notre Dame is one of the most complete and underrated teams in the tournament. Their backcourt is one of the best in the league; guards sophomore Hannah Hidalgo and senior Olivia Miles account for 46.7 percent of the team’s total points. In TCU and Notre Dame’s only matchup of the season, TCU won 76–68, thanks to a standout performance from TCU’s center, six-year senior Sedona Prince. Prince recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds, along with a season-high eight blocks. This will be a close game, but I think Hidalgo and Miles will produce enough offensively to counter a defensive clinic from Prince.