Women’s basketball is shining brightly as March Madness kicks off. Last year, a thrilling national championship game captured the attention of 9.9 million viewers. Angel Reese and LSU triumphed over Caitlin Clark and Iowa, marking a memorable battle between two outstanding stars. This game, broadcasted on ABC, was the first to be aired on a national network since 1996.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are making a comeback, and they’re not alone. South Carolina, holding the No. 1 overall seed, enters the tournament undefeated, eyeing the opportunity to secure their status as the 10th team to win a perfect national championship.
The Gamecocks and Clark’s Hawkeyes are leading as top seeds in the Albany (N.Y.) regionals. Meanwhile, the champions of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament, Southern California, and the Big 12 Tournament, Texas, are the top contenders at the Portland (Ore.) site.
Caitlin Clark has been a prominent figure in the sport throughout the season. Her quest for a second consecutive Associated Press Player of the Year award comes after setting the record as the all-time leading scorer in Division I history. Clark’s performances have drawn large crowds to Iowa’s games.
Among the top matchups to watch are 5 Colorado vs. 12 Drake, where Colorado started their season with a significant win over the defending national champion LSU. Drake secured their spot with a buzzer-beater against Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Another exciting game to anticipate is 6 Tennessee vs. 11 Green Bay. Tennessee nearly upset South Carolina in the SEC Tournament semifinals, thanks to Kamilla Cardoso’s last-second three-pointer, her first in college basketball. Green Bay enters the tournament with an impressive 27 victories.
6 Louisville vs. 11 Middle Tennessee is also a game to watch. Louisville, a Final Four team two years ago, faces Middle Tennessee, which boasts a 29-4 season record and has won the Conference USA title for the second consecutive year.
3 UConn vs. 14 Jackson State is another matchup drawing attention. UConn has faced challenges with injuries this season, which could impact their depth in the NCAA Tournament. Jackson State enters after clinching its ninth Southwestern Athletic Conference title.
Viewers can catch every game of the women’s tournament on ESPN’s networks and streaming services, with select games on ABC. The Final Four will be broadcasted on ESPN, and the title game will return to ABC, continuing the precedent set last season.
South Carolina emerges as the favorite to win its second title in three years and third overall since 2017. Iowa, LSU, and Stanford follow as the top betting favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
South Carolina will start its journey against either Sacred Heart or Presbyterian, while Iowa awaits the winner of Holy Cross/UT-Martin. Other top seeds, USC and Texas, will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Drexel, respectively.
Defending national champion LSU, seeded third, will open against No. 14 seed Rice.
The tournament begins with the First Four matchups on March 20-21 and continues with the first and second rounds from March 22-25. The Sweet 16 weekend will take place in Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon, from March 29 to April 1. The Final Four is set for Cleveland on April 5, with the championship game on April 7.
The Walt Disney Company owns the station broadcasting these games, bringing excitement and top-tier basketball to fans nationwide.