Caitlin Clark and her team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, ranked No. 2, have discovered their route to potentially making a comeback to the Final Four. This exciting journey was unveiled during the announcement of the women’s NCAA tournament bracket on Selection Sunday.
Clark, a standout player who was recently named a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Award, is coming off a victorious week. This follows her team’s triumph in the Big Ten Tournament, where they secured a win against Nebraska in an intense overtime battle, 94-89, on March 10. Leading the nation with an average of 8.6 assists per game and scoring 32 points per game, Clark has had a season that has seen her shatter records. On March 3, she surpassed Pete Maravich to become the highest-scoring player in NCAA Division I history, boasting 3,771 career points.
The Iowa Hawkeyes, after clinching their third consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship and boasting a 29-4 record, have been chosen as a No. 1 seed in the Albany Regional 2. They are set to face the winner between Holy Cross and the University of Tennessee-Martin in the first round. This match is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Advancing further, they would play against the victor of the West Virginia and Princeton match in the second round on Monday, March 25.
The path to the Final Four is fraught with challenges for the Iowa women, as highlighted by columnist Nancy Armour. A potential Sweet 16 face-off against Kansas State and possibly LSU in the regional final looms on the horizon.
For fans eager to dive into the madness of the NCAA tournament bracket, there’s an opportunity to participate in USA TODAY’s contest with a chance to win a $1 million prize.
A closer look at the Albany Regional 2 reveals the competitive landscape awaiting the teams.
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ABC will be broadcasting the games from the first and second rounds, through to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. The Final Four games will be aired on ESPN, and ABC will broadcast the national championship game.
Despite the high demand, the University of Iowa announced that tickets for the play-in game between Holy Cross and UT Martin will be available to the public. However, tickets for Iowa’s games have already sold out.
The women’s basketball tournament schedule is packed with action, starting with Selection Sunday on March 17 and culminating in the NCAA championship game on April 7.
Last season, Clark led the Hawkeyes to their second Final Four appearance, where they upset No. 1 South Carolina in the semifinals. Clark scored an impressive 41 points in that game, breaking the Final Four record. Despite her efforts, the team fell to LSU in the championship game, where Clark scored 30 points.
In 2022, as a sophomore, Clark faced a tough game in the NCAA Tournament’s second round, where Iowa, despite being a No. 2 seed, was defeated by Creighton. Clark scored 15 points in that game.
As a freshman, Clark was Iowa’s leading scorer, averaging 26.6 points and 7.1 assists per game throughout the season.
Clark’s remarkable achievement of becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I, surpassing Pete Maravich, came with her 3,668th point during a game against Ohio State on March 3. She has since extended her record to 3,771 points after a game against Nebraska on March 10.