Women’s basketball is shining brightly as March Madness kicks off. Last year, a thrilling national championship game captivated 9.9 million viewers. Angel Reese and LSU triumphed over Caitlin Clark and Iowa, marking a memorable clash between two basketball titans. This historic match was broadcasted on ABC, a first since 1996.
Clark and Reese are hitting the court once again, but they’re not alone. South Carolina, holding the No. 1 overall seed, is entering the tournament undefeated, eyeing the title of the 10th perfect national champion.
For more insights, check out the top seeds for the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament in March Madness 2024.
The Gamecocks and Clark’s Hawkeyes lead the top seeds in the Albany (N.Y.) regionals. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 Conference Tournament champion Southern California and Big 12 tourney champion Texas are the top contenders at the Portland (Ore.) site.
All season, Clark has been a focal point in the sport, striving for her second consecutive Associated Press Player of the Year award. She became the all-time leading scorer in Division I history, drawing crowds wherever Iowa played.
Highlighting the top games, 5 Colorado faces 12 Drake. The Buffaloes started the season by defeating the defending national champion LSU, standing out among seven Pac-12 teams in the tournament. Drake secured its spot with a buzzer-beater against Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Tennessee nearly upset the season against South Carolina in the SEC Tournament semis, thanks to Kamilla Cardoso’s last-second three-pointer, her first in college. Green Bay enters with 27 wins under its belt.
Louisville, a Final Four team two years ago, faced challenges, losing three of their last five games. Middle Tennessee boasts a 29-4 season record, clinching its second consecutive Conference USA title.
UConn, despite health challenges affecting their depth, is set to face Jackson State, which won its ninth Southwestern Athletic Conference title.
Every game of the women’s tournament will be broadcasted across ESPN’s networks and streaming services, with select games on ABC. The Final Four and the title game will be aired on ESPN and ABC, respectively.
South Carolina emerges as the favorite to claim its second title in three years and third overall since 2017. Iowa, LSU, and Stanford follow as top betting favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
South Carolina will start against either Sacred Heart or Presbyterian in a First Four game. 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, opens against No. 14 seed Rice.
The First Four matchups and the first and second-round games will take place on campus, with Sweet 16 weekend games in Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon. The Final Four and championship game are set for Cleveland, with the championship game on Sunday, April 7.
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