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NCAA Tournament: Reseeding the Sweet 16

@BaylorWBB

Day one of March Madness started out without a single upset. But that didn’t last long. 

By day two, we had No. 13 Wright State knocking off No. 4 Arkansas. We had No. 11 BYU squeaking by No. 6 Rutgers. We even had No. 15 Troy taking No. 2 Texas A&M to the final seconds. 

By the round of Round 32, we had even more upsets, with a trio of No. 6 seeds Oregon, Michigan, and Texas — all defeating No. 3 seeds. 

That leaves us at the Sweet 16 with everything from struggling No. 2 seeds to blossoming No. 6 seeds. To preview the weekend’s games, we’ve re-ranked the remaining teams, 1-16.

1. UConn (No. 1 seed)

Everyone talks about Paige Bueckers and UConn’s dazzling offense — an offense that hums to the tune of an NCAA-leading 20.9 assists per game. But you can’t overstate how strong the Huskies’ defense has been. Only four teams have shot 40% or better from the field all season against them — and only one team has managed to escape with less than 10 turnovers. That was Arkansas, the only team to beat UConn this year.

2. Baylor (No. 2 seed)

Baylor has won 19 games in a row and only two of those games were within 10 points. In the first two rounds, the Lady Bears have outscored opponents by a total of 91 points — the best of any team in the tournament.

3. Stanford (No. 1 seed)

The key to beating Stanford is shutting down their lethal 3-point attack. In both of their losses, they’ve shot just 21.8%. To start the tournament, that hasn’t been the case, as the Cardinal have shot 48.2% from beyond the arc. If that continues, few teams will be able to keep up.

4. South Carolina (No. 1 seed)

Aliyah Boston had just seven rebounds in South Carolina’s round of Round 32 victory over Oregon State. It was her second lowest rebounding outing of the year and her first single digit rebounding outing in 11 games. Still, the Gamecocks managed to rout the Beavers by 17. 

5. Maryland (No. 2 seed) 

Maryland just keeps doing what Maryland does — score a lot of points. Their latest 100-point performance came against Alabama in the Round of 32, and they did so with their two leading scorers, Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller, combining for just 23 points.

6. NC State (No. 1 seed)

NC State’s road to the Final Four got a little bumpier with an injury to starter Kayla Jones. In her place, though, sophomore Jada Boyd has stepped up, averaging 30 minutes and 18 points in their first two tournament games.  

7. Louisville (No. 2 seed) 

There are still positives to take away from Louisville’s early NCAA tournament struggles. Despite Dana Evans scoring only 14 points, Louisville came back from 18 down to beat Northwestern, outscoring the Wildcats 55-28 after the first quarter.

8. Texas A&M (No. 2 seed) 

Did you watch the Troy or Iowa State games? If not, you missed out. Not just on good basketball games, but the emergence of Jordan Nixon. The sophomore guard has scored double digit points in eight straight games, after scoring in double figures in just six of the 19 games prior. Nixon dropped a career-high 35 points against Iowa State, topping it off with a coast-to-coast game winner.

9. Arizona (No. 3 seed) 

How far can Aari McDonald carry Arizona? Despite averaging 19.3 points per game, she has struggled against top-ranked teams. In the Wildcats’ seven regular season games against tournament teams, she shot just 32.8% from the field. 

10. Iowa (No. 5 seed) 

Caitlin Clark gets most of the headlines (and for good reason), but the most important player recently hasn’t been Clark. Over their last six games, center Monika Czinano has averaged 24 points. The Hawkeyes have gone 5-1 in that stretch.

11. Indiana (No. 4 seed) 

Indiana’s versatile offensive attack was on full display against Belmont, with four players scoring in double digits. The big question is: Will their lack of three-point shooting hold them back? The Hoosiers knock down just 29.2% of their threes, one of the worst percentages in the country.  

12. Oregon (No. 6 seed) 

Heading into the NCAA tournament, Oregon looked like a team on upset alert, having lost five of their last six games. But boy have they bounced back. In their two NCAA tournament games, the Ducks have held South Dakota and Georgia to a combined 16.6% from three.

13. Missouri State (No. 5 seed) 

Missouri State pride themselves on winning the rebounding battle. Opposing teams average just 6.8 offensive rebounds per game — best in the country. But how good are the Lady Bears? After playing only one ranked opponent all year, we’re still waiting to find out.

14. Michigan (No. 6 seed) 

Before Leigha Brown dropped 28 points in 27 minutes against Florida Gulf Coast, she hadn’t touched 20 points in six games. Brown’s success will be key for the Wolverines moving forward. In games where she scores 20 or more points, Michigan is 8-0.

15. Texas (No. 6 seed) 

Everyone knows about the projected number one WNBA pick, Charli Collier. But Collier, who scored just five points on Wednesday, wasn’t the main reason Texas upset No. 3 UCLA. Celeste Taylor, Kyra Lambert, and Joanne Allen-Taylor combined for 57 of the team’s 71 points. 

16. Georgia Tech (No. 5 seed) 

Georgia Tech’s first win over a ranked team this season came when they needed it most. The Yellow Jackets clamped up No. 4 seed West Virginia, holding unanimous first team All-Big 12 guard Kysre Gondrezick to three points — her lowest total of the year.

Injury Reports Impact Top NCAA Basketball Teams

South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins dunks the ball over TCU's Sedona Prince.
South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins will miss the rest of the 2024/25 season due to an ACL tear. (Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After NCAA basketball stars Ashlyn Watkins and Paige Bueckers exited their respective games with injuries last Sunday, South Carolina and UConn updated the media about their injured players on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, Watkins will miss the rest of the 2024/25 season after tearing her left ACL in Sunday's 96-68 win over Mississippi State.

At 6-foot-3, Watkins was a key rotational component for South Carolina in their undefeated 2023/24 run. She has subsequently notched significant minutes off the bench this season. The junior averaged 7.2 points, 1.9 blocks, and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds prior to injury.

"I know her sisters will rally around her injury, and know she will be sorely missed," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley told a local radio station. "I know [Watkins] will want us to go on and compete and try to win another national championship."

Watkins will undoubtedly be missed this weekend, as the No. 2 Gamecocks take on No. 5 Texas in Sunday's must-watch SEC battle.

Bueckers expected to return for UConn after injury scare

Last weekend's other injury scare has taken a less severe turn. Unlike Watkins's ACL tear. UConn senior Bueckers suffered a more minor knee sprain, with the prospective 2025 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick returning to play as soon as next week.

Sunday's knock is just the latest knee injury for Bueckers. The 23-year-old sat out the majority of the 2021/22 season with a tibial fracture and meniscus tear. The year after that, she missed all of UConn's 2022/23 campaign with a torn ACL.

"I think she's pissed more than anything about having to miss any time at all," UConn boss Geno Auriemma told ESPN. "The thing that happens, I think, to a lot of athletes when they've been through something in the past, is the fear of 'Do I have to go through something again?' That's the initial reaction...[but now] she's in great spirits."

Hayes Drops First 2025 USWNT Roster Ahead of January Training Camp

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes celebrates with Emma Sears after an international friendly match between Netherlands and United States at ADO Den Haag Stadion.
Emma Sears (center) is one of 13 players with three or fewer caps on January's USWNT roster. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes dropped her first roster of 2025 today, tapping 26 players for this month's week-long January camp ahead of February's SheBelieves Cup.

The camp takes place outside an official FIFA international window. Subsequently, the roster was limited to athletes who play their club soccer Stateside.

In a look to the future, Hayes invited 13 players with three or fewer caps, including six uncapped players.

Star forwards Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Smith — AKA Triple Espresso — were left off to continue their offseason rest and recovery efforts. Midfielder Rose Lavelle was also sidelined after a recent ankle surgery.

After missing a series of fall friendlies, defender Crystal Dunn returns to camp. She is the roster's most experienced player with 155 caps. 

This year's opening training camp will run from January 14th to 21st at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Pietra Tordin of the U-20 USWNT celebrates after scoring the team's first goal at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2024 match between USA and Paraguay.
January's USWNT camp will run alongside a Futures Camp focused on young talent. (Ricardo Moreira - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

USWNT Futures Camp focuses on player development

January's lineup will train alongside a 24-player Futures Camp of young US prospects. The twin camps promote cross-collaboration and development as well as provide in-person scouting opportunities for Hayes and her staff.

"I almost feel like we've had a little bit of a lost generation that might not have had some of the exposures that some of the top nations [have]," Hayes said. "We can't wholeheartedly just rely on domestic play."

"This is really the last window where I expect that I would have seen the vast majority of the playing pool," she added.

The Futures Camp roster is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 8th.

USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes celebrates with Alyssa Naeher after an international friendly between Netherlands and United States.
Emma Hayes joined the USWNT from WSL side Chelsea in May 2024. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Hayes talks whirlwind USWNT tenure

"I'm doing the job the other way around," Hayes said of her brief tenure. "I had 75 days then Olympics, and now I'm getting the opportunity to build the program and develop the playing pool."

Hayes officially joined the team in May 2024. Since then, the USWNT remain unbeaten, with a record of 13-0-2 across all competitions.

2024 was a big year for Hayes outside of her national team duties, too. In addition to her Olympic gold medal, the coach's sideline efforts were recognized with several major awards, including the Best FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year for 2024 and the 2024 Ballon d’Or for Women's Soccer Coach of the Year.

Emma Sears and Tierna Davidson of the USWNT arrive at the stadium prior to playing the Netherlands during an international friendly match at ADO Den Haag Stadion.
Fourteen players from the USWNT's Netherlands trip made January's roster. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT January camp roster by position (club; caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS: Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC; 0), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 20)

DEFENDERS: Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 65/3), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 155/25), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 44/2), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 18/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 103/2), Ryan Williams (North Carolina Courage; 0/0)

MIDFIELDERS: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 28/1), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 7/0), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 3/0), Nealy Martin (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 2/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 21/8)

FORWARDS: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 22/5), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 3/1), Ella Stevens (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 13/1), Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns FC; 2/0), Lynn Williams (Seattle Reign FC; 75/21)

NWSL Sets 2025 Season Calendar

An NWSL game ball rests on the pitch.
The framing calendar for the 2025 NWSL season has been set. (Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images)

The NWSL announced the framework for the league’s 12th season on Monday, officially kicking off the 2025 campaign on March 14th, with a new champion crowned on November 22nd.

Similar to the 2024 season, the league’s 14 teams will each play 26 matches — 13 home, 13 away —across 25 weeks, ending on November 2nd. A league total of 190 games will determine the eight contenders set to battle their way through November's playoffs.

The 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup will precede the regular season by one week. The match typically pits the reigning Shield winners against the current champion, but since Orlando earned both those 2024 honors, the Pride will instead host 2024 runners-up Washington in the March 7th contest.

Before any athlete takes the pitch, however, they must report to preseason training camps. Instead of a specific date, the NWSL mandates a kick-off window beginning January 15th and ending February 5th.

There are no official preseason matches, but considering six teams — Angel City, Bay FC, Houston, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle — have already committed to participating in mid-Februrary's 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational, expect those clubs to recall their rosters sooner rather than later.

Arsenal's Michelle Aygemang dribbles around a Washington Spirit defender during an August 2024 NWSL friendly.
Similar to Arsenal's 2024 visit to Washington, NWSL teams can set friendlies for the July break. (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

International play extends NWSL summer schedule

Though 2025 lacks a major international contest like the Olympics or a FIFA World Cup, several confederations do have competitions on this summer's docket. The list includes UEFA's 2025 Euro and Conmebol's Copa América tournament.

As such, immediately after the league's CBA-mandated week-long pause at the end of June, the NWSL will suspend play for the month of July. This window will subsequently allow international players to compete for their respective countries without significantly impacting their NWSL club's season.

Within that break, however, clubs will be free to schedule friendlies against other professional teams, both domestic and abroad. This will follow a similar format as Chelsea and Arsenal's 2024 US tour, where the WSL sides went up against Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit, respectively.

North Carolina's Denise O'Sullivan dribbles the ball up the pitch during an NWSL game.
The new NWSL CBA means trades can occur anytime before October 9th. (Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images)

New CBA affects 2025 season

Due to last August's newly inked CBA, both the waiver wire and trade windows have been eliminated. This means player contracts are now guaranteed, and trades can occur anytime before the October 9th roster freeze, so long as the athlete consents to the trade.

Two eight-week transfer windows dot the 2025 schedule. The first opens on January 28th, with the second set to start alongside the 2026 free agency period on July 1st.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman poses with representatives from CBS, ESPN, Amazon, and ION while announcing the league's 2023 media deal.
The NWSL's 2023 media deal means much of the 2025 broadcasters are already set. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Where to watch the NWSL in 2025

The complete 2025 match schedule, including full broadcast details, is yet to come. However, the NWSL’s 2023 landmark media deal means over 120 matches have already been claimed by various domestic broadcasters.

Friday games will again air on Prime Video, and Saturday double-headers will remain on ION. Both CBS and ESPN platforms will have significant match packages spanning the regular season, and all remaining games will be available on the league's direct-to-consumer streamer, NWSL+.

All broadcasters except ION have picked up various match rights to November's playoffs, with CBS scoring rights to the title match for the fourth year in a row.

Additionally, the NWSL is currently in international distribution rights negotiations, with the league taking aim at growing its audience outside the US.

Key 2025 calendar dates

  • January 15th: Preseason camps may begin
  • January 28th: Primary transfer window opens
  • February 5th: Final day for clubs to begin preseason camps
  • March 7th: 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup
  • March 14th: 2025 NWSL regular season kick-off
  • March 24th: Primary transfer window closes
  • June 23rd-29th: CBA-mandated break
  • July 1st: Secondary transfer window opens; 2026 free agency period begins
  • July: League-wide pause for international competitions
  • August 25th: Secondary transfer window closes
  • October 9th: NWSL roster freeze
  • November 2nd: Final day of the 2025 NWSL regular season
  • November 7th-9th: 2025 NWSL quarterfinals
  • November 14th-16th: 2025 NWSL semifinals
  • November 22nd: 2025 NWSL Championship

Unbeaten NCAA Teams Fall as Women’s College Basketball Heats Up

Tennessee's Sara Puckett and Oklahoma's Neveah Tot try to grab a rebound during a game.
Tennessee suffered their first loss of the NCAA basketball season against conference rival Oklahoma. (Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)

Just five teams remain undefeated in NCAA Division I basketball, after an eventful weekend showcased how thin the margins can be in conference play.

In their first season in the SEC, No. 10 Oklahoma followed up last week's loss to No. 5 Texas with a narrow victory over their previously undefeated new conference rival, No. 16 Tennessee, on Sunday. The Sooners led by as many as 19 points before the Vols mounted a furious comeback, but Oklahoma managed to overcome 31 turnovers to eke out the 87-86 road win.

With Tennessee conceding their season's first loss, only No. 1 UCLA, No. 6 LSU, No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Ohio State, and No. 13 Georgia Tech stand unbeaten entering the 10th week of the 2024/25 NCAA campaign.

The top-ranked Bruins took down unranked Indiana 73-62 on Saturday, silencing the Hoosiers behind UCLA center Lauren Betts's game-leading 25 points and 12 rebounds.

On another Big Ten court, Maryland snapped No. 23 Iowa's 21-game home win streak 74-66 on Sunday, handing the Hawkeyes their first loss at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since February 2022.

Injuries rattle NCAA teams

While undefeated teams continues to impress this weekend, college basketball fans held their collective breath for a very different reason on Sunday, as two of the NCAA's biggest names exited their respective games with apparent injuries.

UConn superstar Paige Bueckers left the court after suffering a knock to the leg during the No. 7 Huskies' 83-52 win against Villanova, later returning to the bench without assistance.

"It's not the worst that we can imagine," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said of Bueckers's tumble after the game. "So, that's great news considering how awkward it was."

Elsewhere, No. 2 South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins suffered a non-contact knee injury in the first half of the Gamecocks' 95-68 win over Mississippi State. Unlike Bueckers, Watkins failed to return to the bench after exiting.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley didn't provide a postgame update on Watkins's status, but did confirm that the junior was not taken to a local hospital.

"Obviously, we feel for Ashlyn and her injury, and her not being able to finish the game," said Staley. "But her teammates had her back. And they did take it to another level on both ends of the floor."

How to watch this week's top-ranked college basketball games

While UConn and South Carolina face unranked Xavier and Texas A&M this week, the college court's top-ranked action returns to full force on Wednesday.

First, No. 9 Ohio State's unbeaten season will be tested by NCAA conference rival No. 25 Michigan at 7 PM ET, live on BTN+.

Then at 8:30 PM ET, undefeated No. 8 Maryland will host one-loss No. 4 USC for the first time as conference foes, with live coverage on FS1

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