The Sweet 16 is upon us, and with it comes a few surprises — North Dakota and Creighton — and some anticipated arrivals — South Carolina and Stanford.

Some teams have played better than their seedings have indicated, and others have played worse. Here’s what the field would look like on Friday if the teams were re-ranked. Plus, I offer up my picks for which teams I think advance to the Elite Eight.

1. South Carolina

The one consistency in this tournament has been the play of the No. 1 seeds. While at least one team at every other spot has been challenged, the one seeds have proved their worth, which is why I’m leaving those four teams atop the rankings.

South Carolina remains my overall No. 1. The Gamecocks defeated Howard 79-21 and Miami 49-33 to advance to the Sweet 16.

They haven’t showcased the offensive prowess that we’ve become accustomed to this season, but that’s no reason to be concerned. The old coach’s cliche, “defense wins championships,” applies here. The Gamecocks held Howard to 15 percent shooting from the field and just eight points in the first three quarters. Then they forced Miami into a 24-percent shooting performance, including three quarters of single-digit scoring. Offense ebbs and flows, but if a team can play defense like that, it has an edge in every contest. Still, the tougher the competition becomes, the more crucial that Gamecocks offense will be.

X-Factor: The re-emergence of elite offense

2. Stanford

Through the first two rounds, the Cardinal have put together the best offensive performance of any team. Against Montana State, they shot 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc with nine 3-pointers. They had four double-digit scorers in the first game, and in the second Lexie Hull erupted for 36 points. The scariest thing about this Stanford team is that it has at least six players who are capable of going off for 20 points.

The Cardinal’s inside presence is tough, with Cameron Brink leading the way. Fran Belibi has emerged as an excellent option off the bench, and Haley Jones, Lexie and Lacie Hull, Anna Wilson and Hannah Jump each bring different skill sets. It all adds up to a dominant offense that is challenging to scheme against.

X-Factor: Continued balance

3. NC State

NC State also keeps its ranking heading into the Sweet 16, largely because of its equal-opportunity offense. At this point in the season, everyone knows what Elissa Cunane brings to the floor, but the rest of the team is clicking as well. The Wolfpack easily handled Longwood thanks to five double-digit scorers. Against Kansas State, Cunane was neutralized with foul trouble, playing just 13 minutes and scoring four points. Kayla Jones stepped up and recorded 18 points, while Raina Perez and Diamond Johnson each contributed 15 points to spread out the scoring.

X-Factor: Guard play stays solid

4. Louisville

After an easy win over Albany, the Cardinals were tested by Gonzaga and passed. The Zags kept it close, down by four at the half, but Louisville went on a 20-12 run in the third to help secure the victory. Gonzaga is a disciplined squad, but Louisville was able to force 18 turnovers, including six from Kayleigh Truong, GU’s trusty point guard. Meanwhile, Louisville took care of the ball, giving it away just eight times.

The offense wasn’t perfect — the Cards shot 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc — but Louisville found ways to make up for it. Still, that shooting will need to improve if the Cardinals want to keep dancing.

X-Factor: Shooting heats up

5. Texas

Texas is a team that can beat anyone in the country when it’s playing at its best. And right now, the Longhorns are doing just that. Their win against Utah was an offensive and defensive master class. Texas shot 64 percent from the field and forced 19 turnovers, which led to 18 points on the other end. Rori Harmon continues to be one of the best guards in the country, and right now, I’d pick the freshman over just about anyone.

X-Factor: Harmon continues to play beyond her age

6. Maryland

Maryland may have one of the strongest starting fives in the country in Ashley Owusu, Diamond Miller, Katie Benzan, Angel Reese and Chloe Bibby. Offensively, there’s no question Maryland is a top team, but its shortcoming at times this season has been defense. Not so in the tournament.

Against Delaware, the Terrapins allowed Jasmine Dickey to score 31 points, but she had to put up 32 shots to do so, and they limited everyone else. Then they held Florida Gulf Coast’s potent offense in check as well, as the Eagles turned the ball over 15 times and shot 38 percent for the game.

X-Factor: Defense, defense, defense

7. South Dakota

Maybe I’m getting caught up in the excitement of an upset, but South Dakota and Creighton have played their way into the top half of these teams. If you’ve read anything I’ve written, you’ll know I put a lot of stock in maturity on the court. South Dakota certainly has that. The Coyotes are led by three fifth-year seniors: Chloe Lamb (16.1 points per game), Hannah Sjerven (15) and Liv Korngable (12.7). This group is battle-tested and ready for anything, as it showed through the first two rounds.

X-Factor: Ability to defend opposing stars

8. Creighton

The other darling of the tournament, Creighton, is next on the list. Putting the narrative of Lauren Jensen upsetting her former team aside, there is a lot to like about the Bluejays. For starters, everyone on the floor can score. Morgan Maly is third on the team in points per game, and she comes off the bench. The offense is well-rounded: The Bluejays love to share the ball, and they also take care of it. Creighton leads the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.59. Add those things together, and it leads me to believe Creighton can stay hot.

X-Factor: Multiple players continue to score

9. Indiana

The Hoosiers are starting to look like the team that was top five for much of the season. With Mackenzie Holmes almost back to full form — she’s averaging 29 minutes, 14.5 points and eight rebounds per game through the first two rounds — and Chloe Moore-McNeil providing a lift as another scoring weapon off the bench, Indiana is in good shape on offense. Princeton was a tough test, but IU survived, showing its resilience. That is important as the competition ramps up.

X-Factor: Holmes’ domination in the paint

10. Iowa State

Led by Ashley Joens, Iowa State has a solid trio of scorers. The senior is the obvious leader, and has been all season, while Emily Ryan is exactly what a team wants in a point guard. She’s a skilled scorer, but more importantly, she probes defenses with a purpose and helps put her teammates in positions to be successful. Lexi Donarski, their third-leading scorer, put up 20 points in the win over Georgia. But here’s my concern with Iowa State: After those three, what do they have? Through the first two rounds, the Cyclones have just five total bench points.

X-Factor: Role players must step up

11. UConn

I have UConn in my championship game, and though I’ve rethought a lot of the bracket-related decisions I made, that isn’t one of them. So why do I have UConn at 11th on this list? The Huskies are capable of performing as a championship-caliber team, but I didn’t see that against UCF. Had the Knights shot better at the free-throw line, I might be ranking them instead of the Huskies. Most of UConn’s offense didn’t show up in that game, and Paige Bueckers didn’t look like herself. UConn can be great, but the Huskies have a lot to figure out before they meet Indiana on Saturday.

X-Factor: A complete offensive showing

12. Michigan

This is a difficult list to make because every team has a ton of upside. It’s the Sweet 16, after all. Michigan being this low doesn’t feel right, but I also don’t think the Wolverines can jump anyone above them, so here we are. Defensively, Michigan has been solid. The Wolverines held American to 1-for-21 shooting from beyond the arc (4.8 percent), and limited Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist (the nation’s second-leading scorer at 25.3 points per game) to just 12 points.

But offensively, this team is similar to Iowa State. Naz Hillmon is phenomenal and Leigha Brown has been solid, but I need to see more from the Wolverines.

X-Factor: Significant offensive output from a player not named Hillmon or Brown

13. Notre Dame

I know I praised Notre Dame for their monster scoring performance, and I stand by that. It was quite the feat. But as far as tournament implications, it doesn’t tell us much. Per Her Hoop Stats, Oklahoma is the 351st team in the country in opponent points per game. That means there are only four squads who give up more points per contest. So, celebrate the 108 points, just do so knowing the context. Aside from that, UMass gave the Irish a scare in Round 1. The Fighting Irish shot great once again (57.6 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from 3), but they allowed UMass to make seven 3-pointers and stay in the game.

X-Factor: Score consistently against better defensive teams

14. Ohio State

Ohio State got off to a dominant start against LSU, and then weathered a run by the Tigers on their home court in the fourth quarter. Jacy Sheldon continues to impress. She had 23 points and eight assists. Taylor Mikesell added 18, including four of her signature 3-pointers, but the real highlight for the Buckeyes was Rebeka Mikulasikova. She shut down Faustin Aifuwa, holding her to two points, while contributing 12 points of her own. If she’s performing at a high level, Ohio State adds another dimension to its offense.

X-Factor: Mikulasikova holds her own inside

15. North Carolina

Again, there is no bad team on this list. North Carolina just knocked off a solid Arizona team as its sophomore trio answered the test. Kennedy Williams-Todd had 19 points, Deja Kelly added 15 and Alyssa Utsby finished with 12. The Tar Heels were also tough in the paint, outscoring Arizona 30-18. All that said, I still can’t justify moving UNC up any higher on this list.

X-Factor: Sophomores continue to shine

16. Tennessee

Remember when I said making this list was hard? Well, picking my 16th team wasn’t. That’s because I still can’t figure out Tennessee. This team has so much talent, and yet they squeaked into the Sweet 16. The win over Buffalo was a bit more convincing than the defeat of Belmont, but the Vols still only pulled away in the fourth quarter despite Buffalo shooting just 35 percent. Tennessee has struggled all season with teams who can shoot from long distance, and to me, that’s a big concern going forward. And yet, well, keep reading to find out …

X-Factor(s): Ability to defend the 3-point line, and the potential return of Jordan Horston

My Picks

South Carolina over UNC

The Gamecocks have just too much talent at every position for North Carolina to contend with. I stand by my original prediction and choose the Gamecocks.

Texas over Ohio State

The Longhorns are at the top of their game right now. If they continue to click on both ends of the floor, this one goes their way. Still, Ohio State should put up a better fight than Texas’ previous two opponents.

Stanford over Maryland

I like the way Maryland is playing right now, but I love what Stanford brings to the court. Maryland will have to bring its best defensive performance of the season to win this one, and even then, the Cardinal have too many weapons.

Creighton over Iowa State

The Bluejays have a believer in me. I believe in their ability to score, and I believe in Jim Flanery’s ability to put together a defensive game plan for Ashley Joens.

NC State over Notre Dame

Elissa Cunane will be the best post on the floor, and her supporting cast is talented enough to deal with the Notre Dame guards.

UConn over Indiana

If — and only if — Bueckers is at her best, and the Huskies have a better offensive performance than they did against UCF. Otherwise, Indiana will make its second-straight Elite Eight.

Louisville over Tennessee (with a caveat)

I ranked Tennessee 16th on this list. I think the Vols have the goods to defeat Louisville, but I don’t have faith that they will play to their potential. We haven’t seen that in at least a month. If Jordan Horston is somehow healthy enough to make an impact, then Tennessee can do it. Count this as me picking Louisville, but with an asterisk.

South Dakota over Michigan

The Coyotes already solved one elite post player in Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith. They can do it again against Naz Hillmon.

Eden Laase is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. She previously ran her own high school sports website in Michigan after covering college hockey and interning at Sports Illustrated. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

When San Diego's home match against the Washington Spirit ended in a 0-0 draw on June 22nd, the NWSL officially pressed pause on the regular season, entering an extended summer break as international tournaments kicked off around the world.

And while the US club league has dimmed its lights before — most recently during the 2024 Paris Olympics — this is the first year it's ever stopped play to accommodate major regional competitions like Copa América, WAFCON, and UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

Why the new approach? The league's global presence has never been stronger. And that's not just because high-profile players like Naomi Girma and Crystal Dunn swapped their NWSL jerseys for European kits earlier this year. It goes the other way, too. Once an assumed stronghold for homegrown talent, the NWSL has diversified its ranks, with top players heading overseas this window.

US broadcasters buy into growing Euros interest

No event has showcased this shift greater than the European Championship. The tournament was once siloed away from the average Stateside soccer fan. But this year, 18 NWSL players representing 12 countries are Switzerland-bound — three-times the number playing in England just three years ago.

And fans are ready to dig in. The 2025 Euros will be the most accessible in history, with FOX Sports recently doubling down on broadcasting the competition in the US.

The network has committed to 31 matches, including 19 games on linear TV and every knockout round match. It will also provide pre- and post-game analysis, aiming to develop a major market player while riding out the sport's popularity boom.

With increased visibility and plenty of familiar faces, NWSL fans are set to become Euro 2025's prime audience. And for players, showcasing the league's impact shapes the perception of football in the US, allowing the NWSL the opportunity to strengthen its reputation despite never taking the pitch this July.

Euros stars say perceptions of the NWSL are shifting

Only one NWSL player featured on England's 2022 Euros-winning roster. That was Houston forward-turned-defender Rachel Daly, before she returned to the WSL and retired from international play. 

That number tripled in 2025, after Gotham FC defender Jess Carter, Spirit defender Esme Morgan, and Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse were called up to the Lionesses's title defense in Switzerland.

It's not Carter's first Euros, but this will be the first year she joins from an NWSL team. An England mainstay since her 2017 senior debut, she said she never felt like a move to the US would jeopardize her national team standing. Just so long as her performance stayed consistent.

"People were probably apprehensive about coming here before, because it's so far away from your family and friends," Carter told Just Women's Sports. "But also because the NWSL was traditionally known as just a transitional league. And to a lot of people in Europe, it wasn't technical enough."

Carter isn't alone in her assessment. Both Morgan and Moorhouse told JWS they were familiar with the NWSL's reputation as a "kick and run" league. Though that stereotype didn't match their experiences on the ground.

"Most [NWSL] teams are trying to play possession-based football, albeit a little more direct than Europe," Morgan said. "I think that's far more exciting to be a part of, and also more challenging as a defender because there are such fast transitions."

"The league is changing here in the US," echoed Carter, who departed Chelsea for Gotham in 2024. "It's becoming more technical."

NWSL play helped Morgan secure her spot with England

That hybrid style — plus more starting opportunities — have bolstered Morgan's status with England. Coach Sarina Wiegman already knew the Manchester City product as a powerful line-breaker on the ball. And her ability to wear down the low block while holding the lion's share of possession has only improved. 

"I felt confident coming here," she continued. "As long as I continued to work on the things that I wanted to improve, and every weekend was putting in good performances for the Spirit, that would be enough to put me in the running for selection."

The NWSL's speed has also elevated her play. "[Wiegman] has spoken to me the last couple of times about being really pleased with what I've been able to do, in terms of being a little bit more aggressive, proactive, physical in my duels, and winning aerial balls," she said. "I've developed so much in that space since playing in America."

Both Morgan and Carter competed with England at the 2023 World Cup, 30-year-old Moorehouse is gearing up for her first major tournament with the national team. And coming from an Orlando side stacked with international talent — namely Brazil legend Marta and Zambia superstar Barbra Banda, among others — the goalie credited her NWSL team for keeping her on her toes every day.

"Marta humbles me on a daily basis, I'm not gonna lie," she laughed. "To see that day in-day out, it's only for the better. It's only going to improve my game."

Summer NWSL schedule benefits Euros-bound players

As coveted national team roster spots reflect both consistency and form, NWSL players have a quiet advantage. Thanks to the summer NWSL schedule, they're guaranteed to be completely match-fit going into any major tournament.

That the NWSL runs opposite to the more traditional fall-to-spring European setup has sometimes been a point of tension overseas. This was especially true in past years, when the league did not suspend regular-season play for more than a weekend or two during longer international windows. That practice forced previous Euros competitors to choose between club and country. 

This year, however, players view the cross-conditioning to be as much of an asset as an anticipated challenge when they return to finish out the season.

"I spoke to quite a few of the US girls in the past about the fact that the summer schedule might have helped their performance in international tournaments," said Morgan, pointing out the NWSL-heavy USWNT's major tournament success.

"I feel like I'm peaking at the right time, going into the tournament in midseason," echoed Moorhouse, who is set to serve as backup to Chelsea goalkeeper and presumptive England starter Hannah Hampton.

Learning to balance club and country

Still, there are downsides. It's not always easy to travel in and out of market ahead of a big international opportunity, but each player finds their own way to stay on top of whichever task is in front of them, whether at home or abroad.

Sometimes that divide between club and country is literal. "We have a [NWSL] team app where we have communication," Gotham and Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger told media after her Euros call-up. "I was like, 'Look, if you need something, you have to text me on WhatsApp. Because this app is not working for me when I'm at the international break, and the same way around.'"

For Carter, the NWSL's schedule helps her compartmentalize, keeping her laser-focused on both individual and team goals.

"I'm someone that either is all in or all off," she explained. "I've got to make sure that I'm still eating right, training right, when all I want to do is sit by the beach and have an ice cream."

"I want fans to fall in love with women's football even more"

Carter and Berger aren't the only Gotham standouts packing their passports this month. Star forward Esther González is also committed to play for the always-dangerous Spanish national team. Fellow forward Jéssica Silva will represent Portugal and recent signing Josefine Hasbo is set to join Denmark. And the excitement is palpable, both on and off the pitch.

"It's really great to see that our fans get to support us even whilst we're not at Gotham. Because they're invested in us as people, not just Gotham," says Carter. "I want fans to fall in love with women's football even more, regardless of where it's being played."

As for Morgan, she could be battling against the Spirit's newest signing, Italy's Sofia Cantore. The rest of their teammates will definitely be watching from home — along with a very special guest.

Before Morgan left, her teammates assured her they would be up in the morning cheering her on. "And mak[ing] my kitten watch too, which is very cute," she added.

She said she likes imagining NWSL fans following their favorite club players through the tournament, staying engaged in the game even as the league takes a break.

Encouraging NWSL fans to watch the 2025 Euros

Moorhouse echoed Morgan's hope that the Euros will allow US fans to continue weaving women's football into their lives during the downtime.

"In the US, when I get up on a Saturday morning, all the games are on," she said, referencing the time change. "To me, that's so cool. I'm eating my breakfast, drinking my coffee, and I've just got football on the telly."

"Go and get your breakfast," she urged. "Get your pancakes. And watch some good football."

The third Grand Slam of 2025 is officially underway, as the world's top tennis stars hit the grass courts in London for the annual Wimbledon Championships on Monday.

World No. 16 Barbora Krejčíková enters as the Slam's reigning champion, with all of the WTA's current Top 10 — none of whom have ever won at Wimbledon — looking to dethrone the 2024 victor.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula looks to be an early frontrunner, as the US star picked up steam following her defeat of No. 4 Iga Świątek 6-4, 7-5 in Saturday's championship match of the 2025 Bad Homburg Open, a Wimbledon tune-up tournament.

A 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, Pegula has already earned three titles this year, gaining significant momentum as she hunts a career-first Grand Slam trophy.

"[Pegula has] an amazing game, and showed it throughout the tournament," Świątek said following Saturday's loss. "Hopefully, we will have many more finals together."

The first day of 2025 Wimbledon action saw No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruise through her first-round match against Canada's No. 194 Carson Branstine in straight sets, while No. 8 Madison Keys battled to a narrow three-set victory over Romania's No. 58 Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Fellow US contender No. 12 Amanda Anisimova played the most dominant first-round match of the Slam, ousting Kazakhstan's No. 33 Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-0 to open her tournament run.

Italy's No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, a 2024 Wimbledon finalist, also kicked off her 2025 run with a win, downing Latvia's No. 402 Anastasija Sevastova in three sets on Monday afternoon.

Pegula will open her campaign against Italy's No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto on the second day of first-round action at 6 AM ET, with Świątek, 2025 French Open champ No. 2 Coco Gauff, and 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist No. 10 Emma Navarro also rounding out Tuesday's bill.

How to watch the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

The 2025 Wimbledon women's tournament runs through the July 12th championship.

Live continuous coverage of the London Grand Slam airs on ESPN.

The Minnesota Lynx are back on the prowl, after the return of MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier from injury fueled the WNBA-leaders to two straight weekend wins.

Minnesota first outlasted the No. 4 Atlanta Dream 96-92 in overtime on Friday before thumping the last-place Connecticut Sun 102-63 on Sunday, with Collier racking up 49 points over the two-game span.

Collier's bounce-back couldn't have come at a better time, as the WNBA announced Sunday that the Lynx forward will captain the 2025 All-Star Game alongside Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

"It's really cool," Collier said of the news. "I went from never being a starter to captain."

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Both Collier and Clark will have an early chance to test their leadership skills in Tuesday's 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game, when the defending champs Minnesota Lynx will take on first-time finalists Indiana.

With a second straight title on the line, red-hot Minnesota hold the advantage coming into the Commissioner's Cup final, but a healthy Clark could make all the difference for up-and-down No. 8 Indiana.

Meanwhile in the WNBA standings, as the Lynx continue to hold court at the top, this weekend saw the Mercury overtake the Liberty at No. 2, thanks in large part to Phoenix's 106-91 Friday victory over New York.

Along with Sunday's 90-81 loss to the Dream, the reigning champs have dropped five of their last seven games, as now-No. 3 New York struggles without injured center Jonquel Jones.

How to watch the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup final

While the other 11 league teams rest until Thursday, the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever will take Tuesday's court in a battle for the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup.

The in-season tournament's grand finale will tip off at 8 PM ET, with live coverage on Prime.

The world No. 1 USWNT earned another lopsided result against No. 25 Ireland on Sunday, handing the Girls in Green a second straight 4-0 loss despite extensive lineup changes on both sides.

Veteran forward Lynn Biyendolo opened the scoring in her first match as USWNT captain, followed by first-ever senior team goals from both debutant defender Izzy Rodriguez and attacker Yazmeen Ryan.

Second-half USWNT sub Alyssa Thompson found the back of the net in the 86th minute to finish padding the 4-0 scoreline over Ireland.

With one more friendly against No. 8 Canada set for Wednesday, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes rotated all 11 starters on Sunday, trusting bubble players to overcome inexperience to produce a result.

"The level has been set to be relentless in the pursuit of performing and progressing," Hayes said after the game. "It's not about understanding everything in our playbook, but developing the confidence and bravery to deliver."

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The victory also marked the USWNT's 600th program win, with midfielder Sam Meza joining Rodriguez in picking up the 23rd and 24th first caps of the Emma Hayes era.

"I feel like everyone is not only trusting the process, but carrying out all the things we ask them to do," said Hayes of her new additions. "Everybody showed themselves so well."

Though the US keeps stretching its depth and coming out on top, the need to develop strong connections on the pitch could force tough roster decisions in the future.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Canada on Wednesday

The USWNT will cap their three-friendly summer break against rivals Canada on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.

Live coverage of the clash in Washington, DC, will air on TNT.