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Re-seeding the Sweet 16 as the NCAA Tournament rolls on

Destanni Henderson and South Carolina headline the Sweet 16 field at the NCAA Tournament. (Gerry Melendez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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

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Hannah Sjerven led South Dakota with 16 points in the upset of No. 2 Baylor. (Darren Carroll/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

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

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Michigan's success hinges on Naz Hillmon's play in the post. (Tim Fuller/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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

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Azzi Fudd and UConn have the potential to win the title if they're clicking on all cylinders. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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.

Gotham FC Signs Record-Breaking Sponsorship Deal with Dove

Emily Sonnett shows off the new Dove sponsorship above her last name on her Gotham jersey.
Dove's partnership with Gotham is the brand's first major investment in a women's sports team. (Gotham FC)

Gotham and Dove are teaming up, with the 2023 NWSL champs signing a record-setting multi-year kit partnership with the beauty brand on Thursday.

As Dove's first major investment in a women's sports team, the move also ranks as the highest-ever back-of-jersey sponsorship deal in NWSL history.

While Gotham did not provide specific numbers, the contract surpasses Bay FC's then-record $500,000 deal with private equity giant Sixth Street.

Dove joins Gotham in fight to keep girls in sports

The partnership is a part of Gotham's "Keep Her in the Game" initiative, a community effort launched last August to help adolescent girls stay in sports. Dove will serve as the program's presenting sponsor.

"Dove is the ultimate leader in female strength and empowerment, and we could not be prouder to partner with the brand in a number of impactful ways," Gotham FC chief business officer Ryan Dillon said in the team's release. "We are excited to team up with Dove to create key pathways for young female athletes to stay in sports, develop confidence, and become strong future leaders."

"The partnership is taking effect at a crucial time when supporting girls in sports has never been more important."

With girls twice as likely as boys to abandon sports by age 14, "Keep Her in the Game" aims to bolster young athletes' resilience and amplify the joy and connection that happens on and off the playing field.

After impacting 30 local New Jersey and New York youth clubs and more than 500 players in 2024, the initiative is aiming to double its reach in 2025. It will also pass the proverbial mic to the young athletes themselves by creating a Youth Leadership Council.

"The data is clear: Sports build confidence, leadership skills and resilience in young women, benefiting them for years to come," stated Laura DiMiceli, the head of personal care sports marketing for Dove's parent company, Unilever North America. "Dove is committed to supporting 'Keep Her in the Game' as part of our overall mission to help young girls pursue sports and keep playing the games they love."

Unrivaled to Crown First-Ever 1v1 Tournament Champion

Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier dribbles the ball during an Unrivaled game.
Napheesa Collier is one of four Unrivaled players competing for the 1v1 tournament's $200,000 prize. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball will crown its first-ever 1v1 tournament champion on Friday night, when all four semifinalists take the court with a $200,000 grand prize on the line.

Vinyl guard Arike Ogunbowale will kick off the semis against Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards, before Unrivaled co-founder and Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier faces Rose forward Azurá Stevens. The victors will immediately advance to the night's best-of-three final series.

Notably, Friday's set puts alma mater pride on center court. A trio of UConn alums in Collier, Stevens, and Edwards will all clock in, while Ogunbowale reps Notre Dame — one of just three teams to beat the Huskies this NCAA season.

Along with those priceless bragging rights, the semifinalists are battling for a six-figure payday, though none will leave empty-handed. Each are guaranteed at least $25,000, with $50,000 on deck for the tournament's runner-up.

The players' Unrivaled teammates will also be watching with interest, as the winner's entire 3×3 team will snag $10,000 each.

Though 1v1 can feel like a schoolyard version of basketball, with this much money involved, expect the competition to rise miles above playground tussles.

Rose BC's Angel Reese defends Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards during an Unrivaled game.
Aaliyah Edwards is one of three UConn alums in the Unrivaled 1v1 semifinals. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Endurance could decide Unrivaled 1v1 tournament champion

Friday's format is in part a test of stamina, as players stare down a grueling schedule where the eventual winner must play either three or four 1v1 games in a single night.

To that end, Collier's elite conditioning could make her the favorite, if she can outlast Stevens in the pair's semifinal.

"Her motor is unmatched," Stevens said of Collier's endurance, a key factor in her success so far. "I try to conserve some energy in between possessions, especially when the games get really tiring."

Motors aside, Friday's title will boil down to fundamentals — and which athlete best leverages their personal skillset.

"I have to use my size and stick to my strengths," said Edwards. "It’s about imposing my will and getting the job done."

How to watch the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament finals

The inaugural Unrivaled 1v1 tournament concludes on Friday. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on TNT.

USC Beats UCLA as JuJu Watkins Ends Bruins’ Undefeated NCAA Season

USC's JuJu Watkins drives to the basket between UCLA's Janiah Barker and Elina Aarnisalo.
Watkins scored 38 points to hand UCLA their first loss of the season. (Robert Hanashiro/Imagn Images)

The last perfect DI basketball season has officially fallen, as USC phenom JuJu Watkins put up a historic performance to lead the No. 6 Trojans to a 71-60 win over then-undefeated No. 1 UCLA on Thursday.

Watkins finished the night with 38 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight blocks, becoming the first DI player to register an overall stat-line so robust in 20 years.

"It took everything. It's been a rough couple weeks for me," Watkins said after the game, referencing uncharacteristic performances leading up to Thursday's rivalry matchup. "To be able to kind of snap back into it and get into my rhythm here at Galen versus UCLA, it's really all I could ask for."

"I'm really just like a kid out there and living out my dream."

Throughout the back-and-forth battle, Watkins's consistency made all the difference. She scored every one of USC's 14 second-quarter points, and helped lead a monster fourth quarter in which the Trojans slammed the door by outscoring the Bruins 24-8.

"I didn't teach JuJu any of that," commented USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb after the game. "[I] just try to put her in situations to be her best self, and she does most of that work. What I was so impressed with tonight, obviously, was just the mentality she came out with."

With the marquee win, USC now sits firmly atop the Big Ten. That said, UCLA will have a chance to avenge the loss in the pair's March 1st rematch, when that final regular-season game could decide the conference title.

Until then, the Trojans will be riding high on their Thursday night dominance.

"We'll never forget this night," Gottlieb said. "It's as good as anything I've ever seen."

UConn star Paige Bueckers dribbles the ball during a game.
UConn takes on South Carolina on Sunday. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

How to watch Top 10 NCAA basketball this weekend

With no undefeated teams left in DI basketball, Watkins's performance has put the field on notice to not make any assumptions about who might end up on top.

While Sunday will see USC roll against unranked Washington and UCLA try to bounce back against No. 22 Michigan State, the NCAA slate will also serve up two huge Top 10 matchups.

First, No. 7 UConn will take their final major regular-season test when they visit No. 4 South Carolina at 1 PM ET, when Paige Bueckers and the Huskies will aim to pull off a similarly impressive USC-inspired upset.

Then at 3 PM ET, No. 5 LSU heads to No. 3 Texas, where the Tigers will hunt their first win over the Longhorns in more than 22 years.

Both elite meetings are set to air live on ABC.

Pro Women’s Lacrosse League Debuts at WLL Championship Series

A promotional graphic for the WLL Championship Series.
The WLL played its first-ever pro games at this week's Lexus Championship Series. (ESPN)

The brand-new professional Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) made its official debut this week just outside of Washington, DC, where its first-ever game saw the New York Charging take down the Maryland Charm 14-13 in the WLL Championship Series.

After the inaugural Tuesday result, the action continued on Wednesday, when the California Palms opened their WLL account by getting the better of the Boston Guard in a tight 16-15 matchup.

Founded and run by the Premier Lacrosse League, the WLL fosters top-level competition as the sport gears up for its 2028 Olympic return.

The four-team WLL Championship Series follows an Olympic-style "sixes" format. Unlike traditional lacrosse, which uses a larger pitch and 10 athletes per team, sixes employs a condensed field with six players per side.

In the Championship Series, teams are first competing in three round-robin games to determine semifinal seedings. The tournament will culminate with the knockout semifinal and final rounds on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Team USA lacrosse star Charlotte North gestures during a 2022 World Championship game.
Team USA star Charlotte North competes for the WLL's Boston Guard. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

WLL looks to level up lacrosse ahead of 2028 Olympics

Despite the competition's quick turnaround, the WLL represents a growing professionalization movement in women's lacrosse — with all involved betting big on the sport's Olympic success in LA.

When lacrosse steps back onto the Olympic stage in 2028, it will have been 80 years since its last 1948 outing — and even then, it was merely a demonstration event. The last time the sport earned medals was in 1908.

Furthermore, the sport's entire Olympic history rests in the men's game — 2028 will see women take the Olympic lacrosse pitch for the first time ever.

"We are honored to be a part of the WLL, and we couldn't be more excited to bring this game to the fans in new ways than ever before," said Boston Guard star Charlotte North in a league statement.

"We firmly believe that this is the beginning of what will be a monumental movement in the game of professional women's lacrosse, and for female athletes around the globe.... It's our time."

Former Northwestern lacrosse star Izzy Scane shoots the ball during an NCAA game.
Izzy Scane, the NCAA DI lacrosse career scoring leader, plays for the New York Charging. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

How to watch the WLL Championship Series

The tournament's round-robin play continues with the Maryland Charm facing off against the Boston guard at 9 PM ET on Thursday, before the California Palms contend with the New York Charging at 6 PM ET on Friday.

All WLL Championship Series games will stream live on ESPN+, with Sunday's and Monday's knockout rounds airing live on ESPN2.

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