Sophia Smith honored Katie Meyer’s memory in the U.S. women’s national team’s World Cup opener on Saturday, imitating her former college teammate’s iconic 2019 national championship celebration following her second goal.

After VAR confirmed Smith’s goal in first-half stoppage time, giving the USWNT a 2-0 lead over Vietnam, the forward motioned to her zipped her lips and threw away the key. It was a reference to Meyer, who used the same celebratory gesture after saving a penalty kick to help Stanford win the 2019 NCAA title. Meyer, a starting goalkeeper and team captain, died by suicide while still a student at Stanford in March 2022.

“That was for Katie,” Smith told reporters after the USWNT’s 3-0 win over Vietnam. She said planned the celebration alongside center-back and fellow Stanford graduate Naomi Girma.

“That was pretty iconic what she did in the College Cup, and we just want to honor her in every way,” Smith added.

Ahead of the World Cup, Girma, Smith and other members of the USWNT launched a campaign promoting mental health in honor of Meyer. Girma also wrote a heartfelt tribute to her friend and former teammate for The Players’ Tribune, titled “This Is For Katie.”

Smith had plenty of opportunities to celebrate against Vietnam, contributing to all three of the USWNT’s goals with two goals of her own and one assist.

“I tell everyone: I want to win a World Cup and whatever comes with that comes with that,” she said after the game.

It’s Dec. 8, 2019, on a dark soccer field in San Jose. Late in the second half of a scoreless battle between Stanford and North Carolina in the NCAA College Cup final, Stanford sophomore center-back Naomi Girma tweaks her hamstring.

“I could see her holding it, and I went over to her,” remembers former Stanford assistant coach Margueritte Aozasa, now the head coach of reigning NCAA champion UCLA. “And she was like, ‘Marg, don’t worry about me. I pulled my hamstring, but I’m not coming out. So, don’t even like — you don’t need to be over here.’”

The North Carolina striker pestering Girma in extra time was none other than Alessia Russo, now a marquee signing at Arsenal and a European champion with England. But in 2019, she was just another student-athlete playing to the ticking clock of an NCAA game, with a golden-goal format that inherently favored the attacker.

“It was one of the best matchups of the entire year, just watching the two of them go at each other,” Aozasa says.

Even on one hamstring, Girma shut Russo down, keeping the clean sheet to give Stanford the chance to win in a penalty shootout and claim their second national title in three years.

“We were in the attack, and they would counter-attack, and it would just be Naomi and Alessia in 60 yards of space,” Aozasa says. “And it was just like, ‘OK, who’s the better player in this moment?’ And time and time again, she stepped up to the challenge.”

That was the moment Aozasa remembers knowing Girma could become one of the best defenders in the country, and it didn’t take long for the then-sophomore to make good on her early promise. Known for her calm demeanor on and off the field, Girma combines the intellect of a perfectionist and a casual humility that belie her many accomplishments. Those qualities will be tested once again this summer when the 23-year-old steps up to her newest challenge.

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As a sophomore, Girma played a pivotal role in Stanford's 2019 NCAA Championship run. (Jim Shorin/ISI Photos)

Now a Cardinal legend and projected starter for the U.S. women’s national team as they pursue a record third-straight World Cup title in New Zealand, Girma recently found herself in San Jose at another inflection point in her career. This time, she was playing with the USWNT in their send-off game against Wales on July 9.

The city is not only a setting of college glory, but also her hometown. The daughter of Ethiopian immigrant parents, Girma got her start playing soccer at the local YMCA, quickly rising through the club ranks at CV Crossfire, De Anza Force and CA Thorns Academy to become a coveted recruit among the top universities.

For the local kid, picking Stanford seemed like an easy choice, and not only because of its rigorous academic standard and excellent soccer team — “It’s also 30 minutes from home,” Girma says. “And the campus … it’s beautiful. So there’s just so much to love about it, and yeah, I feel like if I thought about it more, it was the obvious right choice.”

Her reputation preceded her. Aozasa remembers the day she met the bubbly then-teenager on a college visit.

“Right away, she just has this maturity about her that I think is very recognizable. She’s always kind of been wise beyond her years,” says the coach.

“But then she also just has this joy about her, like she’s always smiling, always laughing, like she’s kind of the best in everybody. And even as a young kid at 15, I think that was very clear.”

At the time of her Stanford visit, Girma had only relatively recently converted to center-back, which she now recalls beginning at Olympic Development Camp and progressing from the U-14 level upward. She had previously been a defensive midfielder, and that experience informs her game to this day.

“For a lot of the time, I was still playing midfield for my club,” Girma says, “which I think kind of helped me feel comfortable on the ball or in tight spaces.”

“In the midfield, you’re used to pressure at 360 degrees,” Aozasa explains. “Typically as a defender, it’s only in front of you. So it feels kind of like this, maybe, a misrepresentation of how much time you have simply because you’re used to multiple defenders.

“I always point this out to younger players: You can notice in the way Naomi plays, even when she’s dribbling, she never is looking at the ball. She’s constantly scanning, which allows her to make these penetrating passes. And most importantly, I think it allows her to change her mind.”

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Girma developed into a pro-ready player under coach Margueritte Aozasa at Stanford. (John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Girma brought all of those qualities to Stanford from the first moment she stepped onto the training field. Still, her ascension to a starting role for the team came a bit earlier than expected. In the middle of Girma’s first season in 2018, Tierna Davidson (now a World Champion with the 2019 USWNT) suffered a broken ankle. Without missing a step, the freshman Girma stepped into her place, contributing calmly to a squad that struggled with injuries throughout the season.

“It was really fascinating to see her just step in kind of at a moment’s notice, and just take over the game from a center-back position at a very young age,” says Aozasa.

“When she was coming into college, I asked our college coaches, I said, ‘OK, tell me about the freshman class,” says former Stanford and current U.S. teammate Alana Cook. “And the way they talked about Naomi, it was an inevitability that she would be here.”

The Stanford rosters that brought home national championships in 2017 and 2019 will likely be remembered for years to come.

In 2019 alone, Girma played with future USWNT teammates Sophia Smith and Catarina Macario, as well as future pros like Sam Hiatt, Sierra Enge, Kiki Pickett and Madison Haley. That squad also included penalty shootout hero Katie Meyer, who as a freshman goalkeeper secured the championship win for the Cardinal. Meyer, Girma’s close friend and co-captain, died by suicide in March 2022.

“Sometimes they would do some things in training, and me and the rest of the staff would just look at each other,” Aozasa says of her 2019 team. “I say I had the easiest job in college soccer at that point. We just, for the most part, gave them a little bit of structure, kind of tried to teach them to be on the same page, to make different reads. But we also tried to give them a lot of freedom, because we knew their skill level alone and their individual creativity and ability was off the charts.”

“I didn’t realize how good we were,” Girma says. “I wish I knew and it was a super strategic choice, [but] for me, I was really into getting my education and like challenging myself there, and then also challenging myself on a soccer field, that I felt like Stanford gave me the best opportunity for both.”

The defender dealt with adversity in various forms after Stanford’s national championship run. In 2020, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an ACL injury in 2021 disrupted her final season. But the time Girma spent away from the field also gave her an opportunity to lean into her studies, something she says has always been a priority.

A Symbolic Systems/Management Science & Engineering major, she joined the prestigious Mayfield Fellow Program as a senior, an opportunity given to only 12 Stanford students.

“Anytime there was a difficult moment, whether it was soccer, whether it was school, she still would go, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ve got three midterms this week,’ and then she’d start laughing,” says Aozasa. “Like, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be hard, but I can do it.’”

“I think it can be hard when soccer becomes your identity, and if that’s not going well, then everything’s not going well,” says Girma. “So, just making sure that I have a balance in my life with my friends and my family to keep me grounded too is really helpful for me.”

Her passion for learning is something she’s continued to this day. She is pursuing a Master’s Degree in addition to her full-time work as a professional soccer player, though she took an understandable leave of absence in early 2023 to focus on preparing for the World Cup. She’s characteristically unassuming when discussing her workload.

“I’m really interested in it, so it doesn’t feel like a drag,” she says of her post-graduate studies.

After juggling intense amounts of soccer and school in college, Girma proved herself ready for the NWSL immediately after being drafted No. 1 overall by the San Diego Wave in 2022. The move raised some eyebrows initially due to San Diego’s roster needs, but head coach Casey Stoney — a former defender herself — said she never wavered from her first choice.

The pick paid off as Girma earned instant accolades, winning both Rookie and Defender of the Year and even making the Most Valuable Player shortlist. The Wave also achieved unprecedented success for an expansion side in their inaugural season, going all the way to the NWSL semifinals.

“I think I felt good,” Girma casually concedes about her historic rookie season. “I felt like I had a good year as a rookie and as a defender, and it was cool to get an MVP spot on the list because defenders don’t usually get that.”

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Girma recently signed a contract extension with San Diego through the 2026 season. (Ray Acevedo/USA TODAY Sports)

“Nay could probably go into any environment and be the ultimate professional, be just a rock defensively, just so solid, get along with anybody,” says San Diego and USWNT teammate Alex Morgan.

“Just being teammates with her is great because she does not seem like she is a rookie at all — I mean, now she’s not technically a rookie. But last year, she was a huge staple and a rock for this team, and her role is only going to continue to expand.”

Girma isn’t considered a flashy player, which is not uncommon for the center-back role, but her consistency stands out. Similar to her personality off the field, her movements are small and unassuming. Girma positions herself between an attacker and the goal behind her with an ease of movement that evokes a young Becky Sauerbrunn.

She also has a quiet flair to the way she contains opponents. At 5-foot-7, instead of using her height to impose angles, she turns gravity into an ally. Picking an approaching angle, she will adjust her weight toward the ground with expert positioning to take downhill momentum away from an attacker, then deftly turn the ball around and distribute to a forward teammate.

“She covers ground so quickly. Her footwork in 1v1 defending and the way she can defend 1v1 is some of the best I’ve ever seen,” says Stoney. “Her ceiling is so high, we’ve not even scratched the surface with Naomi yet. I think she could be one of the best center-backs in the world.”

“She reads the game really well, which is kind of a very ambiguous, abstract term,” says Aozasa. “But she just understands preventative positioning so she is able to deny passing lanes. She’s able to read off the cues of the attacking player to just put herself in a really great position to either prevent a dangerous pass, or to make a play on a dangerous pass.”

Girma gives credit for her success to the people around her, both in training environments and off the field. She considers Sophia Smith one of her best friends and notes the impact Sauerbrunn has had on her as a young U.S. defender.

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Girma and Sophia Smith became close friends while playing together at Stanford. (Courtesy of Mollie Smith)

“Making sure that that training mentality, training environment is the best it could be, I think that kind of helps me when I go up to the next level,” she says. “And just really not having an ego, putting that aside, and just wanting to learn and wanting to get better.”

Simultaneously an expert and a student, Girma will have to rely on her ability to organize and communicate quickly as she once again raises her level to match up against the best at the World Cup. It’s a role Stoney sees her growing into.

“I don’t think Naomi, coming into the league, realized how good she was,” she says. “So her ability to solve pressure on the dribble and play her way out, she wouldn’t do it as much early on in the games.”

Now seasoned at the professional level, Girma approaches defensive pressure and organization like an equation she is able to solve. She’s frequently tasked with setting up play for the USWNT, bringing the ball forward against teams in a low-block defense and setting tempo in higher transitional games. Against Wales in the team’s send-off match, she tried different approaches in ball progression, sometimes dribbling up as far as the opponent’s penalty area with her eyes always scanning, or sending a searching diagonal ball out to the wingers.

“There’s very few players in my whole tenure that have stepped in and it’s just like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a ‘first person on the team sheet’ type of player every single time,” Megan Rapinoe told reporters in February. “She’s just that good. I don’t think you can leave her off the field.”

Girma’s coaches have seen that potential in her for a while now.

“I think she’s really stepping up in leadership qualities now,” says Stoney. “And I think actually being picked for the national team and playing, all of a sudden you can see that confidence and that be more assured in our performance.”

“She doesn’t just organize the player right in front of her — she has an ability to organize five or six players around her, which at the highest level is super, super important,” says Aozasa. “Because it’s not just like she understands the movements that she’s making. It’s part of a synchronous movement of three or four people, and she’s able to kind of direct that in real time.”

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Girma is expected to start at center-back for the USWNT at the World Cup. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Girma will also have increased responsibility at the World Cup, anchoring a new backline that will be without longtime captain Becky Sauerbrunn due to injury. The U.S. is bringing only three center-backs, none of whom have extensive international experience at the position. Girma’s calming presence will be tested at the highest level, but she feels prepared for what’s next.

“There’s just a huge emphasis on details and over-communicating,” Girma says of the USWNT environment under head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who has acknowledged she is a definite starter. “And like doing those in training so that when it’s a big moment in the game, it’s second nature and it’s [not] something out of the ordinary.”

The next time Naomi Girma matches up 1v1 against Alessia Russo, it could be in front of tens of thousands of fans in a winner-take-all moment for the World Cup trophy. But for now, the defender is taking her usual unassuming approach, enjoying with her family the fulfillment of a promise that began in San Jose, and has extended to San Diego and beyond.

“They love it, it’s so fun,” Girma says. “I feel like we’ve all kind of been on this journey together. Now we’re all like, ‘We’re living the dream.’”

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

Oklahoma softball cemented its status as one of the greatest programs in women’s college sports, winning its third straight Women’s College World Series title, its fifth in the last seven years and its seventh overall.

The Sooners’ performance this season – which included an NCAA-record 53 consecutive victories and counting – begs the question: Who are the top dynasties in women’s college sports? While this list is by no means exhaustive, Just Women’s Sports takes a look at 10 programs in addition to Oklahoma who can count themselves among the best.

LSU Track & Field (25 titles)

LSU is the most successful team in the history of NCAA Division I women’s track and field, with 25 total titles — 14 at the outdoor championships and 11 at the indoor championships. The Tigers ran off 11 straight outdoor titles from 1987-97 and five straight indoor titles from 1993-97. Their most recent championship came in 2008 at the outdoor championships.

UNC Soccer (21 titles)

UNC women’s soccer might be the most successful women’s team in NCAA history, across all sports, with a capital P period. Just six other programs have multiple titles in women’s soccer, with none of them even reaching double digits. The Tar Heels, meanwhile, have 21 of them – all of which have come under head coach Anson Dorrance, which makes him the third-most national title-winning coach in NCAA history.

UNC won the first three national titles in NCAA women’s soccer history starting in 1982, before George Mason upset the Tar Heels in 1985. But in 1986, UNC was back on top, reeling off nine consecutive national titles thanks to the likes of Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly.

Starting with the 1980s, there hasn’t been a decade in which North Carolina hasn’t won a national title, although the program’s last one came back in 2012. Since then, Florida State has turned itself into a perennial contender with three national championships, while UCLA has won two.

Maryland Lacrosse (14 titles)

In the sport of women’s lacrosse, two teams have established themselves as dynasties: Maryland and Northwestern. Maryland has won 14 NCAA titles, the most in the history of the sport, with their most recent coming in 2019. From 1995 to 2001, the team rattled off seven straight titles, then won four titles in a six-year span from 2014 to 2019. All but one of those titles came under former coach Cindy Timchal and current coach Cathy Reese.

UCLA Softball (12 titles)

While Oklahoma may be creeping up on UCLA with its seven titles, the Bruins still have won the most in NCAA softball history with 12. The winners of the first-ever Women’s College World Series, they haven’t stopped winning since then, including their run of three straight titles from 1988 to 1990 – a feat only matched by Oklahoma. The Bruins’ last title came in 2019.

UConn Basketball (11 titles)

UConn is always in the conversation when it comes to contenders for the NCAA women’s basketball championship. The Huskies won their first title in 1995, and since then they have been in a battle with Tennessee for the best program in NCAA history. UConn rattled off three titles in a row from 2002-04, then four in a row from 2013-16. The 2016 run stands as the program’s most recent championship.

The Huskies also dominate the regular season, with many of the game’s best – from Diana Taurasi to Sue Bird – creating a force to be reckoned with. From 2014-17, the Huskies rattled off a win-streak of 111 games. They also compiled a regular-season conference winning streak of 145 games, which ended in 2022.

Stanford Swimming & Diving (11 titles)

A perennial powerhouse known for churning out Olympians, Stanford has won an NCAA-leading 11 titles, including five straight from 1992-96. The Cardinal also won three in a row from 2017-19. Recently, Virginia has made a name for itself, winning the last three NCAA titles to start its own swimming dynasty.

Georgia Gymnastics (10 titles)

It’s been awhile since Georgia has topped the gymnastics world, but once upon a time the Bulldogs did just that, rattling off five straight gymnastics titles from 2005-09 and claiming an NCAA-leading 10th title in 2009. Oklahoma has started to creep up on the Georgia dynasty, winning six titles in the last 10 years, including the last two titles.

UNC Field Hockey (10 titles)

When talking about dynasties, UNC field hockey has to be counted among the best. The Tar Heels have won four of the last five national titles to reach 10 total, the most in NCAA history (Maryland has the second-most with eight). Their 10th title capped off an undefeated season, and the Tar Heels also went undefeated in 2018 and 2019 en route to their first national titles since 2009.

Northwestern Lacrosse (8 titles)

The other major player in lacrosse, Northwestern returned to dominant form this season, rattling off 21 consecutive wins to take its eighth national title under Kelly Amonte Hiller and its first since 2012. Bolstered by Tewaaraton Award winner Izzy Scane, the Wildcats dominated in the title game. They won 18-6 over Boston College, which had made six straight appearances in the national championship game. Amonte Hiller’s eight national championships as a head coach are tied for the most ever in NCAA women’s lacrosse.

Tennessee Basketball (8 titles)

For close to four decades, Pat Summitt led a dominant Lady Vols team that won eight national titles. The legendary coach herself held an 84.2% winning percentage. The only team to have appeared in all 36 NCAA tournaments, Tennessee also has made 34 Sweet 16s, including their most recent in 2023. Their last title came in 2008, although coach Kellie Harper has started to build the program back to its former glory.

Rose Zhang won her LPGA debut on Sunday, just 13 days after the Stanford golfer won her second NCAA title.

The 20-year-old, who became the first to win back-to-back NCAA women’s golf titles, followed up her historic sophomore season by becoming the first player in 72 years to win in her LPGA Tour professional debut. She did so at the Mizuho Americas Open, defeating Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff.

“I just can’t believe it,” Zhang said of the triumphant beginning to her much-anticipated pro career. “It was just last week when I won NCAAs with my teammates, and to turn pro and come out here, it’s just been amazing. I’ve enjoyed the journey.”

Beverly Hanson was the last woman to win in her pro debut, taking the Eastern Open title in 1951.

The performance from Zhang even drew the attention of fellow Stanford golfer Tiger Woods. Zhang tied his Stanford record for wins in a career (12), which had been held by Woods and three other golfers.

“Incredible few weeks for Rose Zhang, defends her NCAA title and then wins in her Pro debut. Go Card!” he wrote.

If you ask Zhang, who led from start to finish, there weren’t a lot of expectations to begin the tournament.

“I honestly didn’t expect to make the cut,” Zhang said. “The reason why I say this is because I don’t think about my expectations a lot. I think about playing golf and shooting the best score I can. I never once think about where I finish, where I should finish. … The expectation for me winning did not even cross my mind. I was just playing my game.”

Rose Zhang is proving herself to be among best amateurs to grace the game of golf.

The Stanford sophomore won her second consecutive national title at the NCAA championships Monday, becoming the first women’s golfer to win multiple national titles and tying the NCAA record for wins in a season.

Not even all-time great Lorena Ochoa reached the same heights during her own very successful collegiate career at Arizona.

“I was really fortunate to play at the same time as Lorena Ochoa and I felt her greatness was unmatched,” Stanford coach Anne Walker said. “Rose Zhang really reminds me a lot of Lorena.”

Her second NCAA championship is just another trophy that Zhang can add to her shelf, which already includes the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur title, the 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior title and the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur title.

Zhang shot a 4-under 68 in the final round to clinch the victory. She finished at 10-under 278 over the course of 72 holes, tying Ochoa’s NCAA records for wins in a season (eight) and in a career (12). Her 12 wins also breaks the record at Stanford for men’s and women’s golfers, which had been held by Tiger Woods and three others.

Zhang had to come from behind on the final day, starting four shots back of the lead. But a bogey-free round helped propel Zhang to the title.

“When you’re chasing from behind, you really don’t know what is happening until everything’s completed,” Zhang said. “To come off of 18 and everyone saying you just won, that’s something that I wouldn’t really have imagined starting out the day.”

As WNBA training camp begins, colleges are wishing their alumni luck. But Stanford women’s basketball missed one.

Stanford took to Twitter to applaud former Cardinal players who are participating in WNBA training camps, but the program did not include DiJonai Carrington. Carrington played for Stanford for four seasons before transferring to Baylor for her fifth season as a graduate transfer.

The Connecticut Sun guard seemed to laugh at the omission in a Twitter post. She then provided proof of her graduation from the university in response to those who seemingly didn’t believe her.

Fellow players, including WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, backed her up.

“And did!!! Shame on you @StanfordWBB!” Swoopes wrote.

NaLyssa Smith, who played with Carrington at Baylor, called it “very weird” that her former teammate wasn’t included in Stanford’s well wishes.

“Very weird of y’all to forget @DijonaiVictoria,” she wrote. “But i feel like it starts with the coach, no coach is letting this happen to one of there players 2 years in a row.”

Smith then doubled down, calling it “childish” not to include Carrington.

“Transfer or not once you graduate from the school, you’re forever connected to the school,” she continued. “At the end of the day it’s just childish because they know what they’re doing.”

Former No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts is transferring to UCLA from Stanford, and the balance of women’s basketball power in California could be shifting with her.

With the transfer decision, the Bruins will have the No. 1 and No. 2 prospects from the 2022 class, with Betts joining Bruins guard Kiki Rice.

Rice made the Pac-12 all-freshman team in 2023, averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists en route to UCLA’s first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 2019 — making it one round farther than Stanford, which lost in the second round. UCLA also upset Stanford in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament.

The addition of a 6-foot-7 center in Betts makes UCLA an even bigger threat in the upcoming season, particularly as seniors Charisma Osborne and Camryn Brown have announced they will be staying for a fifth year.

Osborne originally declared the draft but withdrew her name to stay with the Bruins. She has been a major part of the Bruins lineup, averaging 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season.

Additionally, the team will add McDonald’s All-American forward Amanda Muse as a highly-touted recruit.

Former No. 1 overall recruit Lauren Betts is leaving Stanford after one season for in-state rival UCLA, she announced Tuesday via Instagram.

The top recruit in the class of 2022, the 6-foot-7 center played just 9.6 minutes per game for the Cardinal this past season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds.

She entered the transfer portal in early April, several weeks after No. 1 seed Stanford’s shocking exit in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Two other Cardinal players also are in the portal: freshman Indya Nivar and junior Agnes Emma-Nnopu.

While Betts did not post on social media about her transfer, her mother Michelle Betts responded to a post about her daughter’s decision, referencing the plans of the Stanford coaching staff.

“None of you have any idea what they might have planned or not planned for Lauren,” Michelle Betts wrote in a post retweeted by Lauren.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow,” Lauren Betts wrote in her own post announcing her move to UCLA.

UCLA had recruited Betts during her career at Grandview High School in Colorado, as did South Carolina, UConn, Notre Dame and Oregon. While she ended up choosing Stanford out of high school, she’ll head down the California coast to UCLA to continue her career.

Twitter account College Transfer Portal first reported Betts’ transfer decision.

The 2023 WNBA draft is here, but some big-name prospects are not.

While many of the brightest stars in college basketball having declared for the draft, others have opted to return for another year, taking advantage of the extra year of COVID-19 eligibility. Just Women’s Sports takes a look at some of those who are running it back.

Rickea Jackson, Tennessee

Rickea Jackson became the first domino to fall in the list of players opting out of the 2023 draft, announcing her intention to return to the Vols before the NCAA Tournament even began.

Before her decision, she was projected as the No. 3 overall pick by Just Women’s Sports analyst Rachel Galligan, making her choice all the more surprising. But her return is big for Tennessee, as the first-team All-SEC selection led the team with 19.6 points per game while adding 6.2 rebounds per game.

Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech

Kitley announced her decision to return in the middle of the national championship game, but it still counted as headline news for Virginia Tech fans.

A former five-star recruit and two-time ACC Player of the Year, Kitley led the Hokies in points, rebounds and blocks per game last season as Virginia Tech made its Final Four run. She’s also the all-time leading scorer in program history.

Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech

Georgia Amoore is another Virginia Tech senior who opted to run it back, meaning that three of the Hokies’ starting five players will take the court together next season.

Amoore had a standout regular season, averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 assists while leading the team to the ACC tournament title. She’s better against better opponents, making her decision to stay a good sign for the Hokies.

Charisma Osborne, UCLA

While Charisma Osborne opted into the 2023 WNBA draft, she later withdrew her name, instead electing to use her extra year of eligibility. As reported by the New York Times, she even was told by a WNBA coach that the decision to remain an extra year could be a smart move.

Osborne will provide a boost for UCLA, as she has averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game throughout her first four years with the Bruins. She also helped the team to a Sweet 16 appearance this year, and will link up with freshman point guard Kiki Rice next year.

Sedona Prince, TCU

Sedona Prince is another player who withdrew her name from WNBA draft consideration. Prince missed their redshirt senior season with an elbow injury and had planned to exhaust their remaining NCAA eligibility to pursue a professional career.

But those plans have changed, as Prince withdrew their name from the draft. She also entered her name into the transfer portal and is headed to TCU with two years of eligibility remaining.

Ashley Owusu, transfer portal

Despite reports that she might enter the WNBA draft, Virginia Tech shooting guard Ashley Owusu has opted to remain in the NCAA. But the former Maryland standout is once again in the transfer portal after spending the second half of the season on the Hokies’ bench.

Cameron Brink, Stanford

There was never a question about whether or not Cameron Brink would return for her senior season at Stanford, despite the fact that she is eligible for the 2023 WNBA draft by a single day. As Brink told reporters last October, college is “fun.”

“Why not stay?” she asked. “I think I want to stay just because I want to just continue to be a kid. Finish my degree in four years, not rush myself.”

March Madness is creeping up on us, and every team is fighting to earn its spot in the field. The Selection Show takes place at 8 p.m. ET Sunday. In the meantime, contenders are battling it out in conference tournaments for automatic bids and resume-building wins.

Here’s what I think the 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket should look like if the season ended today.

No. 1 seeds

South Carolina, Indiana, Stanford, Virginia Tech

Undefeated SEC champion and reigning national title winner South Carolina is the de facto overall No. 1 seed.

Next comes Indiana, which — despite losing to Iowa and being on the wrong end of a 24-point comeback by Ohio State — has been consistent all season in a Big Ten conference that challenges teams at every turn. The Hoosiers have done enough to keep a 1-seed. While an argument can be made for Iowa, which took home the Big Ten tournament title, overall body of work gives the edge to Indiana. The Hawkeyes have been on a tear lately, but they have more questionable losses on the season than Indiana (Kansas State, in particular).

Stanford will be the third No. 1 seed despite a few slip-ups this season. The Cardinal’s loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament hurts, but not enough to bump them off the top line. Stanford has a No. 4 NET ranking and solid wins in and out of conference.

Competition for the final No. 1 seed is fierce. Iowa, Utah, Maryland and UConn were all in contention, but Virginia Tech played itself into the top of the bracket thanks to an ACC tournament title and an impressive record against top-ranked opponents.

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Aliyah Edwards has been a bright spot for a UConn team beset by multiple injuries. (Matt Krohn/USA TODAY Sports)

No. 2 seeds

UConn, Iowa, Utah, Maryland

Iowa just misses out on a 1-seed, but their Big Ten tournament win makes the Hawkeyes the best of the No. 2s. Meanwhile, Maryland’s overall resume is solid enough to keep a 2-seed despite the Terrapins getting blown out by Iowa in the same tournament. Maryland has some of the best non-conference wins out of this bunch, topping both UConn and Notre Dame (when the Irish were at full strength). That and regular-season success in one of the country’s top conferences helps Maryland’s case.

Utah played itself out of a 1-seed by losing to Washington State in the Pac-12 tournament, but the Utes have done enough during the regular season to stop themselves from dropping even further. Other than that Washington State loss, the Utes lost only to ranked teams while beating stellar conference opponents, including Stanford, Colorado and UCLA.

UConn gets the final 2-seed thanks to strength of schedule. LSU’s loss to Tennessee in the SEC tournament allows the Huskies to keep their spot.

No. 3 seeds

Duke, Notre Dame, LSU, Texas

Two ACC teams find themselves on the 3-seed list, a testament to the conference’s strength. Duke would have been a No. 2 prior to their loss to Virginia Tech on Feb. 16 and close call against Virginia in their next game. They didn’t help their case in the conference tournament, either.

Notre Dame has been struggling without Dara Mabrey and Olivia Miles, and their lopsided loss to Louisville in the ACC tournament is proof of that. Still, overall body of work has to be considered when it comes to seeding. The Irish have great wins over teams such as UConn and Virginia Tech, plus a high NET ranking (8). They may struggle in March Madness without two of their starters, but that has nothing to do with seeding.

Texas is the surprise team on this list, but the Longhorns have crept back into favor in the past month. After a rocky start to the season, during which the Longhorns lost four of their first seven games and fell out of the AP poll, they’ve turned things around. They picked up a statement win over Oklahoma on Jan. 25 and are currently 11th in the NET rankings.

If the Tigers had a better resume heading into the conference tournament, they might have been able to hang onto a higher seed. But with no standout wins on their non-conference slate, LSU has to fall back on their two-loss record, which should give UConn an edge in the fight for a 2-seed. LSU’s consistency despite its weak schedule barely allows them to hang onto a 3-seed.

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Villanova's Maddy Siegrist leads all scorers in NCAA Division I this season. (Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

No. 4 seeds

Ohio State, UCLA, Oklahoma, Villanova

Ohio State is the surprise of this group. The Buckeyes started the season looking unbeatable, with an 18-0 record to match, but then as injuries to Madison Greene (out for the season), Jacy Sheldon and Rebeka Mikulasikova plagued the squad, they dropped seven of their last 13 games. But the Buckeyes have some fight left, and they proved it with a monumental win over Indiana in the Big Ten tournament. A 4-seed may seem a bit high, but no one in the 5 and 6 groups has done anything to show they are more worthy than the Buckeyes, who just executed a 24-point comeback over a team projected to be a No. 1 seed.

UCLA was sitting behind both Arizona and Colorado in seeding before it topped Stanford in the Pac-12 tournament, while the Buffs and the Wildcats went down early. The Bruins had a difficult January, dropping games to Arizona, Utah and Colorado, but then bounced back with four wins in a row. Add in the win over the conference’s top team, and UCLA has the resume for a 4-seed.

No. 5 seeds

Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Louisville

The chaos of the Pac-12 tournament affected Arizona and Colorado in a big way. One win by each team and they might be hosting the first round. Instead, these squads find themselves on the 5-line. The Buffs in particular miss out, as they have been nearly unstoppable at home this season.

Michigan also didn’t help itself in the Big Ten tournament, nor in the games leading up to it. A loss to Ohio State looks better now that the Buckeyes beat Indiana, but Michigan’s resume is no better than any of the 4-seeds and no worse than the 6s.

Louisville’s appearance in the ACC championship game moves the Cardinals from a 6- to a 5-seed.

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Florida State guard Ta'Niya Latson is a leading candidate for Freshman of the Year. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

No. 6 seeds

Florida State, North Carolina, Iowa State, Tennessee

The six-seeds are all teams that have gone through struggles and surprises this season. Florida State worked itself into the conversation when they beat North Carolina back in December, and since then, wins over NC State and Duke have only helped their case.

Tennessee struggled mightily out of the gate but settled into a good place as the season progressed. North Carolina has wins worthy of a higher seeding, but their inconsistency — the Tar Heels are 21-10 — keeps them from moving up.

Iowa State has stayed under the radar since Stephanie Soares tore her ACL and took the Cyclones out of national title conversations. Still, they’ve had a solid season, and as the Big 12 tournament begins, they can make a case to move up. For now, a 6-seed is a good spot for this team, which gets a boost by being 12th in the NET.

No. 7 seeds

Gonzaga, NC State, Creighton, Washington State

Of the 7-seeds, Gonzaga is the strongest. The likely WCC champions are 28-3, with quality wins over Tennessee and Louisville. They’ve also taken care of business in conference with just one loss.

NC State earns this position thanks to wins over Iowa and Notre Dame despite struggling overall in the ACC (8-8). The big upsets and a No. 18 ranking in the NET help the Wolfpack’s case.

Washington State is the surprise of this group. Before the Pac-12 tournament, the Cougars were among the last eight or so teams to earn a bid. Now, they not only have secured an automatic bid, they have played themselves up from a 10- or 11-seed and onto the 7-line. Topping Utah, Colorado and UCLA is no easy feat, but the Cougars pulled it off.

Creighton finished third in the Big East behind UConn and Villanova, with a victory over the latter helping the Blue Jays’ resume. They went on to lose a close game to the Wildcats in their conference tournament, but that doesn’t negatively impact the team overall.

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USC snapped Stanford's 51-game winning streak against unranked opponents in January. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

No. 8 seeds

Illinois, Baylor, USC, South Florida

Illinois, Baylor and USC are all in the same boat. They’ve had amazing wins as well as head-scratching losses. But each team has enough quality victories to fall into the 8-seed category.

South Florida should lock up a No. 8 seed by winning the AAC but could fall if an upset occurs.

No. 9 seeds

Kansas, Miami, Marquette, Ole Miss

I know teams don’t earn their seeds based on games they almost won, but Ole Miss’ near upset of South Carolina in the regular season is indicative of how good the Rebels can be. They’ve held their own in the SEC with a 9-5 record and have wins over other potential tournament teams in Georgia and Arkansas.

Kansas and Marquette both spent time in the AP Top 25 this season but find themselves unranked at the moment. Miami is in the top half of a stacked ACC, having beaten North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Florida State, which makes them one of the stronger 9-seeds.

No. 10 seeds

Columbia, Purdue, Middle Tennessee, Alabama

Middle Tennessee is well-respected by AP voters, having been ranked in the Top 25 for the last few weeks. While the Blue Raiders play in Conference USA, which doesn’t earn them any points, they did beat Louisville in December and have been consistent since then.

Another notable 10-seed is Columbia, a potential sleeper in the NCAA Tournament. Led by sharpshooter Abbey Hsu and her 18.2 points per game, the Lions are 24-1 and atop the Ivy League standings.

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Jayla Everett and St. John's took down No. 4 UConn late in the regular season. (Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)

No. 11 seeds

Florida Gulf Coast, St. John’s, Nebraska, Syracuse, Princeton

St. John’s played itself into the tournament by upsetting UConn late in the regular season, and Syracuse, Princeton and Nebraska are all on the bubble.

No. 12 seeds

UNLV, Oklahoma State, St. Louis, South Dakota State, Mississippi State

UNLV is another team that I would hate to match up with in the first round. The Runnin’ Rebels don’t get much love nationally while playing in the Mountain West, but that’s where the eye test comes in. UNLV has Power 5 talent, and if you watch them even once, it’s easy to see why they are a scary opponent.

St. Louis secured an automatic bid with a cinematic win over UMass in its conference final.

No. 13 seeds

Illinois State, Toledo, Green Bay, Long Beach State

Illinois State is fighting with Belmont for an automatic bid in the Missouri Valley, while Toledo is battling it out with Ball State in the Mid-American.

No. 14 seeds

James Madison, Iona, Boston, Drexel

The Boston Terriers are firmly in first place in the Patriot League and are the favorite to win the conference tournament. They went 17-1 in conference play this season.

No. 15 seeds

Albany, Fairleigh Dickinson, Montana State, Gardner-Webb

In the 15-seed group, Montana State stands out as a team with multiple wins over high-level opponents. The Bobcats defeated BYU and South Dakota State early in the season.

No. 16 seeds

Chattanooga / Norfolk State, Jackson State / SE Louisiana, Southern Utah, Tennessee State

All eyes will be on Jackson State this postseason after the Tigers nearly topped LSU in the first round of the 2022 tournament.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.