UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and USC claim top seeds in women’s NCAA Tournament
When the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament begins Friday, the UCLA Bruins will be its top overall seed.
It is the highest seed in the history of UCLA’s program but whether it can remain on top of the 68-team field will be determined over the next three weeks leading to the national semifinals on April 4, and the championship game on April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.
The top challengers for UCLA (30-2) include fellow No. 1 seeds South Carolina (30-3), Texas (31-3), and USC (28-3). Behind JuJu Watkins, the Big Ten Player of the Year and the nation’s second-leading scorer at 24.6 points per game, the Trojans handed UCLA its only two losses.
South Carolina saw its streak of four consecutive tournaments as the top overall seed snapped. Derita Dawkins, the chair of the tournament’s selection committee, told ESPN on Sunday that UCLA’s head-to-head win over South Carolina by 15 points on Nov. 24, was one factor in the Bruins earning the top seed.
The other factor, Dawkins said, “was one of our criteria which was competitive in losses and South Carolina suffered a 29-point loss to UConn.”
Matchups in the First Four, which will determine the four opponents who will draw UCLA, USC, South Carolina and Texas, will take place Wednesday and Thursday. The rounds of 64 and 32 will take place Friday-Monday, with the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight running from March 28-31.
Connecticut, the nation’s best-shooting team at 50.8 percent this season, is a traditional powerhouse but is seeking its first national title since 2016. The Huskies are the No. 2 seed in USC’s region, and are led by Paige Bueckers, who is projected as a potential No. 1 pick in next month’s WNBA draft.
TCU is an intriguing No. 2 seed — playing in a region headlined by in-state rival Texas — after making the program’s first tournament since 2010. Just 8-23 two seasons ago, the Horned Frogs are 31-3 in coach Mark Campbell’s second season.
Grand Canyon, Arkansas State, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Mason and William & Mary are first-time tournament entrants.
