The hopes of 16 teams hang in the basketball balance as they approach regional play in Sacramento and Fort Worth. Win and you earn a spot in the Elite Eight. Lose and you’re heading home. Each team has its own strengths and struggles, with some holding more weight than others.
If you’re like me, you’ve been thinking nonstop about the Sweet Sixteen matchups, which of course, leads to questions. I’ve got answers.
No. 1 UConn: Is this the beginning of another dynasty?
Last year, the Huskies broke through for their first title in nearly a decade. Now, with sophomore Sarah Strong leading the Player of the Year race, UConn is not just a favorite to win this title, but also the next two. Azzi Fudd called Strong the best player she’s ever played with, and Geno Auriemma continues to praise her as an all-time UConn great, something that started when she was just a freshman. Fudd will graduate at the end of the season and move on to the WNBA, but UConn will of course reload. And with Strong at the center, could this be title No. 2 with more to come?
No. 1 UCLA: Can the Bruins shock the Huskies?
Obviously UCLA has to get through several excellent opponents first, but it does seem as though this season is setting up a UConn/UCLA national title game. The Bruins have been special this season, going undefeated in conference play with just one loss on the season. They also have a talented roster that includes six players who are likely to be selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft. But even with all of that talent, and arguably the best player in school history, 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, leading the way, UConn has still been the favorite all season long. Can UCLA shock the Huskies and win its first title in the NCAA era?
No. 1 South Carolina: How will Ta’Niya Latson perform on the big stage?
Latson is one of the best scorers in college basketball. She proved that during her first three seasons playing at Florida State. She transferred to South Carolina for her season year in search of a national championship. Latson is not one to be rattled by a spotlight, but she has been waiting for this moment for the last four years. Now that it’s here, can she deliver? My money is on yes. After averaging 14.3 points on the season, Latson started her March Madness campaign with 17 points against Southern and 12 against USC.
No. 1 Texas: Do the Longhorns have enough shooting?
Texas plays old-school basketball, relying on paint touches, defense and scoring in the midrange. But last season it became clear that three-point shooting was necessary to win a title. The Longhorns have that with sophomore Jordan Lee and freshman Aaliyah Crump. Madison Booker, Justice Carleton and Rori Harmon have also knocked down threes sparingly, but it isn’t a big part of their games. Even after missing 15 games this season due to injury, Crump opted to come back rather than redshirting because she could be crucial to a title run, particularly because of her shooting. Long-range production from her and Lee could be the difference maker for the Longhorns.
No. 6 Notre Dame: Is Hannah Hidalgo enough?
It’s no secret that Hidalgo does everything for Notre Dame, leading the Irish in every category other than blocks. Against Fairfield in the first round, Hidalgo had 23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 steals and 6 assists. Then, she led her team to a win over No. 3 seed Ohio State with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 8 steals. She had teammates step up in each contest, with four other double-digit scorers against Ohio State and two against Fairfield. Of course, those numbers are influenced by Hidalgo, as she is often the one passing the ball to shooters, creating extra possessions with her defense, or simply helping teammates get open due to the attention she draws. As competition gets steeper, Hidalgo may not be enough to keep Notre Dame dancing.
No. 2 Vanderbilt: What defensive schemes will Shea Ralph and staff cook up?
Vanderbilt’s next two opponents, Notre Dame and likely UConn, provide interesting defensive challenges. First, containing Hidalgo is an issue, especially because Mikayla Blakes is Vandy’s top defender. She’s also their top scorer, so using that much energy on the defensive end may prove detrimental. It will be intriguing to see how Vanderbilt handles the fiery point guard. After that, UConn and Sarah Strong await. The Commodores actually have a player that can match up with Strong physically in 6-foot-2 senior forward Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, but actually slowing down Strong is much harder in practice than in theory. Regardless of how Vanderbilt chooses to defend Notre Dame and UConn, it will be a tough stretch for the Commodores.
No. 2 LSU: Can the Tigers withstand Duke’s defense?
Duke’s biggest strength is its defense, something coach Kara Lawson values above all else. But in Duke’s first meeting with LSU this season, the Blue Devils gave up a season-high 93 points in a 16-point loss. LSU consistently puts up big numbers, scoring 100 or more points 16 times this season. Against Duke they will need to keep up the high-powered offense and not let the Blue Devils muck up the game. The Tigers have scored at their usual rate in their first two tournament games, with five double-digit scorers against Texas Tech and seven against Jacksonville in the first round.
No. 3 Duke: Can the Blue Devils erase their early-season loss to LSU?
Not only was the 93-77 loss to LSU on Dec. 4 Duke’s worst defensive game of the season, it was also a part of a difficult stretch for the Blue Devils where they went 3-6 to start the season. Duke’s turnaround has been impressive, but beating one of the teams they lost to early in the season would do wonders for the Blue Devils’ confidence in the Elite Eight. But even for one of the country’s top defensive squads, limiting LSU is a major challenge. The Tigers have a plethora of scorers, particularly at the guard spot with Flau’jae Johnson, MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams.
Women's Bracket Reset: Eden Laase Re-Picks Heading Into the Sweet Sixteen
Women’s correspondent Eden Laase refreshes her NCAA Tournament bracket ahead of the Sweet Sixteen. Does surprise contender Virginia have the gas to steal another game?
No. 4 Minnesota: Can the Gophers stop Lauren Betts? And is that even enough?
No one has actually stopped Betts this season, but Minnesota will need to at least slow her down. That didn’t happen in their regular-season meeting, which the Bruins won 76-58 behind a 17-point, 10-rebound effort from Betts. Even if Minnesota can limit the talented center, the rest of the Bruins provide other challenges, especially when you consider Betts’ passing abilities. Point guard Kiki Rice was the leading scorer in the first game, finishing with 25 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting. UCLA’s offensive prowess doesn’t stop there, either. The entire rotation is capable of erupting for 20-plus points in a single game.
No. 4 North Carolina: Can the Tar Heels do the impossible?
The Tar Heels are certainly underdogs in their Sweet Sixteen matchup with UConn. But North Carolina’s sophomore backcourt duo of Lanie Grant and Elina Aarnisalo has been sensational so far this tournament, scoring 20 and 21 points in their second-round win over Maryland, respectively. But even if Grand and Aarnisalo put up similar numbers, it likely won’t be enough. The Tar Heels will need historic performances from the entire roster to advance to the Elite Eight.
No. 3 Louisville: Will Taj Roberts and Imari Berry continue their dominance?
Sophomore guards Roberts and Berry have been a joy to watch this season. Both are creative and capable of scoring at a high rate. Roberts leads Louisville in scoring (11.6 points per game) and in assists (3.1). Berry, who comes off the bench, isn’t far behind with 11 points and 2.7 assists per game. The Cardinals are a balanced scoring team, but Roberts and Berry can erupt at any moment. Berry scored a career-high 33 points against NC State earlier this season, and Roberts had one of her best games against Alabama in the second round with 18 points and 4 assists. Next up the duo takes on Michigan, a team with its own second-year superstars. Who will get the best of the sophomore battle?
No. 2 Michigan: Can the Wolverines survive without a big post presence?
Michigan is one of the most talented teams in the country with point guard Mila Holloway (12.6 points, 4.8 assists per game), 6-foot guard Olivia Olson (19.2 points, 6.2 rebounds) and sharpshooter Syla Swords (14.8 points, 35 percent from three-point range). The one thing they don’t have, however, is a true post presence. Junior forward Ashley Sofilkanich, a transfer from Bucknell, serves as their starting big, but at 6-foot-3, she is undersized compared to many of the tournament’s remaining bigs. In many matchups, like the upcoming bout with Louisville, it won’t be an issue, but against teams like Texas, Kentucky, UConn and UCLA it could be a major problem.
No. 5 Kentucky: Can Clara Strack and Teonni Key own the paint against Texas?
With its 6-foot-5 post duo, Kentucky has an advantage inside against Texas. But when the teams met during SEC play, both Strack and Key were non-factors in a 64-53 Texas victory. Key, who averages 11.4 points and 7.4 rebounds, had just 8 points and 3 rebounds in that contest, while Strack was held to 14 points and 7 rebounds (below her average of 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds). Strack went 5 of 12 from the field, including 0 of 4 from long range, and the Texas defense successfully forced her out of the paint. Both need to be on top of their games for a chance against Texas in the Sweet Sixteen.
No. 4 Oklahoma: Can Aaliyah Chavez do it again?
When Oklahoma played South Carolina in the regular season, Chavez had her breakout game. The freshman guard had 26 points and was 5 of 10 from the three-point line, leading the Sooners to a 94-82 overtime win. At the time, Chavez was still getting her feet wet. Now, she leads Oklahoma with 18.3 points and 4.2 assists per game. When she gets hot, Chavez fuels the rest of the Sooners, so stopping her will be priority No. 1 for South Carolina. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Chavez is already one of the country’s most electric scorers, but showing out against South Carolina in March Madness will only add to her lore.
No. 10 Virginia: Do the Cavaliers have more magic left in the tank?
Virginia has been the story of the tournament thus far. From the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen, the Cavaliers have already made history. And that was no easy task. They beat No. 10 Arizona State 57-55 to start the tournament, then No. 7 Georgia 82-73 in overtime and No. 2 Iowa 83-75 in double overtime. Star junior guard Kymora Johnson has played all but two minutes of game time during that stretch. She’s also led her team in scoring in all three games. Luckily, Virginia had plenty of time to rest before its matchup against TCU. Now, they just have to hope that the magic is still alive.
No. 3 TCU: Can the Horned Frogs overcome their lapses?
TCU has been frustrating at times this season. The Horned Frogs are clearly talented, but there are times in which they don’t play to their skills. Take a 62-59 overtime win over No. 6 Washington to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, for example. TCU was dominant when it focused on getting to the basket, but instead of continuing to attack, the Horned Frogs settled for three-pointers, which allowed Washington to stay in the game. Senior point guard Olivia Miles is an elite playmaker who thrives by getting downhill and finishing or finding open teammates. That should be the focus of this team going forward.
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