The women’s NCAA tournament is at the moment with 16 first-round games. High seeds South Carolina and Texas host their video games this afternoon. Different notable matchups at the moment: Angel Reese and LSU additionally open their March Insanity slate at residence with a late-afternoon contest, and Cameron Brink and Stanford are considered one of two night time caps tonight.
Women’s March Madness video games are airing and streaming throughout ESPN’s household of channels. USA TODAY Sports activities will present the most recent NCAA women’s tournament scores, highlights, upsets and extra all day. Comply with alongside.
Extra:Men’s March Madness live updates
March Insanity girls’s bracket
You will discover the whole women’s March Madness bracket here.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.
NCAA girls’s event scores
Right here’s the total scoreboard for the entire women’s March Madness first-round games on Friday.
The place to look at girls’s March Insanity
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC carry video games within the first and second rounds, the Candy 16 and Elite Eight. ESPN will air Ultimate 4 video games. ABC will air the nationwide championship recreation. You’ll be able to stream all of the video games within the ESPN app by logging in along with your TV supplier. Here is learn how to watch women’s March Madness like a professional.
Savannah Wheeler scores first basket for MTSU
With lower than a minute left within the first half, MTSU’s main scorer, Savannah Wheeler lastly will get her first basket of the sport. It is a part of a 7-0 run that has gotten the Blue Raiders again to inside 38-27.
No. 1 South Carolina ideas off vs. Presbyterian
With No. 1 seed South Carolina getting underway in opposition to Presbyterian, a reminder that these groups met earlier this season, on Dec. 16 in Columbia — and the Gamecocks gained, 99-29. Sure, it was 99-29.
Louisville begins sturdy vs. Center Tennessee
Louisville has gotten off to a fast begin in opposition to No. 11 seed Center Tennessee State in a recreation being performed in Baton Rouge. The Cardinals lead 35-20 halfway by means of the second quarter. Louisville is capturing 53%, together with 4 for 8 from three-point vary. MTSU’s Savannah Wheeler, who entered the sport averaging 16.6 factors per recreation, is scoreless up to now on 0 for six capturing from the sphere.
FAU-Northwestern males’s recreation interrupted by royal household announcement
These watch Northwestern vs. Florida Atlantic received to see a serious information announcement, when the CBS broadcast reduce to Kate Middleton’s announcement she is receiving therapy for most cancers.
The cut-in occurred throughout a timeout within the motion, and after the announcement aired, the printed went again to the sport. Everything we know about the announcement here. – Jordan Mendoza
No. 7 Duke vs. No. 10 Richmond ideas off at 2:30 p.m. ET
Waiting for subsequent recreation in Columbus, Ohio: It is No. 7 seed Duke in opposition to No. 10 Richmond, which is making its first NCAA event look since 2005 and coming off profitable its first convention championship since 1991 in what was then often known as the Colonial Athletic Affiliation. These groups met of their season opener, on Nov. 6 at Duke. The Blue Devils gained that recreation 83-53. Since then, nonetheless, the Spiders have gone 29-4,
Caitlin Clark has a fan in Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw is aware of learn how to play to the gang.
McGraw wore a Caitlin Clark jersey throughout his live performance in Des Moines on Thursday night time. Her black highway jersey, to be particular. The nation famous person additionally used a picture of Clark as his backdrop at Wells Fargo Area.
Read more from Nancy Armour, and see the pictures.
Ohio State beats Maine 80-57
Ohio State continued to increase its lead over Maine, and ended up with a 80-57 victory. Up subsequent for the Buckeyes can be both No. 7 seed Duke or No. 10 seed Richmond.
Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon put collectively 19 factors (surpassing 2,000 for her profession), 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Cotie McMahon added 13 factors. Maine’s Anne Simon — within the closing recreation of a profession that included two America East Convention participant of the 12 months awards — scored 25 factors.
North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart wins massive bonus
North Carolina’s win offers Tar Heels coach Courtney Banghart the 350th victory of her profession. It additionally offers her a $50,000 bonus — not for that milestone, however for reaching the event’s spherical of 32. UNC will play South Carolina or Presbyterian on Sunday. If it is the top-seeded Gamecocks, Sunday’s recreation can be a rematch for groups, which met on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill with South Carolina profitable, 65-58.
North Carolina beats Michigan State: Deja Kelly free throws clutch
Deja Kelly makes the primary of two free throws, then misses the second — however she will get the rebound and will get fouled once more. She once more goes 1 for two, however UNC’s Alyssa Ustby received one other offensive rebound (UNC’s 18th of the sport) and the Tar Heels win 59-56.
Michigan State’s monster run
After North Carolina’s Deja Kelly made considered one of two free throws, Michigan State’s Tory Ozment hit a layup and the Spartans preserve closing in on the Tar Heels. That makes it an 11-1 run right here by Michigan State, which had trailed by as many as 16 factors.
After North Carolina’s Lexi Donarski made two free throws, Michigan State’s Theryn Hallock hit a three-pointer — and the Spartans are actually inside 57-56 with 5.4 seconds to play.
Maine hangs in vs. Ohio State coming into closing quarter
Maine regrouped at halftime and performed Ohio State almost even within the third quarter. However the Buckeyes lead 66-54 heading to the fourth quarter — they usually exceeded 20 factors in every of the primary three.
Michigan State holds on
Nicely, simply when it appeared that North Carolina had issues in hand in opposition to Michigan State, the Spartans have put collectively a 7-0 run to get inside 54-49 with 48.2 seconds left.
And with a steal and rating by DeeDee Hagemann, Michigan State is inside 54-51 with 30.6 seconds remaining within the fourth quarter. — Steve Berkowitz
North Carolina pulls away from Michigan State
North Carolina has progressively added to its lead over Michigan State because the fourth quarter has progressed. The Tar Heels lead 54-44 with two minutes to play as senior guard Alyssa Ustby has taken cost, totaling 16 factors, 16 rebounds and 6 assists. Earlier this season, in opposition to Syracuse, Ustby picked up the primary triple-double in UNC. That feat got here amid a rise in girls’s velocity of play that USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay Schnell reports on here.
Center Tennessee vs. Louisville ideas off at 1:30 p.m. ET
Waiting for the third recreation of the day within the girls’s event: It is No. 11 seed Center Tennessee taking part in No. 6 Louisville in Baton Rouge.
These groups really are acquainted with one another. MTSU routed Louisville, 67-49, in a regular-season recreation early in December in Murfreesboro.
The Cardinals regrouped to make a run to the NCAA event closing eight — the fifth consecutive season wherein they achieved that feat. Louisville additionally can be seeking to make it 15-0 in first-round video games beneath coach Jeff Walz, and make it seven consecutive appearances within the NCAA spherical of 16.
Ought to they win, a former Cardinal is probably going ready for them within the second spherical: Hailey Van Lith, who earned All-American honors final 12 months for Louisville earlier than transferring to LSU within the offseason.
Sisters Teonni and Tamari Key star in March Insanity
It’s going to be a busy weekend for Tammy Brown.
Brown has two daughters taking part in in March Madness this 12 months: Teonni Key’s a sophomore guard/ahead for eighth-seeded North Carolina, presently up 48-37 on ninth-seeded Michigan State within the fourth quarter. And Tamari, a senior for the sixth-seeded Tennessee Girl Vols.
Tennessee takes on Eleventh-seeded Inexperienced Bay, with tip scheduled for 12 p.m. ET Saturday. Can Tammy get there in time? Read more. – Lindsay Schnell
North Carolina leads Michigan State coming into closing quarter
Michigan State and North Carolina performed to a stalemate within the third quarter of their recreation. North Carolina gained the quarter 9-8, however neither staff scored in the course of the closing 2:50. For the quarter, Michigan State made 3 of 12 pictures, North Carolina 4 of 18. The Tar Heels will take a 44-35 result in the fourth quarter.
Maine star Adrianna Smith rolls ankle
Trailing 40-22 late the second quarter, Maine had a fair worse growth within the closing minute of the second quarter when second-leading scorer Adrianna Smith stepped on a Ohio State participant’s foot and appeared to badly roll an ankle. She got here into the sport averaging 16.6 factors per recreation. She needed to be helped off the courtroom. For one closing little bit of adversity, Ohio State hit a three-pointer on the halftime buzzer to increase its result in 43-24. For the second quarter, the Buckeyes outscored Maine, 21-8.
Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon passes 2,000 factors
Ohio State grad pupil guard Jacy Sheldon simply surpassed 2,000 factors for her profession with a layup she transformed right into a three-point play. She is the eighth Ohio State participant to achieve 2,000 factors for her profession.
Nobody within the health club is extra enthusiastic about this milestone than Jacy’s sister, Emmy, who’s an enormous a part of Ohio State’s program.
Ohio State gaining on Maine
Simply over midway by means of the second quarter, Ohio State has began to achieve management of its recreation in opposition to Maine. The margin was 22-16 after one quarter. It is now 35-18, as Maine has racked up 12 turnovers, equaling its season common. Three of Maine’s starters now have two fouls, together with main scorer Anne Simon.
When does Caitlin Clark play subsequent?
Iowa star Caitlin Clark is tipping off in her closing March Madness at 3 p.m. Saturday. Clark and Iowa start their bid to return to the NCAA girls’s nationwide championship recreation because the No. 1 Hawkeyes tackle No. 16 Holy Cross, which blew out UT Martin within the the First 4 on Thursday. That is the primary time Iowa has obtained a No. 1 seed within the event since 1992. — Cydney Henderson
Get to know Maine coach Amy Vachon
Whereas Maine definitely faces an uphill proposition in opposition to Ohio State, the Black Bears have a gradual and tournament-experienced hand with coach Amy Vachon. Vachon, who attended Maine, participated in 4 NCAA tournaments as a participant and has taken the college to 2 earlier NCAA event appearances as a coach. A part of taking part in expertise included being the purpose guard for a staff that beat Stanford in a primary spherical recreation in 1999 — Maine’s solely NCAA event win.
Maine vs. Ohio State ideas off
After one quarter, Fifteenth-seeded Maine is hanging in in opposition to Ohio State in Columbus. The Black Bears are with 22-16, as they shot 6 for 9 from the sphere, together with 4 for six from three-point vary. However a possible signal: Maine dedicated its eighth turnover at first of the second quarter, and its ninth shortly after. Ohio State has two turnovers up to now.
Maine has averaged 12 turnovers per recreation this season. The staff’s excessive this 12 months was 22, twice: vs. LaSalle (Nov. 9) and New Hampshire (Jan. 11). Ohio State averages 13.5 turnovers per recreation, however its opponents this season have averaged 21.2.
Halftime rating: UNC 35, Michigan State 27
Michigan State managed to chop its 16-point, mid-second-quarter deficit to eight factors late within the quarter, however then with 36.8 seconds left within the half, main scorer Julia Ayrault dedicated her third foul. The Spartans scored once more simply earlier than the buzzer to make it 35-27, however their high two scorers will start the third quarter with three fouls apiece. Moira Joiner dedicated her third early within the second quarter.
Foul hassle for Spartans stars Moira Joiner, Julia Ayrault
Michigan State managed to get its offense going a bit in opposition to North Carolina, however then three minutes into the second quarter, the staff’s second-leading scorer, guard Moira Joiner, dedicated her third foul. That meant the Spartans’ high two scorers, Joiner and Julia Ayrault, each have been in foul hassle with greater than half of the quarter remaining.
Joiner sat out for about two minutes, then returned. However North Carolina prolonged its result in 30-14, prompting Spartans coach Robyn Fralick to name for a timeout with simply over 4 minutes left earlier than halftime.
Michigan State girls’s basketball struggling vs. North Carolina
The primary quarter of North Carolina-Michigan State couldn’t have gone a lot better for the Tar Heels — or a lot worse for the Spartans. Michigan State trailed 23-7 earlier than scoring the ultimate three level of the quarter. Amid that was a 16-2 run for North Carolina, which ended the quarter 10 of 19 from the sphere whereas Michigan State shot 3 of 10. The differential in shot makes an attempt was largely as a consequence of Michigan State committing seven turnovers within the quarter. — Steve Berkowitz
North Carolina’s Alyssa Ustby is doing all of it vs. Michigan State
Alyssa Ustby is the epitome of a do-everything participant for North Carolina. After only one quarter the 6-foot-1 guard already has eight factors, 5 rebounds, two assists and one block as UNC leads Michigan State 23-10 on the end of the first quarter.
Earlier this season, the senior recorded this system’s first-ever triple-double in an upset win over Syracuse (on the time, UNC was not ranked, however ‘Cuse was). Afterward, UNC coach Courtney Banghart advised reporters that she and Ustby had a frank dialog early within the ACC season throughout which Banghart emphasised that good gamers need to play effectively in massive video games. Clearly, Ustby took these phrases to coronary heart in opposition to Syracuse and at the moment in opposition to Michigan State. Additionally of observe: Banghart mentioned that triple-double report got here, partly, due to how much faster the women’s game is getting. — Lindsay Schnell
UNC rides layups to get early lead vs. Michigan State
North Carolina has jumped out to 15-5 lead on Michigan State, and the entire Tar Heels’ factors have come on layups. Making issues worse for the Spartans, their main scorer, grad pupil Julia Ayrault has already dedicated her second foul. — Steve Berkowitz
UNC impressing early vs. Michigan State
North Carolina has been inconsistent all season, however the way in which they give the impression of being the primary 4 minutes in opposition to Michigan State is reinforcing to me that once they wish to be, they seem to be a high 20 staff. — Lindsay Schnell
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Michigan State underway
Don’t be fooled by the seeds right here for No. 8 North Carolina and No. 9 Michigan State. Both of those groups may make life troublesome for top-ranked South Carolina — as soon as they get previous one another. The sport is airing and streaming now on ESPN2. — Lindsay Schnell
Girls’s March Insanity schedule at the moment, by TV channel and time
Right here is the whole NCAA women’s tournament schedule for Friday’s first-round video games.
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPNU
ESPNews
What to learn about UNC head coach Courtney Bangart
It is humorous that Courtney Bangart, the UNC girls’s basketball coach, wound up at arguably probably the most dominant girls’s soccer faculty within the nation. She was initially imagined to play soccer at Dartmouth. Then the Dartmouth coach received the job at Stanford, referred to as Bangart and mentioned she was welcome to come back to Stanford with him if she needed, presumably on some type of scholarship as a result of Stanford had athletic scholarships, whereas the Ivy League would not. She was so in love with Dartmouth that as a substitute she referred to as the Dartmouth basketball coach and requested if she may play basketball as a substitute. That kicked off her hoops profession on the collegiate degree, however she nonetheless has soccer in her veins, as a result of each time she talks about taking a participant one-on-one she says one-v-one like they do in soccer. — Lindsay Schnell
North Carolina-Michigan State historical past
At this time’s recreation between No. 8 seed North Carolina and No. 9 Michigan State makes for an fascinating occasion for Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz. He started the job in East Lansing on March 4 — after being North Carolina’s chancellor since 2019 and a member of the UNC school since 1995. And Guskiewicz isn’t any stranger to sports activities. He is a renown researcher on concussions in sports activities and has been concerned within the NCAA and NFL setting pointers regarding the therapy of gamers who are suffering a concussion. — Steve Berkowitz
Girls’s March Insanity gamers to look at
Listed here are the gamers in motion this afternoon within the NCAA women’s tournament.
- North Carolina G Deja Kelly (16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.3 apg), can take over a recreation at any time
- Ohio State F Cotie McMahon (14.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg), who performs with an amazing steadiness of ardour and poise
- South Carolina G Te-Hina Paopao (47.1% from 3), probably the most impactful switch of the 2023-24 season
- Texas G Madison Booker (16.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.9 apg), who doesn’t play like a rookie
- Virginia Tech G Georgia Amoore (19.2 ppg, 6.9 apg), one of many high flooring generals within the nation
When does Caitlin Clark play subsequent?
Iowa star Caitlin Clark is tipping off in her closing March Madness at 3 p.m. Saturday. Clark and Iowa start their bid to return to the NCAA girls’s nationwide championship recreation because the No. 1 Hawkeyes tackle No. 16 Holy Cross, which blew out UT Martin within the the First 4 on Thursday. That is the primary time Iowa has obtained a No. 1 seed within the event since 1992. — Cydney Henderson
Girls’s school basketball is quicker than it is ever been. Outcome: Extra information falling
Shortly after Alyssa Ustby recorded the primary triple-double in North Carolina girls’s basketball historical past in early January, coach Courtney Banghart was requested: Why are so many records being broken lately in women’s college basketball? What’s completely different about now in comparison with, say, 10 years in the past?
“The sport is so quick,” Banghart mentioned, shaking her head in awe. “There’s so many possessions — the stats guys may know that higher than me — however the expertise degree and velocity of play is exceptional. I’ve been on this recreation a very long time and (gamers at the moment) can all achieve this a lot with the ball. There’s simply extra versatility in addition to athleticism, and that results in extra possessions and extra impression on the sport.”
Because the women’s tournament tips off Friday, extra eyeballs are on the sport than ever. A lot of that spotlight may be straight attributed to Caitlin Clark, the Iowa famous person who has spent her four-year profession shattering information (and TV scores). Read Lindsay Schnell’s full story.
Girls’s March Insanity video games at the moment
Girls’s March Insanity predictions
Listed here are the USA TODAY Sports staff’s predictions for all 16 video games:
- Nancy Armour: North Carolina, Ohio State, Center Tennessee, South Carolina, Duke, Texas, Virginia Tech, LSU, Kansas State, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Colorado, Maryland, Oregon State, Stanford, Nebraska.
- Scooby Axson: North Carolina, Ohio State, Louisville, South Carolina, Duke, Texas, Virginia Tech, LSU, Kansas State, Alabama, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Oregon State, Stanford, Nebraska.
- Ellen Horrow: North Carolina, Ohio State, Louisville, South Carolina, Duke, Texas, Virginia Tech, LSU, Kansas State, Alabama, Baylor, Colorado, Maryland, Oregon State, Stanford, Nebraska.
- Lindsay Schnell: North Carolina, Ohio State, Louisville, South Carolina, Duke, Texas, Virginia Tech, LSU, Kansas State, Florida State, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Oregon State, Stanford, Nebraska.
Girls’s March Insanity upset predictions
USA TODAY Sports activities’ Nancy Armour picked No. 12 Vanderbilt to upset No. 5 Baylor, No. 11 MIddle Tennessee to upset No. 6 Louisville and No. 10 Maryland to upset No. 7 Iowa State. Check out all of Nancy Armour’s picks here.
Girls’s basketball stars to look at in March Insanity 2024
The Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark is poised for one more Ultimate 4 run after her landmark season the place she broke Pete Maravich’s all-time scoring record. LSU’s Angel Reese, Stanford’s Cameron Brink, Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers and South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao are hoping to face in the way in which of her first nationwide title.
NCAA girls’s event areas 2024
A fast reminder that like in 2023, the ladies’s event could have two “tremendous” regionals, which means there can be 4 Candy 16 and two Elite Eight video games at every website. This variation was made in an effort to attract extra followers, and labored effectively final 12 months. Given the star energy within the recreation this season — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers — you may anticipate extra of the identical.
First spherical
- Dates: March 22-23
- Venues and areas: Colonial Life Area (Columbia, S.C.); Moody Middle (Austin, Texas); Worth Metropolis Area (Columbus, Ohio); Maples Pavilion (Stanford, Calif.); Pete Maravich Meeting Middle (Baton Rouge, La.); Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, Ore.); Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.); Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan).; Carver-Hawkeye Area (Iowa Metropolis, Iowa); Galen Middle (Los Angeles, Calif.); Purcell Pavilion (South Bend, Ind.); Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.); Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, Conn.), Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, N.C.); Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor (Bloomington, Ind.); McCarthey Athletic Middle (Spokane, Wash).
Second spherical
- Dates: March 24-25
- Venues and areas: Colonial Life Area (Columbia, S.C.); Moody Middle (Austin, Texas); Worth Metropolis Area (Columbus, Ohio); Maples Pavilion (Stanford, Calif.); Pete Maravich Meeting Middle (Baton Rouge, La.); Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, Ore.); Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.); Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan).; Carver-Hawkeye Area (Iowa Metropolis, Iowa); Galen Middle (Los Angeles, Calif.); Purcell Pavilion (South Bend, Ind.); Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.); Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, Conn.), Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, N.C.); Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor (Bloomington, Ind.); McCarthey Athletic Middle (Spokane, Wash).
| Spherical | Places | Venues | Dates |
| Candy 16 | Portland | Moda Middle | March 29-30 |
| Candy 16 | Albany, N.Y. | Occasions Union Middle | March 29-30 |
| Elite Eight | Portland | Moda Middle | March 31-April 1 |
| Elite Eight | Albany, N.Y. | Occasions Union Middle | March 31-April 1 |
| Ultimate 4 | Cleveland | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse | April 5 |
| Nationwide championship | Cleveland | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse | April 7 |
Girls’s March Insanity schedule
Right here is the women’s schedule:
- First spherical: March 22-23
- Second spherical: March 24-25
- Candy 16: March 29-30
- Elite Eight: March 31-April 1
- Ultimate 4: Friday, April 5 at 7:30 and 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
- NCAA championship recreation: Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC
The way to watch girls’s March Insanity like a professional
So, you’re going to look at women’s March Madness. Is that this your first time? If that’s the case, welcome. The ladies’s recreation is rising at a fast fee, and we’re blissful to have you ever right here. You’ve picked a good time to hitch the social gathering, given the star power of players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who’re taking part in of their final March Insanity. However don’t fear, there’s loads of younger superstars within the recreation too, from JuJu Watkins (Southern Cal) to Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame)to Madison Booker (Texas) and an entire host of others.
Filling out males’s brackets has at all times been par for the course however this 12 months, nearly every bracket competition has seen a big uptick in individuals filling out girls’s brackets. There’s no query the ladies’s event goes to shine this 12 months — maybe even outshine the men’s — and we’re right here that will help you take pleasure in it. So let’s discuss semantics, so you may have the best women’s tournament viewing expertise attainable. — Lindsay Schnell
Who gained the 2023 girls’s basketball nationwide championship?
Final 12 months’s NCAA Event featured the most-watched Final Four in the sport’s history when Iowa handed South Carolina a uncommon loss after which lost a nail-biter to LSU in the championship.
