Who To Watch In The 2023 Women's March Madness Sweet 16
South Carolina
The defending champs have made a bold statement entering the tournament. Gamecocks had a perfect regular season, winning all 32 of their games, including the SEC championship. Coached by three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have been ranked No. 1 all year. South Carolina has consistently displayed an explosive offense and a steady defense throughout the season. Thanks to their experienced roster, led by superstar Aliyah Boston, the Gamecocks have produced victories over strong teams such as Stanford, UConn, Maryland, and LSU. After its dominant season, South Carolina hopes to successfully defend its NCAA title.
Iowa
It is no shock that the Hawkeyes are gunning for a national championship. After beating Ohio State to win a second consecutive Big 10 Championship, Iowa is ready for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Led by Caitlin Clark, The Athletic’s Player of The Year, the Hawkeyes have the most effective offense in women's basketball. Averaging 87.5 points per game, you can count on Iowa to play a gritty and efficient offensive game. The Hawkeyes beat many powerhouse teams this season, including Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio State, however, these wins were the result of their unstoppable offense. In order to advance far into the tournament, the Hawkeyes will have to perfect their defensive game and prevent opponents from gaining any sort of offensive momentum. Since Iowa’s roster is composed of experienced veterans, they will likely have a strong shot at a national championship.
Virginia Tech
The Hokies enter the Madness confidently, looking to continue their 11-game winning streak. Their extremely successful season record of 27-4 earned them the No. 1 seed position in the Seattle 3 bracket. Virginia Tech’s achievements continued into the division playoffs, where the Hokies won their first-ever ACC Championship. The most prominent concern for the Hokies is their lack of experience in the NCAA tournament. The other No. 1 seed (South Carolina) has a recent history of long tournament runs, while Virginia Tech has not made it to later rounds in more than 25 years. However, the Hokies have enough skill and momentum to be considered a big threat in the tournament.
UConn
After losing to South Carolina in the NCAA finals last year, the Huskies are entering the tournament in hopes of revenge. UConn women’s basketball is an established force — the school has made 14 consecutive final-four appearances and is striving for a 15th. Unfortunately, the Husky’s season has been plagued with devastating injuries. Basketball superstar Paige Bueckers tore her ACL and Azzi Fudd hurt her knee, forcing the remaining Huskies to adapt and succeed without their best players. However, after a challenging February, UConn turned its season around and dominantly won a third consecutive Big East Championship. The Huskies ended their regular season with a 29-5 record, beating tough teams like Duke, Texas, and Villanova. If UConn’s bad luck has run out and players are able to stay healthy, it is likely that they will make another appearance in the NCAA final.
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Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish also have a high chance of success in this year’s tournament — not only did they have a great season with a record of 25-5, but they also have the advantage of hosting the first and second rounds of the tournament. Notre Dame has had some huge wins this season, beating teams like UConn and Virginia Tech. The Fighting Irish have both a strong offense and defense and are known to consistently play an all-around speedy game. That all being said, star player Olivia Miles injured her knee and is unable to play in the tournament. If Notre Dame can overcome the loss of Miles, it is expected to have a deep run this year.
Villanova
Despite being only a No. 4 seed in the tournament, the Villanova Wildcats will likely prove themselves as a threat. On the court, Villanova’s elite offense is powered by Big East Player of the Year Maddy Siegrist. Due to an extremely deep roster, the Wildcats have a regular season record of 28-6. Of their six losses, three have been to UConn, each of which they have lost by only single digits. Not only is Villanova a strong team, but it is also tough, and is not known for slowing down, whether it’s behind or ahead in points, so be sure to watch until the final buzzer. Attributed to their overarching depth and skill, the Wildcats are a team that might explode with momentum early in the tournament and bust some brackets.
Maryland
The Terps have been underestimated all season. Maryland started the season with nine new transfers, and fans assumed that this season would be a year for the newcomers to acclimate to the transition. However, the Terps shocked the nation and went 25-6 in their regular season, beating prominent teams like Notre Dame, UConn, and Iowa. Maryland has a formidable offense, averaging 79 points per game, and is heading into the tournament as a No. 2 seed with a high chance of advancing to the later rounds. The Terps’ defense is versatile and well-coached, and have successfully shut down superstar players in past games so they hope to do the same in the tournament this year. It is likely that Maryland will have a dominant performance this March.
LSU
The Tigers are probably the feistiest team in the 2023 tournament — they are coached by the passionate Kim Mulkey and led on the court by the fiery Maryland transfer Angel Reese. The Tigers are a gritty team who are dangerous once they have momentum. LSU has wrapped up the regular season with a record of 28-2, losing only to South Carolina and Tennessee. The Tigers likely were only granted a No. 3 seed because of the lack of competition in their non-conference schedule — in fact, during their regular season, they only played two top-25-ranked teams. This lack of experience against top teams is the biggest concern surrounding the Tigers this March. However, if the Tigers get a boost of momentum early in the tournament, it is likely that they will make a deep run into the Madness.
Photo credits: Courtesy of South Carolina WBB’s Instagram, Iowa WBB’s Instagram, Virginia Tech WBB’s Instagram, UConn WBB’s Instagram, Notre Dame WBB’s Instagram, Villanova WBB’s Instagram, Maryland WBB’s Instagram, LSU WBB’s Instagram
