Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo controls the ball against Duke in the semifinals of the ACC tournament on March 8.
(Ben McKeown / Associated Press)
No. 1 TEXAS: Texas earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds for the first time since 1987-88, entering the tournament with 15 wins in its past 16 games — losing to fellow No. 1 seed South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference tournament final. Tied with Texas Christian for the most wins this season (31), it posted a 15-1 SEC record and secured three top-10 victories over the Gamecocks, Kentucky and LSU.
No. 2 TEXAS CHRISTIAN: Last season, TCU forfeited games and held open tryouts to help fill gaps after a string of player injuries. Now, the rejuvenated Horned Frogs are a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Led by transfer Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince, TCU is the only Power Four team to win outright regular season and conference tournament titles.
No. 3 NOTRE DAME: Notre Dame’s seeding came as a shock after being ranked No. 1 just three weeks ago, but the Irish have slipped, losing two of their past five games. Still, they earned a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title, with ACC player of the year Hannah Hidalgo averaging 24.2 points per game and fellow scoring threat Olivia Miles chipping in 16.2 points per contest.
No. 4 OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes have won 25-plus games in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Scoring and assist leaders Cotie McMahon and Jaloni Cambridge left the Big Ten tournament with injuries, but they are expected to return ahead of their first-round matchup.
CINDERELLA SEARCH
Iowa State started the season in the top-10, but after ups and downs, the Cyclones now find themselves as a First Four participant. However, back-to-back All-Big 12 selection Audi Cooks was a breakout star of last year’s NCAA tournament and could make a big impact again this season. Cooks leads the nation in made field goals (304), breaking her own record of 285, and has tallied seven 30-plus point games and 10 double-doubles.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hannah Hidalgo, guard, Notre Dame: One of only two players in school history to post multiple 700-point seasons, Hidalgo leads on both ends of the court, averaging 24.2 points and 3.7 steals per game — both ranked fourth in the nation.
Hailey Van Lith, guard, TCU: The Big 12 player of the year and newcomer of the year recipient averaged 17.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds per game and a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. She was the only Big 12 player in top 10 of each category.
Madison Booker, forward, Texas: Booker earned back-to-back player of the year honors, following her Big 12 accolade with SEC recognition this season. She averaged 20.5 points and 7.6 rebounds — scoring in double figures during 27 games.
RIM SHOTS
- Tennessee continued its run of appearing every year in the field since the first NCAA tournament in 1982, earning a No. 5 seed this season.
- The region showcases four Naismith Trophy women’s player of the year semifinalists — the most of any region: Texas’ Booker, TCU’s Van Lith and Notre Dame’s Hidalgo and Miles.
- Notre Dame has double-digit wins over four current AP top-10 teams: No. 3 UConn, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Texas and No. 7 Duke.
— Anthony De Leon
