Women’s bracket shakeups
Blue-bloods UCLA, UConn and South Carolina advanced through the women’s second round, while Virginia pulled a shocker by upsetting Iowa to reach its first Sweet 16 since 2000 — a landmark moment for the Cavaliers’ program. These results tighten the picture for the 2026 Women’s World Cup pipeline and NCAA title projections. (sports.yahoo.com)
Azzi Fudd scored 34 points — including eight 3-pointers — as UConn demolished Syracuse 98-45 in the second round, a victory that extended the Huskies’ streak of Sweet 16 appearances to 32 consecutive seasons. (collegefootballnetwork.com) Lauren Betts poured in 35 points and nine rebounds as No. 1 UCLA rolled past Oklahoma State 101-61; the Bruins will meet No. 4 Minnesota in the regional semifinal. (espn.com) South Carolina also scored 101 points in a 101-61 win over USC, with Joyce Edwards posting 23 points and 10 rebounds and Madina Okot finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds, a pair of 100-point tournament games that set up a Sweet 16 meeting with No. 4 Oklahoma in Sacramento. (espn.com) No. 10 Virginia stunned No. 2 Iowa 83-75 in double overtime — Kymora Johnson had 28 and Paris Clark 20 — sending the Cavaliers to their first Sweet 16 since 2000 and making Virginia the first First Four team in the women's tournament to reach the regional semifinals. (virginiasports.com) The Sweet 16 rounds are scheduled for March 27–28 in Fort Worth and Sacramento, with UConn listed to play North Carolina in Fort Worth and Virginia set to face TCU in Sacramento on March 28. (ncaa.com) With three No. 1 seeds (UConn, UCLA, South Carolina) advancing and several eye-catching individual performances, bracket models and expert rankings have shifted — ESPN’s Sweet 16 power rankings and SportsLine simulations continue to list UConn and South Carolina among the top title favorites heading into the regional semifinals. (espn.com)
