The women’s NCAA tournament rolls on Monday with eight second-round games. The day is headlined by none other than Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa, who play in primetime on ESPN. JuJu Watkins and No. 1 USC are also in action tonight, one of two night caps to wrap up the day.
Women’s March Madness games are airing and streaming across ESPN’s family of channels. USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest news, scores, analysis and more all day. Follow along.
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NCAA women’s March Madness bracket
You can find the complete women’s March Madness bracket here.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.
Women’s March Madness scores
Here is the scoreboard for today’s second-round games in the NCAA women’s tournament.
Women’s March Madness games today
Here is the full schedule for Monday’s NCAA women’s tournament games.
Indiana and Oklahoma tied after first quarter
It’s neck-and-neck as No. 4 Indiana and No. 5 Oklahoma are tied at 19 after the first quarter of their second-round matchup.
Oklahoma squeaked in a four-point lead with layups from Aubrey Joens and Kiersten Johnson, but that’s as far ahead as either team has gotten. Senior forward Skylar Vann has eight points for the Sooners and graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes has the same amount for the Hoosiers.
Connecticut pulling away from Syracuse at the half
Paige Beuckers is doing what Paige Bueckers does.
No. 3 Connecticut went on a 12-2 run in the second quarter to go into halftime up 39-28 over No. 6 Syracuse. The star guard has 20 points and five rebounds for the Huskies.
Georgia Woolley brought the game within six for the Orange late in the period, but Beuckers squashed the comeback with three scores of her own.
There wasn’t a free throw until 2:30 on the clock when Woolley was fouled. Dyaisha Fair has yet to score.
Connecticut clinging to lead over Syracuse after first quarter
No. 3 seed Connecticut is leading No. 6 seed Syracuse 18-16 after the first quarter in a second-round matchup.
It’s been a tightly contested game with Syracuse up by four at one point. Paige Bueckers has eight points for the Huskies. Georgia Woolley and Sophie Burrows each have six points for the Orange. Woolley has two fouls.
NC State, Aziaha James knock out Tennessee, 79-72
The closest Tennessee got was two points.
With a Sweet 16 trip on the line, the Lady Volunteers nearly erased a 20-point deficit, but NC State’s clutch shot making and tight defense was enough to pull the Wolfpack through, 79-72.
NC State guard Aziaha James led all Wolfpack scorers with 22 points and added seven assists. Fellow guard Saniya Rivers added 20 points and Zoe Brooks chipped in 16 off the bench.
For Tennessee, star forward Rickea Jackson helped spark the comeback attempt, dropping 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting and adding 10 rebounds. She accounted for nearly half of Tennessee’s points on the day.
Though Tennessee drastically slowed NC State’s transition opportunities on offense in the second half, the Wolfpack created a massive disadvantage for the Lady Vols, outscoring Tennessee 29-13 on fast-break points. NC State also dominated down low, outscoring Tennessee 40-28 in the paint.
The Wolfpack will play No. 2 Stanford in the Sweet 16.
Tennessee has outscored NC State 32-16 since halftime
Tennessee is riding a second-half surge to take its second-round game against NC State down to the wire. The Lady Volunteers have doubled up NC State in the second half, outscoring the Wolfpack 32-16 since intermission.
Star forward Rickea Jackson has been the catalyst, pouring in 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting. NC State is up 65-63, with 3:44 left to play and a Sweet 16 berth on the line.
Tennessee cuts into NC State’s lead heading into final quarter
Tennessee in the third quarter chipped away at the NC State lead, outscoring the Wolfpack by 10 to make it an eight-point game headed into the fourth.
The Wolfpack are up 58-50, as Tennessee made an excellent adjustment to drop back more bodies in transition to slow NC State’s pace. In the first half, the Wolfpack had scored 20 fast-break points; in the third quarter, they didn’t score a single point in transition.
Tennessee senior guard Jasmine Powell was instrumental on the offensive end, knocking down a 3 pointer and attacking and drawing three fouls before converting all six free throws.
NC State’s overall shooting dipped to below 50% in the third quarter, with the Wolfpack now 24-of-50 (48%) from the floor.
NC State has big lead over Tennessee at halftime
NC State began the second quarter much in the way it ended the first: forcing turnovers, pushing the ball up the floor and getting baskets in transition.
The Lady Volunteers tried a defensive zone, and while they slightly slowed NC State’s momentum midway through the second quarter, the issue for Tennessee was that it didn’t make enough shots to establish its conventional defense.
NC State takes a commanding 49-31 lead into halftime, after Tennessee scored just eight points in the second quarter. In fact, going back to late in the first quarter, NC State is on a 32-8 run.
Lady Volunteers star forward Rickea Jackson, who scored 14 points in the first quarter, had just two in the second.
NC State has an edge in steals (3-1), fast break points (20-5), points in the paint (24-8), turnovers committed (2-6) and rebounds (19-13).
Both of NC State’s stellar guards, Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James, scored 12 points.
NC State leads Tennessee after first quarter of fast-paced game
The pace and offensive tempo in the second-round matchup between No. 6 Tennessee and No. 3 NC State has been enthralling.
Both teams have been looking to get up on fast breaks, but it’s the Wolfpack who closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run to claim an early lead, 24-23.
Tennessee star senior forward Rickea Jackson needed only four-and-a-half minutes to reach double figures, and made four of her first six shots, including her first two 3-pointers, to score 14 points in the first frame.
NC State is getting more balanced offensive production with three players — center River Baldwin and guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers — each with at least six points.
The Wolfpack have already scored 10 fast break points, compared to Tennessee’s five, and NC State also holds a 12-4 advantage in points in the paint.
Notre Dame reaches Sweet 16 by toppling Ole Miss
For the third time in Niele Ivey’s four seasons as Notre Dame’s head coach, her program is headed to the Sweet 16.
Thanks to a stifling zone defense, No. 2 Notre Dame toppled No. 7 Ole Miss 71-56 in its second-round game and will face No. 3 Oregon State Friday.
In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss turned to full-court press and ramped up its defensive intensity to try to spark a run, but the Fighting Irish relied on their own defensive intensity and forced 22 turnovers to close the game.
Notre Dame, as it has most of the season, got massive contributions from its big three: freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo (19 points, four assists), junior forward Maddy Westbeld (20 points, four rebounds) and junior guard Sonia Citron (17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists).
Notre Dame shot 26-of-52 (50%) from the field and limited Ole Miss to just 22-of-57 (38.6%).
Ole Miss more competitive, but Notre Dame still leads big
Ole Miss stopped the bleeding, more or less, but it’s appearing as if that won’t be close to enough.
Notre Dame outscored the Rebels by only two points in the third quarter, but the Fighting Irish still retain a sizable lead.
Notre Dame is up 61-42 and is one quarter away from booking its third consecutive trip to the Sweet 16.
The Fighting Irish have been deliberate and measured in their offensive approach, swinging the ball to find spaces in Ole Miss’ defense, attacking and then finishing — or making the extra pass. Notre Dame has recorded 15 assists on its 24 made field goals, compared with only seven on Ole Miss’ 18.
Notre Dame also has been dominating in the paint, outscoring Ole Miss 30-20 there.
Notre Dame up big at half over Ole Miss
In the first half, Notre Dame’s 2-3 zone caused all sorts of problems for Ole Miss.
The Rebels struggled to find gaps in the defensive pressure and often had their possessions run deep into the shot clock, forcing up rushed and contested shots, or – even worse – committing turnovers.
The Fighting Irish forced Ole Miss into 13 turnovers and limited the Rebels to just 11 of 29 (37.9%) from the floor. The Notre Dame zone also prevented Ole Miss from making easy entry passes into the post.
Notre Dame junior forward Maddy Westbeld led all scorers with 14 points, including the final bucket before halftime, off of an offensive rebound. Star freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo added nine points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Irish are up 43-26 at the half. —Lorenzo Reyes
Notre Dame up early on Mississippi
The conclusion of the women’s second round is underway in South Bend, Ind.
Playing on their home court, the second-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a 21-9 lead over No. 7 Ole Miss at the end of the first quarter.
The Irish connected on 50% of their shots from the field in the quarter, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Freshman Hannah Hidalgo leads the way for Notre Dame with six points and a pair of steals.
The Rebels shot just 23.5% from the field for the quarter – and their 11-point deficit is the largest they’ve faced after one quarter all season. — Steve Gardner
Notre Dame and Ole Miss tip off
The first of the last games in Round 2 of the women’s March Madness bracket has gotten underway, as No. 2 seed Notre Dame takes on No. 7 seed Ole Miss.
How to watch women’s NCAA Tournament games
The ESPN family of networks will carry all the women’s tournament games. So you will find them on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC. The first game tips at 2 p.m. ET and the last game tips at 10:30 p.m. Here’s how to watch women’s March Madness like a pro.
How many points has Caitlin Clark scored?
As Iowa’s Caitlin Clark continues to rewrite the record books, USA TODAY Sports is tracking all her stats during the NCAA Tournament. Here’s everything you need to know about the superstar guard. Here is an in-depth, illustrated look at the Iowa star and her race to the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record.
Iowa, rich with basketball history, loves Caitlin Clark so much they carved her out of butter
To fully understand the impact that Caitlin Clark has had on Iowa, a state that’s long adored and supported women’s basketball, consider this: For all of the superstars who have come out of this Midwestern hub, for all of the legends who dominated that still-celebrated relic of six-on-six, for all the locals worshipped by other locals, only one has had her likeness carved out of butter. And that it wasn’t an exact resemblance is not the point.
“Obviously I never expected to be sculpted out of butter,” Clark said, laughing as she recalled the August 2023 statue that went viral. “But if you’re from the state of Iowa, you know that’s a really big deal. You go to the state fair just to see the butter sculptures.”
Read Lindsay Schnell’s full feature on Clark and Iowa.
Women’s March Madness bracket predictions
Here are all of today’s NCAA women’s tournament second-round game picks from USA TODAY Sports experts Nancy Armour, Scooby Axson, Ellen Horrow and Lindsay Schnell.
Women’s March Madness players to watch today
- Notre Dame G Hannah Hidalgo (23.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.6 spg), the most annoying on-ball defender in the country who can get to the rim whenever she wants
- Indiana F Mackenzie Holmes (20.0 ppg, 66.7% FG), a force in the paint
- UCLA F Lauren Betts (14.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 65.3% FG), can score at-will in the paint when her teammates get her the ball
- Iowa G Caitlin Clark (31.9 ppg, 8.9 apg), the best scorer and most complete offensive player in the history of the women’s college game
- USC G Mckenzie Forbes (13.5 ppg, 3.3 apg), who pretty much only hits big shots in big moments
- UConn F Ice Brady (4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), who stepped up big in the Big East tournament, more than doubling her scoring output
- N.C. State guard Saniya Rivers (12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.9 apg), whose athleticism is typically good for at least one jaw-dropping highlight per game
- Gonzaga twin Gs Kayleigh (11.9 ppg, 4.5 apg) and Kaylynne Truong (11.6 ppg, 5.9 apg), whose stats, like them, are nearly identical.
Women’s March Madness schedule
Here is the women’s schedule:
- First round: March 22-23
- Second round: March 24-25
- Sweet 16: March 29-30
- Elite Eight: March 31-April 1
- Final Four: Friday, April 5 at 7:30 and 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
- NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC
What to know about Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame’s freshman star and ACC rookie of the year
Freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo led the Fighting Irish to a 55-51 win over the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the ACC championship game to secure Notre Dame an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Hidalgo, who scored 22 points, six rebounds, six assist and two steals in the win, was named the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament First Team.
The ACC tournament accolades are just the tip of the iceberg for Hidalgo, whose stellar freshman campaign has also earned her national recognition. Here’s everything to know about the freshman standout.
Meet Syracuse’s Dyaisha Fair, the best scorer in women’s college basketball not named Caitlin Clark
Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair is the fifth all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball history after surpassing former Baylor star Brittney Griner (3,283 points) this season. Fair, 22, only trails Missouri State alum Jackie Stiles (3,393), Ohio State alum Kelsey Mitchell (3,402), Washington alum Kelsey Plum (3,527) and Clark (3,685 and counting) on the NCAA women’s basketball all-time scoring list.
“She’s different. She’s special. She’s one of the best players to ever play the game,” coach Felisha Legette-Jack told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, part of the USA Today Network, in January when Fair eclipsed 3,000 career points.
Here’s everything to know about the Syracuse star, who has quietly climbed the all-time scoring list in Clark’s shadow. — Cydney Henderson
Utah’s Alissa Pili on her Polynesian heritage
To fully understand and appreciate the pride Utah women’s basketball standout Alissa Pili feels for her Polynesian heritage, one needs only to look at her right leg.
Tattooed there, in prominent display from ankle to hip, is a spiral of Polynesian tribal symbols. In ancient times, ink like that — especially full sleeves — was typically associated with warriors.
That’s also a fitting description for Pili, the reigning Pac-12 player of the year, a tough, relentless forward who averages 21.0 points and 6.4 rebounds for the No. 22 Utes. But because the senior, who is Samoan and Alaska Native (Inupiaq), also values femininity, she asked her tattoo artist to add flowers, too.
“Women aren’t known for being super feminine in our Polynesian culture, but I think it’s important to not just be stuck in a box that other people (put you in),” Pili told USA TODAY Sports. “For me, I grew up playing football with my brothers and cousins, I was a tomboy. But I also like to be feminine. And if you want to wear the (fake) lashes or put on makeup or do your nails, it’s OK to show that side of you, too.”
Read Lindsay Schnell’s full feature here.
Women’s basketball needs faces of future to be Black. Enter JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo
It’s understandable why JuJu Watkins, the front-runner for national freshman of the year, sparks reaction every time she’s on the floor. The 6-foot-2 rookie from the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, has a silky smooth jumper, a veteran’s poise and a combination of skill, power and body control rarely seen.
With Caitlin Clark headed to the 2024 WNBA draft, where she’s projected No. 1 overall, Watkins, the nation’s second leading scorer this season behind Clark, is positioned to become the face of women’s basketball. She’ll be joined by Notre Dame point guard Hannah Hidalgo, the other favorite for freshman of the year.
Not lost on any of the powerbrokers in the game: Both of these players are Black. And in a game built by Black women, it matters that the faces of the future look like the faces of the past.
Read Lindsay Schnell’s full feature here.
Caitlin Clark: Complete guide to basketball career of Iowa’s prolific scorer and superstar
Caitlin Clark is the reigning national player of the year, a sharpshooting supernova with a penchant for launching 3-pointers from the logo, flicking no-look passes through defenders’ arms and talking trash to any and all who stand in her way.
The postseason for Clark and Iowa starts next week, with the Hawkeyes playing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten conference tournament. No matter what happens in the next few days, Iowa is expected to earn a top four seed in the NCAA tournament, and host the first two rounds. A year after leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark is trying to get back to her second consecutive Final Four, an accomplishment few players have achieved. USA TODAY Sports has been tracking her game closely. In case you need to brush up on your Clark trivia, we’ve got you covered with our complete guide to all things Clark.
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