Women’s NCAA March Madness: Keys to a deep run
Local reporters break down some of the top teams, and their keys to victory in the 2025 March Madness tournament.
The women’s March Madness Round of 64 continues with an exciting Saturday featuring 16 games throughout the day, keeping women’s basketball fans on the edge of their seats.
The day’s action began with an eagerly awaited matchup between No. 11 seed Murray State and No. 6 seed Iowa. Iowa, making their sixth consecutive appearance in the tournament, overwhelmed Murray State, defeating them 90-57.
Throughout the day, the UConn Huskies led by Paige Bueckers, the Oklahoma Sooners with Reagan Beers, the USC Trojans under JuJu Watkins, and the Texas Longhorns, guided by Madison Booker, will all take the court. These teams are filled with determination, hoping to kick off their NCAA Tournament journey on a strong note.
Stay tuned for all the women’s March Madness action on Saturday as teams battle it out in the crucial Round of 64.
Could a third No. 10 seed be moving onto the second round? Ivy League champion Harvard trails No. 7 Michigan State 45-35 heading into the fourth quarter. It’s been a tough day shooting on both sides, but Crimson guard Harmoni Turner has kept her team in the game with a game-high 19 points.
JuJu Watkins walked into the postgame interview room without a limp, a positive sign after getting banged up during No. 1 Southern California’s 71-25 win over No. 16 UNC Greensboro.
So what happened?
“I don’t know,” Watkins said. “You know it’s end of the season, body’s a little banged up. But on to the next…”
And she’s OK?
“Oh, yeah,” she said. “I’m all right. Don’t worry.’’ — Josh Peter and Banji Bamidele
No. 4 seed Maryland refused to panic on its home court and relied on Sarah Te-Biasu and Kaylene Smikle’s clutch 3-point shooting to beat No. 13 seed Norfolk State 82-69. The Spartans, champions of the MEAC who entered with a 19-game win streak, didn’t make it easy, cutting Maryland’s lead to 60-56 with 8 minutes remaining. A 3-pointer from Te-Biasu and a pair of threes from Smikle gave the Terps a 69-58 lead.
The Terps meet No. 5 seed Alabama on Monday with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. — Roxanna Scott
An upset was brewing n Chapel Hill, but No. 3 North Carolina has taken a 13-point lead over No. 14 Oregon State 32-24 midway through the second half. The lead went back-and-forth in the first half and the Tar Heels went into halftime with a slim two-point lead. The Beavers have controlled the boards but turnovers have been an issue. North Carolina has 16 points off 12 Oregon State turnovers and started the third quarter on an 11-0 run.
The No. 10 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowgirls 74-68 to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament. Brooklyn Meter led the Jackrabbits in scoring with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Paige Meyer contributed with 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Together, they have propelled the Jackrabbits forward in their March Madness journey.
The No. 1 seeded Trojans, who’d been off for two weeks, were not at their best. But they were more than good enough against No. 16 UNC Greensboro.
They overcame a ragged start thanks to a smothering defense that held UNC Greensboro in the first half to just 11 points and 3-of-25 shooting from the floor.
The Trojans also blocked 10 shots, including seven from senior post player Rayah Marshall.
Watkins finished with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds and question about a banged up left wrist and rolled left ankle.
Southern California will play the winner of the California-Mississippi State game Monday in the second round. — Josh Peter
The No. 10 seed, South Dakota State, leads No. 7 Oklahoma State 56-50 with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter.
With 6:18 left in the game, she headed to the bench. Because the Trojans are burying UNC Greensboro or perhaps because the rolled left ankle could use the rest. She also sat the final 3:39 of the third quarter after she rolled her ankle on a drive to the basket. Then there’s the left wrist she hurt during a fall in the second quarter. But despite all of that, she’s got a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. — Josh Peters
The No. 14 seed Oregon State Beavers are keeping it close against the No. 3 seed North Carolina Tar Heels in their first-round matchup. The Tar Heels lead 6-5 with 4:53 remaining in the first quarter.
The No. 7 seed Michigan State takes an early 11-2 lead against No. 10 seed Harvard with 5:39 left in the first quarter.
The anxiety that circulated in this building is long gone.
Remember when Southern California led 12-10 and looked oddly disjointed against UNC Greensboro? What a distant memory.
Through three quarters, the Trojans are up by 37 points at 53-16.
Watkins leads all scorers with 20 points to go along with eight rebounds. After committing three turnovers in the first half, Watkins has been spotless with her ball handling. — Josh Peters
Watkins could need some attention from the training staff after this game ends. In the second quarter, she hurt her left wrist after a fall and afterward kept massing it.
Then, in the third quarter, she rolled her left ankle on a drive to the basket. Hobbling as she rejoined her teammates, he promptly buried a 3-pointer, and the Trojans have built a 30-point lead at 45-15 with 2:45 left in the quarter. — Josh Peters
No. 13 seed Norfolk State came out hot on Maryland’s home court, jumping out to a 7-0 lead at Xfinity Center in College Park. The No. 4 seed Terps settled in with Sarah Te-Biasu’s 3-pointer cutting the deficit to one with 3:30 left in the first quarter. Allie Kubek gave Maryland its first lead with a layup at the 1:30 mark, and the Terps were up 18-12 after the first quarter. — Roxanna Scott
The No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners defeated the No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 81-58 to advance to the second round of the March Madness tournament. Raegan Beers had an impressive performance for the Sooners, scoring 25 points and grabbing an astounding 18 rebounds. Skylar Vann also made significant contributions to the victory, netting 24 points and recording nine rebounds.
The Trojans opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run, with Watkins chipping in four points as Southern California went ahead 36-11 – its largest lead. UNC Greensboro pulled back within 21 points, but back-to-back buckets for the Trojans prompted the Spartan to take a timeout. — Josh Peters
The No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the No. 11 Columbia Tigers 78-59 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. JJ Quinerly delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 27 points, four rebounds, and seven assists.
The video from the first half of the Southern California-UNC Greensboro does not belong in a time capsule, with Southern California leading 28-11. The Spartans are shooting 12.0 % (3-for-25). The Trojans are shooting 35.7 % (10-for-28) but only 1-for-6 from 3 point range.
Watkins has 11 points and seven rebounds, both game highs.
While the offense has at time looked abysmal, the defense has been scintillating. UNC Greensboro entered the game 51.8 points a game, lowest in the nation. In a game that looked to close for comfort for the Trojans, they intensified the defense and it helped fuel a 14-0 run.
UNC Greensboro’s defense has been outstanding too. — Josh Peters
The No. 2 seed NC State Wolfpack secured their spot in the next round of the women’s NCAA Tournament by defeating the No. 15 seed Vermont 75-55. The Wolfpack was led by Zoe Brooks, who scored 19 points while Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers combined for 30 in the first round victory.
USC has turned up the heat on defense with backcourt traps, helping spark a 8-0 run. Watkins’ capped it with a layup that prompted UNC Greensboro to call a timeout with Southern California up 20-10 – its first double-digit lead. — Josh Peter
No. 10 seed South Dakota and No. 7 seed Oklahoma State’s game has tipped off. The Jackrabbits hold a one-point lead over the Cowgirls, leading 9-8 with 5:12 left in the first quarter.
No. 6 seed West Virginia leads the No. 11 Columbia Lions 65-45 with 9:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jordan Harrison continues to shine for the Mountaineers with 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
UNC Greensboro is holding the high-powered Southern California offense in check. After one quarter, the Trojans lead 12-8 and are shooting % 5-for-14. As good as UNC Greensboro has been on defense, it’s been just as horrific on offense. The Spartans are shooting 21.4 % (3-for-14). — Josh Peters
Aaliyah Nye hit four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead No. 5 seed Alabama past No. 12 Green Bay 81-67 in College Park, Maryland. Green Bay fought but couldn’t keep up with the Tide in the paint. The Phoenix pulled within five points early in the fourth quarter, but Nye hit two late 3-pointers to put the game out of reach. Alabama plays the winner of Maryland-Norfolk State. — Roxanna Scott
No. 3 seed Oklahoma Sooners lead the No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles by 10 points, with a score of 36-26. Raegan Beer is the leading scorer for the Sooners with 13 points and eight rebounds.
So much for the early blowout. Southern California jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but scrappy UNC Greensboro then pulled within 8-5 with 4:45 left in the opening quarter. Both teams are playing impressive defense. The Trojans have three blocked shots and UNC Greensboro has two.
JuJu Watkins is 1-for-3 from the floor. —— Josh Peter
The No. 6 seed West Virginia Mountaineers are leading the No. 11 Columbia Lions 46-29 at halftime. JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison have each scored 16 points in the first half for the Mountaineers.
The No. 2 seed NC State lead the No. 15 seed Vermont 35-33 at the start of the second half.
A first team All-American, JuJu Watkins is trying to lead USC to its first national title since 1984. She’s averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals. A 6-foot-2 guard, she’s also tied for the team lead in blocked shots with 1.9 per game.
If you’re wondering how she plays at such a terrific level with a magnificent, crisp high bun, read more here. — Josh Peter
The love: Sisters Aylah Johnson, 7, and Ari Johnson, wearing puffy buns and No. 12 jersey in tribute to USC superstar JuJu Watkins. They’re rocking the JuJu look since Watkins joined the team last year, said their father, Justin.
The hate: Art Ortiz, wearing around his neck a vanity plate that reads: “H8 BRUIN.’’ As in hating the UCLA Bruins. Ortiz took out his phone and showed a photo of Watkins autographing his license plate he said he pulled off one of his former cars.
“I’m a super fan of USC,’’ said Ortiz, who did not need to note he’s also a super hater of UCLA. — Josh Peter
The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies dominated the No. 15 Arkansas State Red Wolves, winning 103-34. Azzi Fudd was a standout player for the Huskies, scoring 27 points and providing seven assists. Additionally, Sarah Strong and Ashlynn Shade teamed up to contribute an impressive total of 40 points in this Round of 64 victory.
The No. 5 seed Alabama leads No. 12 seed Green Bay 38-29 at halftime. The Crimson Tide is led in scoring by Zaay Green with 14 points.
No. 2 NC State is facing No. 15 Vermont, with the Wolfpack taking an early 16-8 lead against the Catamounts. There are 3:05 remaining in the first quarter.
No. 2 UConn leads No. 15 Arkansas 66-16 at halftime. Azzi Fudd is the leading scorer for the Huskies with 21 points and seven assists, while Ashlynn Shade contributed 13 points off the bench.
No. 6 seed West Virginia and No. 11 seed Columbia are underway, with the Mountaineers holding a slim lead over the Lions. West Virginia leads Columbia 14-10 with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter.
No. 5 Alabama and No. 12 Green Bay have tipped off, with the Crimson Tide taking a slim lead at the end of the first quarter. Alabama leads Green Bay 19-17 as the second quarter begins.
The No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the No. 11 Murray State Racers 90-57, advancing to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Ava Heiden led the scoring for the Hawkeyes, contributing 15 points and seven rebounds. Hannah Stuelk and Sydney Affolter combined for 22 points, aiding in the Hawkeyes’ victory in the first round.
The No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes are dominating No. 11 Murray State 88-56 in the final minutes, ensuring their March Madness journey continues while sending the Racers home early from the tournament.
The No. 2seed UConn Huskies are making a strong statement in the first quarter against the No. 15 seed Arkansas State Red Wolves, finishing the quarter with a score of 34-5. Both Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd contributed significantly, scoring 13 points each in the first quarter.
The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies are facing off against the No. 15 seed Arkansas State Red Wolves, and the Huskies have come out strong, quickly building an early double-digit lead in the first quarter. With 6:56 remaining in the first quarter, UConn leads Arkansas State 13-2.
Katelyn Young was helped off the court early in the third quarter due to what appeared to be a foot injury. She had scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half of the game against Iowa.
The No. 6 seed Iowa Hawkeyes lead the Murray State Racers 42-30 at halftime. Ava Heiden came off the bench to contribute 13 points, while Lucy Olson finished the first half with 12 points and six assists.
No. 11 Murray State continues to battle against No. 6 Iowa, with Ava Learn leading the Racers by scoring six points and grabbing ten rebounds. Lucy Olsen is leading the Hawkeyes with ten points and six assists. Iowa holds a 33-26 lead over Murray State with just two minutes remaining in the second quarter.
No. 6 seed Iowa is leading No. 11 seed Murray State 18-12 at the end of the first quarter in the first matchup of the day.
Saturday’s women’s NCAA tournament round of 64 has begun with No. 11 Murray State going up against No. 6 Iowa. The next game of the day will feature No. 15 Arkansas facing No. 2 UConn at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.
What time are March Madness games today?
Women’s March Madness continues Saturday with another 16 games slated throughout the day. The action kicks off with No. 11 Murray State taking on No. 6 Iowa at 12 p.m. ET. The first-round concludes with No. 14 San Diego State vs. No. 3 LSU at 10:10 p.m. ET.
How to watch March Madness Friday: TV, streaming coverage
- TV channels: Coverage across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN News
- Live stream: March Madness Live | ESPN app | Fubo
Watch Women’s March Madness with Fubo
The women’s NCAA Tournament comes to a close starting on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The championship game will take place two days later on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.
No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Murray State
Time, TV: Saturday, 12 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Murray State has the leading scoring offense in the nation (87.8 ppg) and averages 10.2 3-pointers per game. Speaking of threes, Iowa’s Lucy Olsen is averaging a career-high 36% from beyond the arc. Look forward to a high-scoring game. Look forward to a high-scoring game. — Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY
If you like points, be sure to tune into this one. Murray State, led by Katelyn Young, averages almost 90 points per game. Iowa will have to score a lot to fend off the Racers. — Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser
No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 South Dakota State
Time, TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Oklahoma State had a great season but it faces a Jackrabbit team that knows how to win in March. South Dakota State has shown it is capable of playing against top teams, and the Cowgirls have a tough test awaiting them. — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY
These two teams have done a lot of winning this season and the Jackrabbits have hung around with top competition this season and could pull the upset on Saturday. — Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Harvard
Time, TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. | ESPNews (Fubo)
Harmoni Turner is a three-level scorer with a signature three-point shot that’s hard to defend. Teams have struggled to contain her, making Michigan State a prime candidate for the upset list. — Meghan Hall, For The Win
Harmoni Turner is one of the best guards in the nation, and she just might lead Harvard to an upset on Saturday. — Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel
No. 8 Cal vs No. 9 Mississippi State
Time, TV: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Both teams hung with top talent late in the regular season (MSU almost beat Texas, Cal lost by 9 to Notre Dame) but both also have some interesting losses. Sam Purcell and his Bulldogs have a lot of heart, but can they stop five scorers from Cal who are averaging 11 or more points per game? — Lulu Kesin, Greenville News
Coverage for Saturday’s Day 2 action will be broadcast The 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament will air on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. ABC will also carry two games today. You can also watch the conclusion of the first round via streaming options: March Madness Live, ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.
March Madness championship odds, according to BetMGM. Odds as of Friday, March 21.
Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the women’s tournament, everyone who sits at better odds than +5000.
- South Carolina (+220)
- UConn (+240)
- UCLA (+550)
- Texas (+700)
- USC (+700)
- Notre Dame (+1100)
- NC State (+3500)
- LSU (+5000)
- Duke (+5000)
- TCU (+5000)
USA TODAY experts set their picks ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked to win the national championship.
- Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UConn over Duke
- Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: USC over South Carolina
- Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: South Carolina over UCLA
- Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: South Carolina over UConn
- Lulu Kesin, Greenville News: South Carolina over UConn
- Meghan Hall, For The Win: South Carolina over USC
- Mike Sykes, For The Win: UConn over South Carolina
- Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: UConn over Notre Dame
- Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times: UConn over South Carolina
- Jenna Ortiz, Arizona Republic: UConn over South Carolina
No. 13 Norfolk State enters today’s game against No. 4 Maryland on a 19-game win streak and a 30-4 overall record. The Spartans earned their third consecutive trip to March Madness and reached 30 wins for the second time in school history.
The team is led by guard Diamond Johnson, a graduate student who averages 19 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Johnson, who transferred from NC State two seasons ago, says she’s proud to show the world what HBCU basketball is all about. It’s not just Norfolk State, Johnson says, after watching Southern beat San Diego in Wednesday’s play-in game.
“HBCU’s we kind of like the underdog. Like you said, the SWAC, the MEAC, not a lot people know about a lot of HBCUs,” she said Friday. “It’s not just for us, it’s for literally every HBCU in the world and even just mid-majors that don’t get the recognition that I feel like they should.”— Roxanna Scott
All times Eastern.
Wednesday, March 19 (First Four)
Thursday, March 20 (First Four)
Friday, March 21 (First Round/Round of 64)
Saturday, March 22 (First Round/Round of 64)
- No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Murray State, 12 p.m.| ESPN
- No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Arkansas State, 1 p.m. | ABC
- No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 12 Green Bay, 1:30 p.m. | ESPN2
- No. 2 NC State vs. No. 15 Vermont, 2 p.m. | ESPN
- No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Columbia 2 p.m. | ESPNews
- No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 FGCU, 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU
- No. 1 Southern California vs. No. 16 UNC Greensboro, 3 p.m. | ABC
- No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 South Dakota State, 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2
- No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Norfolk State, 4 p.m. | ESPN
- No. 3 North Carolina vs. No. 14 Oregon State, 4:30 p.m. | ESPNU
- No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Harvard, 4:30 p.m. | ESPNews
- No. 8 California vs. No. 9 Mississippi State, 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2
- No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 9 Creighton, 7:15 p.m. | ESPNews
- No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 11 George Mason, 7:45 p.m. | ESPN2
- No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 William & Mary, 9:45 p.m. | ESPN2
- No. 3 LSU vs. No. 14 San Diego State, 10:15 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, March 23 (Second Round/Round of 32)
Monday, March 24 (Second Round/Round of 32)
Friday, March 28 (Sweet 16)
- TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 5 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. | ESPN
Saturday, March 29 (Sweet 16)
- TBD vs. TBD, 1 p.m. | ABC
- TBD vs. TBD, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
- TBD vs. TBD, 5:30 p.m. | ABC
- TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, March 30 (Elite Eight)
- TBD vs. TBD, 1 p.m. | ABC
- TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
Monday, March 31 (Elite Eight)
- TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 9 p.m. | ESPN
Friday, April 4 (Final Four)
- TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, April 6 (National Championship game)
- TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
Ahead of the NCAA Tournament, USA TODAY experts highlight several potential bracket busters. Here is who they picked.
- No. 13 Grand Canyon
- No. 12 Green Bay
- No. 10 Harvard
- No. 7 Vanderbilt
- No. 6 Florida State
- No. 6 Michigan
- No. 5 Tennessee
The women’s NCAA Tournament comes to a close starting on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The championship game will take place two days later on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.
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