Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: UConn Leads the Pack, USC Faces Uncertainty

Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: UConn Leads the Pack, USC Faces Uncertainty

As the dust settles on the first two rounds of the 2025 women’s NCAA tournament, the Sweet 16 is set, and the nation’s top teams have largely advanced with minimal resistance. The excitement is palpable as we look forward to some thrilling matchups, but the journey to this point has been relatively smooth for most of the higher seeds.

Aside from the nail-biting overtime victories by 5-seed Kansas State and 4-seed Maryland, the tournament has been devoid of major upsets. Not a single seed lower than a No. 5 has reached the regionals, setting the stage for some heavyweight clashes in the Sweet 16.

Let’s dive into the updated Sweet 16 rankings and see how the teams stack up:

• 1. UConn Huskies
  Original seed: No. 2 (Spokane 4)
  Tournament results: Defeated No. 15 Arkansas State 103-34 (first round); defeated No. 10 South Dakota State 91-57 (round of 32)
  The Huskies have been nothing short of dominant, with Paige Bueckers leading the charge. Her 34-point performance against South Dakota State was a masterclass in control and efficiency, as she tied her career high without committing a single turnover in 29 minutes. UConn’s big three, including Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, have been instrumental in their success, contributing to a cumulative 103-point margin of victory over their first two games. Up next, they face Oklahoma on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
• 2. UCLA Bruins
  Original seed: No. 1 (Spokane 1)
  Tournament results: Defeated No. 16 Southern 84-46 (first round); defeated No. 8 Richmond 84-67 (round of 32)
  UCLA’s halftime adjustments against Richmond were pivotal, as they turned a tied game into a decisive victory with a 29-7 third quarter. Lauren Betts was a standout performer, recording 32 points and 14 rebounds, marking the first time a UCLA player has achieved a 30-10 game in the NCAA tournament. The Bruins will look to advance past the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 when they face Ole Miss on Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
• 3. South Carolina Gamecocks
  Original seed: No. 1 (Birmingham 2)
  Tournament results: Defeated No. 16 Tennessee Tech 108-48 (first round); defeated No. 9 Indiana 64-53 (round of 32)
  The Gamecocks faced a tough challenge from Indiana, reminiscent of last year’s Sweet 16 scare. However, they managed to pull through with strong performances from Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin. South Carolina will need to bring their A-game against Maryland on Friday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
• 4. USC Trojans
  Original seed: No. 1 (Spokane)
  Tournament results: Defeated No. 16 UNC Greensboro 71-25 (first round); defeated No. 9 Mississippi State 96-59 (round of 32)
  The Trojans’ journey is clouded by uncertainty following JuJu Watkins’ season-ending knee injury. Despite her absence, USC managed a convincing win over Mississippi State, thanks to Kiki Iriafen’s standout performance. The Trojans will face Kansas State on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, hoping to continue their run without their star player.

As we look forward to the Sweet 16, the stakes are higher, and the matchups promise to deliver the drama that the first two rounds lacked. With UConn leading the charge and USC facing a significant challenge, the path to the championship is anything but certain. Stay tuned for more thrilling action as the tournament progresses.