Chalk talk: Women's March Madness goes mostly according to seed as top teams advance to second round
March Madness has mostly been March Predictable in the women's NCAA Tournament so far.
For the first time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994, no team seeded 11 or worse advanced to the second round.
The only two double-digit seeds still standing in the round of 32 were a pair of 10s — Oregon and South Dakota State. The Ducks needed overtime to beat Vanderbilt and the Jackrabbits topped Oklahoma State by six points, rallying from a double-digit second-half deficit.
That sets up some solid second-round games, with No. 5 Kansas State facing No. 4 Kentucky and No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Ohio State. The Wildcats had the biggest scare of any team hosting the first two rounds as they held off Liberty 79-78.
No. 6 Florida State plays No. 3 LSU and No. 6 West Virginia takes on No. 3 North Carolina on Monday.
There also is intrigue with second-seeded TCU and Hailey Van Lith facing her former Louisville team, a No. 7 seed, on Sunday.
Even with the lack of upsets, it doesn't mean that there weren't eye-popping performances in the first 32 games. The top teams all looked dominant in their first-round victories. The four 1-seeds — South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Southern California — won by an average of 47 points.
Offense was on full display with the Gamecocks, Longhorns, UConn, Notre Dame, LSU and Tennessee all putting up more than 100 points. That was the second time in NCAA history that six teams went over the century mark.
Defense also took center stage at times. Duke held Lehigh to 10 points in the first half while USC gave up only 11 to Lehigh. UConn led Arkansas State 66-16 at the half.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
| 2d 9:52 AM ET ago |
Topics
-
Oklahoma State women's basketball stunned by South Dakota State in March Madness upset
The No. 7 seed Cowgirls were eliminated by No. 10 seed South Dakota State in the first round of the 2025 women's NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
March Madness 2025: Chalk has ruled the NCAA tournament so far. Is that a blip or a sign of the times?
Top-four seeds clinched a perfect 16-0 record in the first round of the men’s NCAA tournament this year. So, what gives?Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Chalk talk: Star power, top teams and No. 5 seeds headline the women's March Madness Sweet 16
There is plenty of star power left in women’s March Madness with Paige Bueckers, Hannah Hidalgo and Lauren Betts still playing even if JuJu Watkins won’t beABC News - 15h -
Michigan State women score: Spartans hold off Harvard, advance to round of 32
Michigan State women's basketball team holds off Harvard in March Madness, advances to round of 32 in NCAA tournamentYahoo Sports - 3d -
Chalk talk: Star power, top teams and No. 5 seeds headline the women's March Madness Sweet 16
There is plenty of star power left in women's March Madness with Paige Bueckers, Hannah Hidalgo and Lauren Betts still playing even if JuJu Watkins won't be. Watkins hurt her right knee in the ...Yahoo Sports - 16h -
Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in March Madness: Prediction for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener
It's Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament. Here's our prediction for the March Madness basketball game.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
It's not just you, March Madness has been unusually chalky (so far)
This is the first time since 2017 no seed lower than a 12 has advanced to the second roundYahoo Sports - 3d -
NCAA women's basketball tournament: Who were No. 1 seeds for March Madness?
Here's a look at which teams were selected as No. 1 seeds for the 2025 NCAA women's basketball tournament:Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
Duke vs. Oregon live score: Women’s March Madness second round updates, odds, how to watch
It’s Duke women’s basketball vs. Oregon in the second round of March Madness. Follow for live scores, NCAA Tournament updates from Durham.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Bemidji High School Mock Trial honored at celebratory reception
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — There are times when a team's victory necessitates public recognition. Such was the case for the Bemidji High School Mock Trial team, whose seventh-place finish at the Minnesota ...Yahoo Sports - 42m -
First all-Indigenous 3-man officiating crew makes history at basketball state tournament
Mar. 25—On March 14, Dan Jourdain made his first MSHSL state basketball tournament appearance in over two decades. Back in 2003, he made it to state while playing for Red Lake High School. But this ...Yahoo Sports - 42m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 43m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 43m -
Florida baseball blows comeback against FSU in grand fashion
Florida nearly pulled of a miraculous comeback against Florida State Tueday night. Instead, the Gators leave Jax still searching for answers.Yahoo Sports - 43m
More in Sports
-
Xavier hiring Richard Pitino: Musketeers move quickly, hire New Mexico coach after Sean Miller's departure
Pitino, 42, has spent the past 13 seasons as a Division I head coach and will now go up against his father, Rick, in the Big EastCBS Sports - 42m -
First all-Indigenous 3-man officiating crew makes history at basketball state tournament
Mar. 25—On March 14, Dan Jourdain made his first MSHSL state basketball tournament appearance in over two decades. Back in 2003, he made it to state while playing for Red Lake High School. But this ...Yahoo Sports - 42m -
Bemidji High School Mock Trial honored at celebratory reception
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — There are times when a team's victory necessitates public recognition. Such was the case for the Bemidji High School Mock Trial team, whose seventh-place finish at the Minnesota ...Yahoo Sports - 42m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 43m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 43m