Women's March Madness winners, losers: UConn rolls big, JuJu Watkins injured
The first round of the women's basketball NCAA tournament was magical. While many fans tuned in, likely expecting relatively calm matchups, March Madness seemed to have other plans. There were jaw-dropping passes, electric performances, and several battles that pulled people to the edge of their seats.
As teams from all over the country continued to push for a national championship, some emerged with huge victories, and others were left reeling with losses or unfortunate injuries. The Round of 64 for the women's NCAA tournament is now complete. Let's review which programs were victorious and which had more questions than answers.
Here are the winners and losers from the first round of March Madness:
Winner: UConn Huskies and Azzi Fudd's WNBA draft stock
Perhaps no WNBA draft prospect had a better day than UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd. Fudd, who has yet to officially declare for the 2025 draft, made an emphatic case to move up the draft board into the first round as the No. 2 seed Huskies routed the No. 15 seed Arkansas State Red Wolves in a lopsided 103-34 win.
By halftime, Fudd already had a mind-blowing 21 points, seven assists, five steals and two blocks. She ended her day with 27 points, seven assists, six steals and two blocks, leading the charge for a Huskies team with three players who scored 20 or more points, including star freshman forward Sarah Strong.
Loser: JuJu Watkins' multiple injuries during USC vs. UNC Greensboro
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and the USC Trojans staff will want to keep an eye on their biggest star, sophomore guard JuJu Watkins. Watkins suffered multiple injuries during the No. 1 seed Trojans' 71-25 victory over the 16-seed UNC Greensboro Spartans.
During the first half, she seemingly hurt her left wrist (and a pinky finger) after falling, grabbing at it multiple times. Then, she rolled her left ankle in the third quarter after pulling up for a jumper. Watkins, noticeably limping, still drilled a 3-point shot before momentarily going to the locker room to be checked out and returning to the bench as the Trojans went up by 30. Still, all anyone will ask is: How healthy is Watkins?
She was on the court for the start of the fourth quarter, made one of three free throws, and then her day was over with about six minutes remaining in regulation. A visibly frustrated Watkins finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Postgame, when asked about her wrist and ankle, Watkins casually told ESPN, "[You] know, the end of the season knick-knacks, small things, maintenance things ― Regardless, nobody cares. So, [I'll] continue to do what I do."
Winner: South Carolina's bench lighting up the floor
The No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks were in peak form against the No. 16 seed Tennesee Tech Golden Eagles. Led by freshman forward Joyce Edwards, who had a game-high 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, and sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who added 15 points, five assists, three steals and four blocks, the Gamecocks cruised into the second round with a 108-48 win.
Head coach Dawn Staley pulled South Carolina's starters during the third quarter en route to a 60-point blowout. The top-scoring bench in the country put up 66 points, an NCAA tournament record for men's and women's. "We got pieces. We got threats. We got guards that actually get down," guard Raven Johnson said. "I feel like we do all the little things. We do whatever it takes to win."
Loser: Notre Dame's Olivia Miles and her aggravated ankle
Despite the No. 3 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish winning their matchup, 106-54, against No.14 seed Stephen F. Austin by more than 50 points, the team did not come out of the victory unscathed. Senior guard Olivia Miles injured her ankle during the fourth quarter after stepping on an opposing player's foot.
"She’ll be OK," head coach Niele Ivey shared postgame. "She might be sore, but she should be OK." Miles' status for the team's Sunday matchup against the No. 6 seed Michigan Wolverines remains unclear. If the injury hampers her in any capacity, it could spell trouble for the Fighting Irish's title chances. Miles also aggravated an ankle during Notre Dame's loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC tournament semifinals.
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
The No. 6 seed Michigan Wolverines' matchup against the No.11 seed Iowa State Cyclones was a midday primetime game worthy of the most enormous bucket of popcorn available. Wolverines senior guard Jordan Hobbs and Cyclones sophomore center Audi Crooks went basket for basket, trying to will their teams into the next round. Hobbs had a sensational day with 28 points and six rebounds, and Crooks was in lockstep, adding 28 points with seven rebounds, four assists and a block.
As the Wolverines and Cyclones took the game down to the wire, Michigan freshman guard Olivia Olson, who mysteriously struggled all day, launched a dagger shot with just 20 seconds remaining to send Iowa State home with an early March Madness exit. Another freshman, guard Syla Swords, slammed the door shut with a clutch free throw.
Michigan has many good takeaways from Friday's game, including all five starters in double figures and a freshman trio of Olson, Swords and guard Mila Holloway, who showed positive glimpses of what the Wolverines' future could look like beyond the NCAA tournament.
Loser: Kentucky and its late-game March Madness meltdown
On Friday, the No. 4 seed Kentucky Wildcats found themselves dangerously close to March Madness elimination against the No. 13 seed Liberty Ladyflames. Liberty, overcoming a blazing hot start by Wildcats guard Georgia Amoore, erased a 17-point lead during an unfathomable 23-6 run within the last six minutes of regulation. With the lead trimmed to just one point with seconds remaining, the Ladyflames turned the ball over, seemingly a gift from the basketball gods. Amoore sealed a 79-78 victory with clutch free throws.
While the win was undoubtedly needed, the Wildcats can't continue in the NCAA tournament in that fashion. They have a date on Sunday with the No. 5 seed Kansas State Wildcats and star center Ayoka Lee, who can slow down Amoore and take Kentucky's most productive post players, center Clara Strack and forward Teonni Key, out of the equation, too.
Per On3 Sports' Phoenix Stevens, head coach Kenny Brooks reflected Saturday about the Wildcats' close game, saying, “At this point in the year, you are what you are. We have strengths, and we have weaknesses, just like K-State and every team you’ll play against. That’s the beauty of March.”
Winner: South Dakota State and mid-majors everywhere
If anyone had the No. 10 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits over the No. 7 seed Oklahoma State Cowgirls in their bracket, pat yourself on the back. The Jackrabbits went into Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, on a mission, winning 74-68.
They exploded in the second half with a 28-point third quarter and never let up, thanks to tremendous days from forward Brooklyn Meyer, guard Madison Mathiowetz and guard Paige Meyer. South Dakota State showed up huge for mid-majors everywhere and became only the second 10-seed, after the Oregon Ducks, to get a win during the first round of the women's NCAA tournament.
Winner: The health of LSU's Flau'jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow's
All eyes were on the No. 3 seed LSU Tigers ahead of their first-round matchup with the No. 14 seed San Diego State Aztecs. With injuries ahead of March Madness, the questions started to mount. Is guard Flau'jae Johnson healthy? How effective will forward Aneesah Morrow be after re-aggravating her sprained foot during the SEC tournament? The Tigers emphatically silenced any angst as Johnson and Morrow led the charge during LSU's 103-48 blowout win, the sixth game of 100 points or more during the NCAA tournament.
By halftime, the Tigers were up 29 points, and Johnson and Morrow contributed 22 points to the team's production. The dynamic duo ended their night with 22 points plus four steals and 12 points with 12 rebounds, respectively. Four other Tigers also scored in double digits as LSU cruised into the second round. On Monday, LSU has a highly-anticipated matchup with the nation's leading scorer, Ta'Niya Latson and No. 6 seed Florida State.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women's March Madness winners, losers: UConn looks championship-ready
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