Tag: Kamilla Cardoso

Angel Reese records 11th straight double-double and the Sky top the Dream 85-77
[ad_1]
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Chennedy Carter scored six of her season-high 26 points in the final 92 seconds, rookie Angel Reese recorded her 11th consecutive double-double just before being named to the All-Star roster, and the Chicago Sky beat the Atlanta Dream 85-77 on Tuesday night.

Reese scored 12 points and set a franchise record with 19 rebounds to move within one double-double of Candace Parker’s WNBA record of 12 straight. Reese is the first WNBA rookie to have 10-plus rebounds and 19-plus rebounds in a game since Teaira McCowan in 2019.

Kamilla Cardoso, Lindsay Allen, Angel Reese and Diamond DeShields of the Chicago Sky take to the court during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Dawn Staley, center, signs aurographs after a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Dawn Staley speak after a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Chennedy Carter runs the offense during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Jordin Canada looks to drive to the basket during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Allisha Gray and Dawn Staley embrace after a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Monica and Tasha Cobbs Leonard take a selfie after a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

A Chicago Sky fan supports her team during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Chicago Sky assistant coach Ty Young poses for a photograph with Angel Robinson after a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Leticia Amihere speaks to Dawn Staley after a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Dawn Staley appears during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Kamilla Cardoso appears during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

DJ Jazzy T appears during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

(Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Tina Charles attempts a layup during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Christina “Ms. Basketball” Glanville dances during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus hands the ball off during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Dawn Staley appears during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

DJ Jazzy T appears during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Host Bria Janelle appears second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus attempts a layup second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

(Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Tina Charles works against Angel Reese during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Angel Reese and Tina Charles jump center during the second half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Dawn Staley appears during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Dawn Staley appears during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

(Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

(Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Atlanta Dream Head Coach Tanisha Wright speaks to Nia Coffey during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Witherspoon exults her team during a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Tina Charles, left, blocks Kamilla Cardoso’s lay up attempt during the first half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Kamilla Cardoso drives to the basket on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Kamilla Cardoso and Nia Coffey jump it up during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

The Atlanta Dream huddle before a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Allisha Gray is introduced before a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Montell Jordan performs the Star-Spangled Banner before a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky participates during warmups before a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Chicago Sky assistant coach Ty Young watches her team during warmups before a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky reacts during a stoppage in play during a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky reacts during a stoppage in play during a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Dawn Staley appears during a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Tina Charles grabs a rebound during the first half of a WNBA game on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Chicago trailed 75-72 before Atlanta went the final three minutes without a field goal. Diamond DeShields rattled in a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:21 left to tie it at 75-all and she added one free throw on the Sky’s next possession to take the lead for good.

Carter took over down the stretch, making a basket on three straight possessions. She converted her second straight driving layup for an 80-77 lead and then stole it at the other end, leading to a jumper from the free-throw line.

Dana Evans added 14 points and Kamilla Cardoso had eight points and 10 rebounds for Chicago (7-11).

Allisha Gray, who joins Reese on the All-Star team, scored 19, and Tina Charles had 19 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for Atlanta (7-11), which turned it over 18 times. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Jordin Canada each added 11 points.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley came onto the court after the game for an embrace with her former player Cardoso.

Related
[ad_2]

Associated Press

Source link
July 3, 2024
Candace Parker, 3-time WNBA champion, 2-time league MVP, announces retirement

[ad_1]

Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker announced Sunday she’s retiring.

Parker, a two-time league MVP, announced in a social media post on Sunday she’s ending her career after 16 seasons.

Parker played her first 13 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks. She then joined the Chicago Sky for two seasons..

She became the first player in WNBA history to be named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season when she averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while helping the Sparks to a 10-win improvement in 2008.

After winning a title last season with the Las Vegas Aces, Parker became the first player in league history to win a championship with three different teams. She had previously won titles with the Sparks (2016) and Sky (2021).

“I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it,” Parker said in her social media post. “The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.”

Parker went to high school in Naperville, Illinois.

Las Vegas Aces forward Candace Parker reacts during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, May 20, 2023, in Seattle.

(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

[ad_2]

AP

Source link

April 28, 2024
Candace Parker, 3-time WNBA champion, 2-time league MVP, announces retirement

[ad_1]

Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker announced Sunday she’s retiring.

Parker, a two-time league MVP, announced in a social media post on Sunday she’s ending her career after 16 seasons.

Parker played her first 13 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks. She then joined the Chicago Sky for two seasons..

She became the first player in WNBA history to be named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season when she averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while helping the Sparks to a 10-win improvement in 2008.

After winning a title last season with the Las Vegas Aces, Parker became the first player in league history to win a championship with three different teams. She had previously won titles with the Sparks (2016) and Sky (2021).

“I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it,” Parker said in her social media post. “The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.”

Parker went to high school in Naperville, Illinois.

Las Vegas Aces forward Candace Parker reacts during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, May 20, 2023, in Seattle.

(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

[ad_2]

AP

Source link

April 28, 2024
South Carolina women reach 10th straight Sweet 16, beat North Carolina 88-41 in March Madness

[ad_1]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Freshmen MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson aren’t waiting for their turn. They’re grabbing the opportunity to lead the way for undefeated South Carolina in the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Fulwiley scored 20 points, Johnson had 11 and the pair combined for seven of the top-seeded Gamecocks’ nine 3-pointers in an 88-41 win over No. 8 seed North Carolina on Sunday that sent South Carolina to its 10th straight Sweet 16.

“They see themselves as being integral parts of our success,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “And they didn’t back down from it.”

Kamilla Cardoso had 12 points and 10 rebounds in her return from a one-game suspension after she was ejected for fighting during the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game two weeks ago. The 6-foot-7 center missed her team’s March Madness opener against Presbyterian on Friday.

Fulwiley knows she’s among the most promising young players in the game along with Southern California’s JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Texas’ Madison Booker. But Fulwiley’s bigger priority is blending in with her talented Gamecocks teammates.

“I think this team, we do a great job of just playing for each other,” she said. “I think we don’t play for the fans and all the other extra stuff. I think everything we do out on the court is for each other.”

South Carolina will carry that bond into the Sweet 16 to face No. 4 seed Indiana or No. 5 seed Oklahoma on Friday in the Albany 1 Region.

The Gamecocks, at full strength and playing like their potent selves, were too much for the Tar Heels, who had lost by single digits in the teams’ previous two meetings, most recently on Nov. 30.

Chloe Kitts, a South Carolina sophomore who hit all nine of her field goals for 21 points in the first round, scored 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting in the first half of this one. She finished with 12 points and has made 13 of 14 shots in the tournament.

North Carolina got no closer than 31 points in the final two quarters. Maria Gadkeng, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds in Friday’s win over Michigan State, picked up three first-half fouls. Alyssa Ustby led North Carolina with 12 points.

Leading scorer Deja Kelly had two fouls and five of the Tar Heels’ 11 first-half turnovers. She was held to seven points on 2-of-13 shooting.

“I felt like I had two people on me at all times,” Kelly said.

North Carolina was held to the fewest points in its 81-game NCAA Tournament history. The Tar Heels’ previous low was a 55-46 loss to George Washington at the old Carolina Coliseum in Columbia 27 years ago.

The Gamecocks extended their program record with their 59th straight win at home in their final game of the season at Colonial Life Arena, where they averaged an NCAA-best 16,489 fans.

CARDOSO’S RETURN

Staley said Cardoso felt she had let her teammates down with her suspension for shoving LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson to the ground in the SEC title game. But hearing the fans cheer her return Sunday lightened her mood.

“I’m so happy she got over that part of it and we can move on,” Staley said.

Related

[ad_2]

Associated Press

Source link

March 24, 2024
Who will reach the women’s Final Four and win it all? A March Madness bracket analysis

[ad_1]

The women’s NCAA Tournament field is set and now the fun begins with 68 teams vying for the national championship and cutting down the nets in Cleveland.

The stars are out with Caitlin Clark trying to get Iowa its first national championship and Angel Reese looking to help LSU repeat as champion. The third-seeded Tigers ended a 10-year run of No. 1-seeded teams winning the title.

Look for that to be a one-year thing. Here is a look at what could happen over the next few weeks and remember: This guidance will be 100% accurate until the first round tips off on Friday.

CHALK RULES

It’s foolish to pick against top seeds, which have won the title in 14 of the past 16 seasons.

The only other time before last year it has happened in that span was in 2011, when coach Gary Blair led Texas A&M to the title as a No. 2 seed. At least two No. 1 seeds have made the Final Four every season since since 2005 with the exception of 2016. South Carolina, the overall No. 1 seed, is a huge favorite to win the title.

BRACKET-BUSTING UPSETS

Watch for some mid-level seeds to cause some headaches.

Last year, ninth-seeded Miami and eighth-seeded Mississippi made runs to the second weekend by knocking off No. 1 teams. Ole Miss is back in the field as a 7-seed and Notre Dame better prepare for coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s squad in the second round.

Princeton is an experienced team behind guard Kaitlyn Chen and took UCLA down to the wire in Los Angeles early in the season before losing a close one. If the Tigers win their opener, they could face Iowa in a game that would feature a Kaitlyn-Caitlin matchup.

SAFE BETS

No 14- or 15-seed has ever won a game in the women’s tournament and that trend is likely to continue. None came within single digits of pulling off upsets last year and this season’s group will be hard-pressed to do it. Jackson State has a chance if they can figure out a way to contain UConn.

BEWARE THE 12

As with the men’s bracket, It’s a nearly annual thing that a 12-seeds knocks off a 5 in the opening round. At least one 12-seed has made it out of the first round in five of the last six women’s tournaments, including the two the past two seasons.

INJURY BUG

Virginia Tech made the Final Four last season for the first time behind the strong play of Elizabeth Kitley, who won the ACC player of the year for the third time. She injured her knee in the regular-season finale this year and missed the ACC Tournament. Her status is still unclear for the NCAAs.

Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes also hurt her knee in the regular-season finale, but appears to be ready to go. UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards broke her nose in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. She sat out the final two games but is ready for the NCAAs.

ALBANY REGION 1

Analysis: What Dawn Staley has done has been amazing. A whole new starting lineup and South Carolina (32-0) is back in the same spot it was last season, undefeated heading into the NCAA Tournament. The young Gamecocks have been tested a few times this season, but passed every one, including using a last-second 3-pointer from Kamilla Cardoso to beat Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. South Carolina could see some familiar foes on its way back to the Final Four with No. 2 Notre Dame and eighth-seeded North Carolina potentially in the way. The Gamecocks beat both of them this season.

Players to watch: Meghan Andersen, Fairfield; Cardoso and MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina; Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame; Deja Kelly, North Carolina; Skylar Vann, Oklahoma.

Bracket Buster: Seventh-seeded Ole Miss made it to the Sweet 16 last year, knocking off Stanford. Notre Dame better be on high alert if the two teams meet in the second round. North Carolina led South Carolina at the half in November before losing 65-58. Florida Gulf Coast is always a threat to pull off an upset with its spectacular 3-point shooting.

Best Potential Game: Oregon State vs Notre Dame in the Sweet 16. Two really good defensive teams that have dynamic guards. The Beavers are led by Talia von Oelhoffen while the Irish have Hidalgo. First team to 50 wins.

First-round picks: South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida Gulf Coast, Indiana, Texas A&M, Oregon State, Ole Miss, Notre Dame.

Second-round picks: South Carolina, Indiana, Oregon State, Notre Dame.

Regional semifinal picks: South Carolina, Notre Dame.

Regional champion pick: South Carolina.

ALBANY REGION 2

Analysis: The committee did Clark and Iowa no favors if they were hoping to see the Hawkeyes return to the championship game. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and the Hawkeyes have a potential tough second-round matchup at home against either Princeton or West Virginia. Win that and the Big Ten champions could face Kansas State for a third time; K-State handed Iowa one of its four losses this year. Make it to the regional final and a rematch against defending champion LSU or a stellar UCLA team awaits. Five teams that spent time in the top three spots in the AP Top 25 poll are in this region.

Players to watch: Clark; Lauren Betts, UCLA; Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton; Katie Dinnebier, Drake; Ayoka Lee, Kansas State; Angel Reese, LSU; Jaylen Sherrod, Colorado.

Bracket Buster: Fifth-seeded Colorado knocked off LSU to start the season and played through a difficult Pac-12 schedule, beating Stanford and USC. The Buffaloes did struggle dropping five of their last six in the regular season.

Best Potential Game: It would be easy to go with the potential Louisville-LSU game in the second round, which would see Tigers transfer Hailey Van Lith going up against her former team. Louisville probably doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to handle the Tigers on the road. The better matchup could be LSU-UCLA in the Sweet 16. There are plenty of stars in that matchup with Betts, Charisma Osborne and Kiki Rice on the Bruins side matching up against Reese, Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow.

First-round picks: Iowa, Princeton, Colorado, Kansas State, Louisville, LSU, Creighton, UCLA.

Second-round picks: Iowa, Colorado, LSU, UCLA.

Regional semifinal picks: Iowa, UCLA.

Regional champion pick: UCLA.

PORTLAND REGION 3

Analysis: For the second straight year, the UConn Huskies had high expectations coming into the season only to have them dashed by a string of injuries that sidelined five players for the season, including star guard Azzi Fudd. Geno Auriemma’s team still has Paige Bueckers, who missed last year with an ACL tear. The 2021 AP player of the year is back in top form. This year’s freshmen class is incredible and USC’s JuJu Watkins is the best of the group. She led the Trojans to a Pac-12 Tournament title and should have the team going far in the NCAA Tournament.

Players to watch: Watson; Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech; Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse; Abbey Hsu, Columbia; Cotie McMahon, Ohio State; Bueckers and Nika Muhl, UConn.

Bracket Buster: Columbia is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and it would be nice to say the underdog will be one of the 12 seeds to knock off a 5. They need to get past Vanderbilt in the play-in game first. Either way, Columbia or Vanderbilt could cause some problems for fifth-seeded Baylor. The team to really watch out for could be Marshall, a 13 seed. The Herd play a fun system with coach Kim Stephens subbing five players out at a time. If the Hokies have to play without Kitley, the Herd could pull off the monumental upset.

Best Potential Game: Celeste Taylor left Duke last spring a few weeks after announcing she was returning to the school. It happened because one of the assistant coaches she was tight with left for South Carolina. The stalwart defender might get a chance to play against her former team if they both can make it to the second round.

First-round picks: USC, Michigan, Baylor, Marshall, Syracuse, UConn, Duke, Ohio State.

Second-round picks: USC, Baylor, UConn, Ohio State.

Regional semifinal picks: USC, Ohio State.

Regional champion pick: Ohio State.

PORTLAND REGION 4

Analysis: Texas had to reinvent itself after an early season injury to star guard Rori Harmon. Coach Vic Schaefer turned to freshman Madison Booker, who helped carry the team to a Big 12 title. That earned the Longhorns the No. 1 seed over second-seeded Stanford. The two teams could meet with a trip to the Final Four on the line if neither is tripped up by a talented field that includes a surprising N.C. State team.

Players to watch: Cameron Brink, Stanford; Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga; Rickea Jackson, Tennessee; Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State; Alissa Pili, Utah.

Bracket Buster: No. 6 seed Tennessee was one defensive stop away from snapping South Carolina’s undefeated run in the SEC Tournament. Jackson will be a lottery pick in the WNBA draft next month and she can potentially get the Lady Vols a trip to the Sweet 16 and beyond.

Best Potential Game: The first-round matchup between No. 7 Iowa State and No. 10 Maryland could be a thriller. The Terrapins haven’t lost an opening-round game since 2001 and none under coach Brenda Frese, who was an assistant under Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly in the late 1990s.

First-round picks: Texas, Florida State, Utah, Gonzaga, Tennessee, N.C. State, Maryland, Stanford.

Second-round picks: Texas, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Stanford.

Regional final picks: Gonzaga, Stanford.

Regional champion pick: Stanford.

THE FINAL FOUR

Analysis: The Pac-12 has been the best conference all season long and in its final year we believe two teams will reach the national semifinals. South Carolina will face Stanford and UCLA will play Ohio State. The Gamecocks beat the Cardinal in the 2017 Final Four en route to their first national championship. Stanford returned the favor four years later. Ohio State made it this far one other time, back in 1993 when Katie Smith led the team to the title game. UCLA has never reached this grand a stage before in women’s basketball. The talented trio of Betts, Rice and Osborne will get them there.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Pick: South Carolina vs. UCLA. They played in the Sweet 16 last season and the Gamecocks came away with an easy win. It will be much closer this time.

Analysis: Staley has pushed all the right buttons this season to help a new Gamecocks squad reach the tournament unbeaten for the second consecutive year. This time, the Gamecocks will finish the job with a national championship.

Related

[ad_2]

Doug Feinberg and Associated Press

Source link

March 22, 2024