Is this the year Oklahoma gets dethroned? Or will the Sooners secure a four-peat of the NCAA National Championship?

The NCAA announced the bracket of 64 teams, with the top 16 teams receiving a seed and hosting the regionals. The top eight seeds will host the regionals and super regionals, assuming they win the first weekend. The tournament is double elimination, with the series being best two out of three. The final eight teams will play in the Women's College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City from May 30 to June 6 or 7, depending on whether a game three is needed. Here is a look at the top eight seeds.

Texas won the Big 12 regular season for the last time before moving to the SEC next season. The Longhorns finished one game ahead of Oklahoma, but Oklahoma got revenge during the Big 12 tournament final and crushed Texas 5-1. Texas still earned the No. 1 seed and is led by Big 12 Player of the Year, Reese Atwood. She leads a dangerous Texas offense – setting a single-season school record for home runs (21) and runs batted in (RBIs) (83) while hitting .433.

Never count out a dynasty! Oklahoma started dominant but has not been perfect. That said, they have won the last three national titles, and there is no reason why they can't win a fourth this year. Tiare Jennings leads Oklahoma with 19 home runs, 13 doubles, and 57 RBIs and hits .368.

Tennessee lost in the quarter-finals of the SEC tournament but had been dominant all regular season, never dropping a series in conference play. The No. 3 seed is the highest tournament ranking the Volunteers have ever received. Tennesse is led by two dominant pitchers, Karlyn Pickens, the SEC pitcher of the year, and Payton Gottshall, a first-team All-SEC pick. Plus, the Volunteers have Kiki Milloy. Milloy is the all-time Tennessee home runs leader with 68.

Florida is living large after winning the SEC tournament. Going into the tournament, Florida's chances of hosting a regional were mixed, but after tearing through Georgia, Texas A&M, and Missouri, all of which are also seeded in the NCAA tournament, it became clear that the Gators deserved a top spot. Jocelyn Erickson is a high-impact transfer with a slugging percentage of .689, 12 home runs, and 75 RBIs.

The Cowgirls know a thing or two about bedlam, winning the series against Oklahoma at the end of April, but they lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. While it feels like Oklahoma State can play little sister to their in-state rivals, the program is hunting for a fifth straight trip to the WCWS. Lexi Kilfoyl won Big 12 pitcher of the year with a 1.41 earned run average (ERA).

UCLA is the last team to win a national championship not called Oklahoma in 2019 (the 2020 season was canceled for the COVID-19 pandemic). After a nearly disastrous start to the season during the program's first tournament with a 0-16 mercy rule loss to Texas and a 1-9 loss to Oklahoma State, UCLA turned it around to win the final Pac-12 regular season and tournament. Maya Brady (yes, that Brady) is the Pac-12 Player of the Year with a .409 batting average, 15 home runs, and 61 RBIs.

The Tigers fell in the SEC tournament finals after an impressive season earned them the No. 7 seed. It is the 17th consecutive time Missouri has been part of the NCAA tournament. The program finished fifth in the SEC regular season. Jenns Laird, Alex Honnold, and Abby Hay led the Tigers and were members of the All-SEC Second Team.

Stanford is looking to return to the WCWS for the second year. The Cardinal finished second in the Pac-12 regular season but exited the tournament during the semifinals. Stanford is a team on the rise, back in contention after missing the WCWS from 2005-2022. NiJaree Canady was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year with an ERA of 0.5.

Top teams look for Women's College World Series Opportunity

The season hadn't ended for all teams before players began flocking to the transfer portal. Players enter the portal for various reasons -- coaching changes, conference realignments, cultural fits, additional playing opportunities, and systems that suit a player's skill set. 

Now, two weeks out from the March Madness Finals, we are ranking our top 10 players in the portal, some of whom have announced where they will play next year, while others are still searching.

It's the end of the Pac-12 and the end of head coach Tara VanDerveer's reign at Stanford. After VanDerveer announced her retirement, Iriafen said she would leave, too, a big blow to Stanford. VanDerveer said her decision had nothing to do with Stanford's move to the ACC, but Iriafen entered the portal with a "do not contact" message.  She averaged 19.4 points per game (PPG) and 11 rebounds per game (RPG). In the round of 32, she saved Stanford from Iowa State with a 41-point performance.

2. Raegan Beers, Fr, F., from Oregon State

Oregon State was a blast to watch, and if not for conference realignments that caused the school to enter the WCC next season, the Beavers would have likely returned the core team that made the Elite Eight this season. Beers was a key piece of the puzzle; she averaged 17.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and the highest field goal percentage in the country with, 66.4 percent. 

3. Georgia Amoore, Gr, G., from Virginia Tech to Kentucky 

Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley led Virginia Tech to the Final Four in 2022-23. But when Kitley suffered an ACL tear at the end of the regular season, the Hokies exited early as the No. 1 seed in the ACC and NCAA March Madness tournaments. Then, Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks announced he would leave for Kentucky. Amoore will follow Brooks after a season where she averaged 18.8 PPG and 6.8 assists per game.

4. Lucy Olsen, Jr, G., from Villanova to Iowa

Iowa will probably never find a player to replace Caitlin Clark. After all, Clark is a generational talent and became an icon on and off the court. But Iowa is getting a great addition with Lucy Olsen. Olsen averaged 23.3 PPG, third in the country behind Clark and Southern California's JuJu Watkins.

5. Grace VanSlooten, So, F., from Oregon to Michigan State

In its final Pac-12 season, Oregon struggled. After success during the pandemic seasons, Oregon has found itself on a downward trend. In 2023-24, the Ducks went 11-21 and 2-16 in the conference, ending the season on a 14-game losing streak. VanSlooten averaged 15 PPG and 7.1 RPG.

6. Timea Gardiner, So, F., from Oregon State 

Another Beaver is leaving, likely to play in one of the Power Four conferences. Gardiner won the Pac-12 6th Player of the Year award and entered Oregon State as a McDonalds All-American and 5-star recruit. Off the bench, she averaged 11.6 PPG and 7 RPG.

7. Taliah Scott, Fr, G., from Arkansas to Auburn

Scott will stay in the SEC after an all-conference freshman season. She ranked third in the country of freshman scoring, trailing only JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, who scored more points per game. At Arkansas, she averaged 22.1 ppg and 3.3 rebounds.

8. Charlisse Leger-Walker, Sr, G., from Washington State 

The arrival of Leger-Walker lifted Washington State to new heights, including a Pac-12 tournament title in 2023. The New Zealand was a four-time All-Pac-12 teamer. Before her injury, Leger-Walker averaged 13.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. 

9. Haley Van Lith, Sr, G., from LSU to TCU

In 2022-23, Van Lith was one of the biggest names in the portal after leading Louisville to three Elite Eights and averaging 19.7 PPG in her third year. But then she transferred to reigning National Champions LSU for 2023-24. After a challenging season with the Tigers that saw her averaging 11.6 PPG, she is transferring to TCU.

Phelia was Michigan's go-to player in a season in which the Wolverines never entered the top-25. A bubble team at the end of the regular season, Michigan advanced to the Big Ten tournament semifinals before losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Phelia averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

Ranking NCAA women's basketball players in the transfer portal

The top 10 transfers for 2024-25 season

South Carolina is perfect. Women's college basketball is great.

In a highly anticipated National Championship matchup against Iowa and Caitlin Clark, the Gamecocks emerged victorious with an 87-75 win. South Carolina's third title in four years came when all eyes were on women's basketball in a season filled with star power and larger-than-life coaches. The South Carolina-Iowa matchup was no different, as the NCAA all-time leading scorer faced off against a dominant South Carolina team coached by Dawn Staley.

The Women's March Madness tournament has been ratings gold for ESPN, with a new viewership record set each week. This year's Final Four matchups between South Carolina and NC State, as well as Iowa and UConn, averaged 10.8 million viewers, breaking last year's championship record of 9.9 million. The Iowa-UConn game averaged 14.2 million viewers, with a peak of 17 million.

For the fans, the final lived up to the hype. Iowa started hot, as Clark had 18 points in the first 10 minutes, but South Carolina's bench and defense proved too much. A bench player, freshman guard Tessa Johnson, led all South Carolina players with 19 points. With many eyes focused on the Caitlin Clark era, young players demonstrate their ability to make a difference and lead teams on the biggest stage.

With South Carolina's win, Clark finishes her legendary career with Iowa as the NCAA all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points. Though she never won a national championship, she played in two, improving the other players on her team with her presence and basketball IQ. Millions of people were drawn to her flashy play and logo 3-pointers as she completed her senior season wearing a heavy crown as one of the greatest college basketball players and a commercial star. Clark helped bring women's college basketball into the mainstream, and chances are you've seen a State Farm or Nike commercial with her in it. But more importantly, she inspired people to dream big and pushed the limits of collegiate women's sports coverage. We will remember Clark for her time on the court, but her legacy and impact extend well beyond.

On the other bench, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley created a dynasty at the school. In a year many thought would be a rebuilding year with an entirely new starting five, Staley led her team to the 10th-ever perfect season and the first since UConn in 2016. She's one of the greatest coaches of all time, beloved across the sport for her winning ways (109-3) since 2021, her care for the players on her team and other teams, and her outspoken support for human rights.

Women's college basketball is rising, as demonstrated by the excitement millions experienced over the entire season, culminating in an electric tournament. As fans, we must carry this momentum beyond the game and continue pushing streamers to show and cover women's sports. Sure, it's the end of an era, but the next breakthrough is waiting.


South Carolina beats Iowa for National Championship

South Carolina versus Iowa caps a historic season

The tournament is officially one weekend down – with the entire first round and half of the second round in the book, and with a few exceptions, it's been a good weekend for the higher-seeded teams.

 Overall, No. 1 South Carolina looked elite, rolling through No. 16 Presbyterian, 91-39 in the first round, even without 6-7 Center Kamilla Cardoso, who was suspended for one game after an ejection during the SEC Championship. The next night, the Gamecocks beat No. 8 UNC, 88-41, officially booking a ticket to the round of 16. They will play the winner of No. 4 Indiana versus No. 5 Oklahoma. Also in the region, No. 3 Oregon State is officially moving to the round of 16 after defeating a talented No. 6 Nebraska team, 61-51.

 In the first round, No. 11 Middle Tennessee State upset No. 6 Louisville, 71-69, ending the chance for LSU's Haley Van Lith to face her old team. Then, after a close first half, No. 3 LSU defeated Middle Tennessee State, 83-56. The Tigers are officially back in the round of 16. In a more minor upset, No. 5 Colorado beat No. 4 Kansas State in the second round. Both teams have shown glimpses of brilliance during the season, peaking in the top 5 at one point. In a physical first-round game, No. 1 Iowa defeated No. 16 Holy Cross, 91-65.

 No. 7 Duke also booked its ticket to Portland by upsetting No. 2 Ohio State, 75-63. The Buckeyes entered the Big Ten tournament as the first seed and the No. 2 team in the country but also suffered an early second-round exit there. This time, Ohio State had a 16-point lead at the half, but Duke chipped away and solidified a lead by the end of the third quarter. Also in the region, No. 5 Baylor defeated No. 4 Virginia Tech, which was without ACC Player of the Year, Elizabeth Kitley. Kitley tore her ACL at the end of the regular season and watched her time as a Hokie come to an end on her home court.

 The bracket has gone chalk in this region, but it’s been hard fought. No. 7 Iowa State Freshman Audi Crooks had 40 points and 12 rebounds against No. 10 Maryland in the first round. The Cyclones erased a 20-point deficit to win, the second-largest comeback in tournament history. In Austin, No. 1 Texas beat No. 8 Alabama, 65-54, to also secure a spot in the round of 16. On Sunday night, No. 2 Stanford ground out a win over No. 7 Iowa State. The teams were tied 66 all at the end of regulation before an eventual 87-81 win. Kiki Iriafen, who had 41 points, and Brooke Demetre, who hit two clutch 3-pointers in overtime, stole the show and sent the Cardinal back to the round of 16 for the first time since 2022.

Stay tuned for a deep dive into the round of 16 matchups later this week. All games are on Monday, March 25, and all times listed in ET.

No. 2 Notre Dame vs No. 7 Ole Miss: 2:00 p.m. on ESPN

No. 4 Indiana vs No. 5 Oklahoma: 6:30 p.m on ESPN2

No. 1 Iowa vs No. 8 West Virginia: 8:00 p.m. on ESPN

No. 2 UCLA vs No. 7 Creighton: 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2

No. 3 UConn vs No. 6 Syracuse: 6:00 p.mn on ESPN

No. 1 Southern California vs No. 8 Kansas: 10 p.m. on ESPN

No. 3 NC State vs No. 6 Tennessee: 4:00 p.m. on ESPN

No. 4 Gonzaga vs No. 5 Utah: 10:30 p.m. on ESPN2

women's basketball tournament weekend one recap

Tournament weekend one is in the books 

There is nothing wicked going on here; it is only a list of teams that could star in their own Cinderella Story.

 Defense, defense, defense is the name of the game. Can nine-seed Princeton, who has come so close to the Sweet Sixteen the last two years, defeat eight-seed West Virginia and one-seed, the People’s Princess, Iowa, to be one of the sixteen?

 Experience says team experience matters in the big moments. The UNLV team comprises seniors who have played in three tournaments and developed deep team chemistry. The Rebels beat Arizona and Oklahoma this year, both tournament teams. UNLV plays Creighton in the first round.

 This team already beat Creighton and Washington State this season in the non-conference season before winning the Horizon League. Tennessee is a tough draw for the Phoenix, but that is the magic of March.

 Shooters are going to shoot. That is how FGCU

returns to the tournament after winning the Atlantic Sun conference. The Eagles are third in the country in 3-point shooting attempts and play Oklahoma first.

 The program enters the tournament a perfect 16-0 in tournament play and, as an eleven-seed, will play six-seed Louisville. The Blue Raiders are a veteran crew that can score the ball with 45% of their shots coming in 3-point range and know what it takes to grind out a win.

Five teams that could pull of upsets in the opening round 

A Cinderella Story: Teams that could bust your bracket 

Fasten your seatbelt; the Albany 2 region of the bracket is about to take us on a wild ride. Caitlin Clark and Iowa headline the show, securing the one-seed in the region as the No. 2 team in the country. Iowa’s stock has been rising over the last four years, and with Clark becoming the all-time NCAA leading scorer, she has appeared in national advertising campaigns and secured her status as a celebrity and household name. We know what Iowa is looking to do – return to the National Championship game and win it all. Iowa lost to LSU in the National Championship, and all eyes are on the Hawkeyes as they attempt to return to the national championship and win it all.

But it isn’t going to be easy for Iowa, or any team, to leave that quadrant and make it to Cleveland. Albany is the land of rematches. Assuming Iowa wins its first game, the Hawkeyes would face either Princeton or West Virginia. Princeton only lost four teams this season and are led by experienced players - holding opponents to 56 points a game. The Tigers have beat five-seed Oklahoma and pushed then No. 3 and current two-seed to the edge. With West Virginia, Head Coach Mark Kellogg called out Clark, saying to his team, “Let’s win one, and let’s send Caitlin Clark packing.”

If Iowa wins, the Hawkeyes could face a potential rematch with four-seed Kansas State or Colorado. Earlier this season, Iowa split the series with Kansas State in November. Playing five-seed Colorado would result in a rematch with the Buffs, too. Iowa defeated Colorado in the Sweet Sixteen last year.

In the bottom half of the region, two-seed UCLA, three-seed LSU, six-seed Louisville, and seven-seed Creighton will be fighting for the next game. This means there is a potential for Iowa to play LSU in the Elite Eight. It’s a National Championship rematch that people are begging for. Don’t forget that LSU won it all as a three-seed last year.

But for the rematch of all rematches to happen. LSU will likely need to defeat Louisville. LSU versus Louisville could provide fans with the storyline of LSU player Haley Van Lith facing off her old team. Van Lith transferred to the Tigers after Louisville lost to, you guessed it, Iowa in the Elite Eight last year.

If things get really funky, LSU could face Colorado. LSU entered the season ranked No. 1 and lost on opening day to…Colorado. Plus, twelve-seeded Drake was once coached by now-Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder. If Creighton pulls off a few upsets, then, well, they are the team that knocked Iowa out two years ago.

None of these potentials feature teams in the same conference, which makes the familiarties even more exciting. Regardless, the team that emerges from the Albany 2 region will be battle-tested heading to the Final Four.

The Albany 2 region offers several key rematches

Sometimes, we want something cute and fluffy to look at. While we cannot promise that all of the animals on this list fit that description, they each bring their own unique status to their respective schools.


Baylor - Lady, Indy and Belle, The Bears LSU - Mike VII the Tiger

South Carolina - Sir Big Spur the Gamecock

A guide to live mascots for tournament teams

If you want to cheer for programs coached by women

Dawn Staley, Lisa Bluder, Kim Mulkey, and Tara VanDerveer are all big names at the top of the sport. They have all contributed to growing the game and shining a spotlight on some of the best players the sport has seen.

Women coaches take center stage as women’s basketball finally steps into the spotlight. Below is a list of the 40 teams in the tournament coached by women.

Tournament teams coached by women

It feels impossible to pick the top five games we are looking forward to in round one, but if we have to, we’d choose the following:

Saturday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. E.T. on ESPN2

Don’t sleep on the Tigers. This Princeton team knows how to win, with senior guard Kaitlyn Chen leading the team to victory. She helped her team upset SEC Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament two seasons ago and again pulled off an upset in last year’s tournament against NC State. The Tigers have come within inches of the Sweet Sixteen in the previous year. Is this the year they make it happen? Like Princeton, West Virginia is also an incredible defensive team, averaging nearly 24 turnovers a game. JJ Quinerly leads the Mountaineers. She is the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Saturday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m. E.T. on ESPN2

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. That is precisely what the Fairfield Stags did. After a stunning 30-1 season, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions submitted their 

 to the AP and USA today to pitch a top-25 ranking. Fairfield secured No.25 – the program’s first top 25 ranking. It is an excellent time to hop on the 

. The Stags play Indiana in Bloomington. The Hoosiers lost in the semifinals to Nebraska after leading in the first half. Indiana All American and fifth-year forward Mackenzie Holmes has been battling a knee injury that has left her largley sidelined over the last few weeks. Holme's playing time in the tournament is to be determined.

Saturday, March 23 at 3:30 p.m. E.T. on ESPN2

Arizona already defeated Auburn 69-59 in a play-in game to secure a spot in the round of 64. The reward? A date with Syracuse, a team that has caused problems in the ACC all season. Arizona is a team on the rise and one that could pull off an upset. Syracuse is led by fifth-year Daiysha Fair, who passed Brittany Griner for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. She averages 22 points per game, which is good enough for the top-10 in the NCAA.

Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. E.T. on ESPNews

In the Albany 2 Region, the most difficult, both of these teams face an uphill battle for a win. UNLV enters the weekend on the 30-win season. The Rebels did it with a solid group of experienced players and a spunky freshman guard Amarachi Kimpson. It is UNLV’s third consecutive NCAA tournament trip. Creighton finished second in the Big East and is also attending the tournament for the third time in a row – reaching the Elite Eight in 2022. The Bluejays also rely on an experienced group of seniors.

Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. E.T. on ESPN2

Two teams stand before us, and both are on the rise. Iowa State hasn’t lost to a team other than Texas (Big 12 champion and No. 1 in Portland 2 region) since February 14. The Cyclones struggled early in the season as new players and transfers built chemistry. It appears the team is peaking at the right time. Maryland has played in the NCAA tournament every year since 2011, similarly finding its groove later in the season. The Terps pushed one-seed Iowa in a home game, eventually falling 85-93. Maryland also defeated NCAA tournament two-seed and Big Ten tournament one-seed Ohio State before falling to Nebraska. To add to the stakes, Maryland head coach Brenda Frese was an Iowa State assistant coach in the late 1990s.

top matchups in women's college basketball tournament

5wins' top round-one matchups

Blue Blood programs No. 1 South Carolina and No. 11 UConn faced off in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday. The Gamecocks had a statement win, defeating the Huskies 83-65. South Carolina was without 6-7 Center Kamilla Cardoso, who is currently playing with the Brazilian National Team.

Until 2020, UConn had always beaten South Carolina by at least 12 points. Now, South Carolina has won five of the last six matchups. The Gamecocks were locked in defensively and remain the best team in the country.

South Carolina routs UConn

The first weekend of softball season came and went with a bang. Two of the top five teams lost, including No. 3 Stanford, which lost twice to Kentucky. The Wildcats defeated the Cardinal by one run each time, winning 2-1 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday. On Friday, Charlotte did enough to beat No. 4 Florida State in a back-and-forth matchup. The game was tied 5-5 in the seventh inning, with Charlotte getting the 6-5 edge in the bottom of the tenth. It was the first time in 49ers history beating a top-five team. It was the first opening-day loss for the Seminoles since 2014, but they responded by beating Charlotte 11-0 the following day. 

No. 5 Texas put on an offensive clinic opening weekend. After beating No. 8 UCLA 3-2 on Friday, the Longhorns had 32 runs on Saturday. Against San Diego, Texas won 16-1, and against UCLA, the team had two grand slams to win 16-0. On the day, the Longhorns hit .534 with eight home runs.

With four wins over opening weekend, No. 1 Oklahoma continued the longest winning streak in NCAA Division I softball history with 57 games. The Sooners last lost to Baylor in February 2023. Naturally, Oklahoma also holds four of the five longest winning streaks, with the 1996-1997 Arizona team having won 47 games in a row for second place. 

Softball top teams struggle opening weekend

Softball's top five struggle during opening weekend

Over 15,000 fans gathered at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, hoping to watch either Nebraska upset No. 2 Iowa or Iowa's Caitlin Clark set the all-time Women's NCAA Division I scoring record. Clark entered Sunday's game needing 39 points to take the lead.

Clark entered the fourth quarter needing only eight points, but Nebraska managed to play spoiler to the day, holding Clark scoreless the rest of the game and completing a come-from-behind, 82-79 win to take down Iowa in the process.

Nebraska upsets No. 2 Iowa in front of sold out crowd

Where Caitlin Clark and Iowa basketball go, palpable energy and excitement follow. When Iowa played Maryland on Saturday, February 3rd, 17,950 people attended the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD. It was clear that even among Maryland fans, there was a sense of urgency and enthrallment to get a glimpse of Caitlin Clark in action. Those fans included Frances Tiafoe, the 14th ranked men's player on the Associate for Tennis Professionals Tour, and Hyattsville, MD native, who sat courtside and met Caitlin Clark after the game.

Clark, the most prolific shooter in the women's game, is only 66 points away from the NCAA women's all-time scoring record set in 2017 by Kelsey Plum while at Washington. She is a bonafide star, a fiery presence on the court accustomed to playing in front of large, hostile crowds and crowds who are there to see her. When Clark came out early and alone to shoot threes, the crowd cheered – a rare warm welcome for an opposing player.

As players like Clark gain popularity in the mainstream by appearing in highlight reels and major brand deals, new audiences appear. The days of seeing women's games as only a way for families and dedicated retirees to have a nice, affordable outing are over. The marketability of a star like Clark, whose big personality shines and whose athleticism allows her to dominate opponents, drives change and additional coverage, bringing new fans into the fold, including young men. In the case of the game at Maryland, her star power attracted new and old basketball fans. A man from Maryland returned to campus for the first time since the 80s to see Clark. Families drove hundreds of miles and stayed in local hotels. Men in their 20s and 30s game in groups and bought pints of beer and chicken tenders. Even loyal Maryland fans acknowledged how that game felt different with Clark on the court.

Clark represents something larger. The coverage she receives is inspirational for the potential of women's sports and players and helps change the narrative of what women's sports can be. She's an ambassador for a women's game bursting at the seams with talent and profitability. However, coverage and attendance for men's sports do not hinge on a generational talent coming to town as they do for women's sports. For example, the Maryland women's basketball team averaged 7,379 fans per game last season – the highest since 2009. That puts them fifth nationally. The men's team that won around 18% fewer games had an average of 14,046. If it takes a record-breaking talent to draw the numbers the men's teams usually receive, women's sports still have a way to go before true equality.

That does not mean we should not celebrate how Clark has contributed to the game's growth. What she has accomplished on and off the court is an unbelievable feat. Clark is a big deal and holds more power than many college athletes imagine. Fortunately for fans and basketball, she is certainly not the last great player, and when she likely goes to the WNBA this summer, younger players will step up and become big names in the way Clark has and continue to grow the game.

Caitlin Clark and Iowa Basketball play University of Maryland

The Caitlin Clark effect in action

The NCAA Softball Rules Committee approved several changes for this season.

 Both pitcher's feet can be off the ground with one push from the pitcher's plate. This change allows for further exploration of pitching styles.

This rule will simplify obstruction calls from umpires. Obstruction is when a defensive player impedes the progress of a runner. It is now always considered obstruction if the defensive player, not in possession of the ball, blocks any part of the leading edge of any base/plate or blocks a runner from advancing or returning to a base. This is a simplification of the previous rule.

 The Rules Committee increased the number of use cases for video review. This includes runners leaving a base too soon on tag-up plays, a runner missing a base, runners leaving a base too early before a pitch, all home runs, catch/no catch in any situation, and whether a pitch hit a batter

Each pitch must be thrown in 20 seconds, shortening the clock from 25 seconds. The batter must be ready to hit within 10 seconds, and teams can have a visible clock.

Allowing the use of a double first base on the field.

Requiring the fence distance in left and right fields to be 200 feet for new construction.

Removing the quarter-inch bat knob protrusion requirement to allow for a tapered/flared/cone bat handles.

Prohibiting assistant coaches from leaving the dugout or bullpen area to appeal, question, or argue any play on the field.

Allowing one-way communication devices to be used during play.

Allowing the pitcher to throw to any base one time during warmups.

Allowing a postgame review of ejections that include a suspension.

NCAA Softball Rules Committee approves changes for 2024 season

Softball rules committee approves changes for 2024 season

80 routines received a perfect ten score.

 While elite gymnastics rewards difficulty, college gymnastics rewards perfection, making many routines shorter and less technically challenging. The sport is also seeing an increase in former Olympians competing at the NCAA level, and athletes from all schools are competing more difficult skills and executing at a higher level than ever before. College gymnastics is having a moment and is the perfect appetizer for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but could all the tens be too much of a good thing for the sport?

Are perfect 10s in gymnastics out of control?

Stanford's Tara VanDerveer is officially the all-time winningest Division I college basketball coach with her 1,203th win. She beat Mike Krzyzewski's record with a win against Oregon State on Sunday. It's a lifetime dedication and a level of success few can imagine. Winning is hard, and building team after winning team is an immense challenge.

"It means I've coached a lot of great players, have a great staff, worked at great universities," VanDerveer said after the win. "I'm just so blessed and so thankful."

Over a 45-year head-coaching career, she spent two years at Idaho, five at Ohio State, and the rest at Stanford. Only six women head coaches have reached the 1,000 career win mark. VanDerveer was already the winningest Division I women's basketball coach after passing Pat Summit's record of 1,098 wins in 2020.

Stanford's Tara VanDerveer becomes winningest basketball coach

Tara VanDerveer becomes winningest NCAA basketball head coach

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) drafted 56 players from the NCAA over four rounds on Friday night. Expansion teams, the Utah Royals and Bay FC, had the first two picks with midfielder Ally Sentnor and defender Savy King, respectively. Both are teenagers from UNC. The number of teenagers in the NWSL is increasing thanks to better club development and additional USWNT experience.

Seven Universities were represented in the first round, with North Carolina leading the way with three players. The others are Stanford (2), UCLA (2), Penn State (2), Clemson (2), BYU (1), Georgia (1), and Florida State (1).

Top programs have players drafted to NWSL

Several universities feature prominently at NWSL draft

The NCAA women's volleyball rules committee met and approved several changes, some of which could impact gameplay.

Double Contacts: The most significant change is that players can "contact the ball more than once with any part of the body in a single attempt on the team's second contact." A teammate must then play the ball. If it crosses the net, the other team will win the point. 

TLDR: fans won't be able to call for a double contact on the other team when an ugly set happens.

 Teams can dress and use two liberos in one set. The purpose is to create flexibility and change how many substitutions teams use.

 Players may wear snug-fitting nose rings and ear cuffs. This decision stops referees from having to make judgment calls on jewelry.

NCAA Volleyball Rules Committee Approves Changes

NCAA volleyball rules committee approves changes

Hook 'em! Texas was down in the fourth set in the regional semifinals against Tennessee before forcing a fifth set and coming out on top. Since then, the Longhorns have defeated the top three teams in the country to defend their national title. 2023 is their fourth NCAA Championship.

In the regional finals, Texas knocked off overall No. 2 Stanford, 3-1, in Palo Alto. In the National Semifinals, Texas defeated No. 3 Wisconsin, 3-1, behind stellar serving and defense. Texas's serving pressure also guided them to a 3-0 win against No. 1 Nebraska, recording 12 aces and holding the Cornhuskers to .013 hitting. Texas also swept Louisville in 2022 to win it all.

Texas Outside Hitter Madisen Skinner won her third National Championship, one with Kentucky in Spring 2021 and two more with the horns. She contributed 16 kills. Sixth-year all-star Middle Blocker Asjia O'Neal had five aces and three blocks.

Texas volleyball defeats Nebraska in national title game 

Texas wins back-to-back national titles 

Florida State earned their fourth National Championship in a dismantling of Stanford, 5-1. Florida State entered the game as the top offense in the nation, and Stanford was the top defense. For the Noles, two Freshmen scored three times. Jody Brown scored twice, and Jordan Dudley scored once. Seniors Onyi Echegeni and Beata Olsson also added goals.

Interestingly, FSU's roster of 21 included seven international players, while Stanford's roster of 30 included 21 players from California alone.

Florida State soccers wins national championship

Florida State soccer wins fourth national championship

Pack your sunglasses; four teams travel to Tampa for the NCAA Volleyball semifinals and finals. The National Semifinals will be played on Thursday, December 14, and shown on ESPN. The final will be played on Sunday, December 17, at 3:00 pm on ABC. Will we get a first-time winner in Pittsburgh, or will Texas defend its crown from last season? Will Wisconsin get its second title in two years, or will Nebraska return to the top for the first time since 2017?

How We Got Here: Regional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen)

(2) Louisville beat (3) Creighton in five sets after an up-and-down match. Outside Hitters Charitie Luper and Anna DeBeer paced the Cardinals with 20 and 19 kills, respectively.

(1) Nebraska rolled through (5) Georgia Tech, cruising to a quick 3-0 win and holding the Yellow Jackets to 0.19 hitting.

(1) Pittsburgh outplayed (4) Washington State behind the play of superb freshman Olivia Babcock.

(3) Arkansas, one of the field's most fun and inspiring teams, beat SEC rival (2) Kentucky in five sets. The Hogs lost to Kentucky twice during the regular season.

(1) Wisconsin beat (5) Penn State handily and avenged their November 11 loss. Penn State took the second set 30-28 after Wisconsin ran out of subs.

(2) Texas came out on (rocky) top of (3) Tennessee in another match that went to five sets. Tennessee had a chance to win in four, but a Texas challenge pushed it to five.

(2) Oregon's fast offense dismantled (3) Purdue as the Ducks advanced with a quick 3-0 and hit .355.

(1) Stanford avenged an earlier season loss to (4) Arizona State, 3-1, to move to the next round. The last time the two played, ASU ran Stanford out of the gym.

How We Got Here: Regional Finals (Elite Eight)

(1) Pitt reverse-swept (2) Louisville in what felt like two lopsided matches. Louisville came out swinging, but Pitt's serve came alive and forced Louisville to scramble through the last three sets. In the previous meeting between the two on November 18, Pittsburgh also reverse-swept Louisville. Pitt heads to the semifinals for the third time in three years.

(1) Nebraska held off a scrappy and fearless (3) Arkansas team. Arkansas led 21-16 in the first set before Nebraska came back to win 26-24. Arkansas won the third set to keep their hopes alive but lost set four, 23-25.

(1) Wisconsin beat (2) Oregon, 3-1, in a defensive battle in front of rocking Field House. The Badger's physicality at the net and defensive hustle were too much for the Ducks.

For the second year in a row, (1) lost on their home court in the Regional Finals. (2) Texas came alive behind the play of Junior Outside Hitter, Madisen Skinner.

Four teams earn trip to NCAA Volleyball final four

The final four teams travel to Tampa

The point of Title IX is to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. Passed in 1972, when most of us think about Title IX, we think about sports -- schools are supposed to have proportional numbers of men and women participating in sports, make an effort to increase the number of the unrepresented gender, and show an attempt to expand the program to the other sex. It also includes equal resources and promotion regardless of gender. Schools skirt the rules, and time and time again, we see women athletes receiving unequal opportunities and resources.

The latest case is at the University of Oregon, where 

32 women athletes from the varsity beach volleyball and club rowing teams

 are suing the university for Title IX violations. The beach volleyball players say that the school does not have facilities for practicing or competing -- instead, the team uses a public park. The program also does not offer scholarships, despite the NCAA allowing the equivalent of six full athletic scholarships to the team. The woes continue with hand-me-down uniforms and no NIL support. The rowers claim the university fails to provide equal opportunity by not having a varsity women's rowing team.

“Male athletes are treated incredibly better in almost every respect,” said lead plaintiff 

, captain of the women’s varsity beach volleyball team. “This week, we could not practice because, sadly and disturbingly, someone died near the public courts we have to use in Amazon Park. We cannot use the restrooms there because they’re not safe and, sometimes, people are in the stalls using drugs. But the men’s teams have full scholarships, multi-million-dollar budgets, and professional-level, state-of-the-art facilities. I love the University of Oregon, but this hurtful, outrageous sex discrimination has to stop.”

Meanwhile, Oregon's men's teams use high-end facilities, take chartered flights, and receive catered food. We've seen the men's football team wear a new uniform almost every week as Nike's founder attended the university.

According to an investigation by The Oregonian newspaper, 49% of Oregon student-athletes are women, but the university spends 25% of athletics dollars and 15% of recruiting dollars on women athletes. 

Athletes sue Oregon over Title IX infractions

Athletes sue University of Oregon over Title IX violations

The Indiana Fever's General Manager, Linn Dunn, suggested that college players may sue for the ability to join the WNBA earlier, like men's basketball players and women's soccer players.

It's a compelling question with more first-year players making immediate impacts on the court and playing at elite levels. NCAA basketball is high-level and offers the viewers the joy of watching players develop. Of course, big names are now capitalizing on NIL deals, and assuming players could take those deals with them, younger players could push for an earlier opportunity to join the WNBA.

WNBA Draft rules stipulate that college players must be 22 years old during the year of the draft, have graduated or will graduate within three months of the draft from a four-year university, or have gone to a four-year university where her original class would have graduated or will graduate within three months of the draft.

Will basketball players sue to go pro earlier? 

One unbeaten streak will end tonight. No. 1 seed Florida State University and No.2 seed Stanford face off in Cary, N.C. It's a battle of powerhouses and different styles of play. The Seminoles lead the country in scoring offense. The Cardinal lead the nation in goals-against-average. It will be an offensive vs. defensive battle, and we can't wait to watch it on ESPNU at 6:00 pm ET.

Florida State won the ACC regular season and conference championship. The Noles beat Clemson 2-0 in the semifinals.

ACC Offensive Player of the Year & First-Team All-American:

ACC Freshman of the Year & First-Team All-American:

 Jody Brown, Sr., Forward & Taylor Huff, Jr., Midfielder

Florida State advances to the title game for the fourth time in five seasons. The program won in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Stanford came in second in the Pac-12, behind UCLA. The Cardinal beat BYU 2-0 in the semifinals. In 2022, Stanford lost to BYU in the tournament's second round with a 4-5 shootout.

Four draws with Georgetown, Washington, USC, and UCLA.

The Cardinal won three national titles - 2011, 2017, and 2019.

2023 Pac-12 Women's Soccer Midfielder of the Year & First-Team All-American: 

Florida State and Stanford soccer play for national championship

Florida State and Stanford face off for College Cup championship

Sixteen teams are feeling pretty sweet after the first weekend of tournament play. Major upsets have yet to happen with the top teams taking care of business, but that doesn't mean the weekend was drama-free. (8) Houston pushed (1) Stanford to five sets before The Cardinal prevailed. The only four seed to survive is Washington State. Four seeds, Florida, Kansas, and BYU, fell before their home crowds.

From here on out, there is no bad volleyball, with all matchups providing stellar viewing. Play resumes on Thursday, December 7th, on ESPN2 and ESPNU at noon ET. The last game of the day starts at 11:30 pm ET. It's a great day to call out sick to watch volleyball. Better yet, gather friends and family and make your local bar turn the games on!

Sixteen volleyball teams remain in the tournament

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