Women’s March Madness Saturday recap: Caitlin Clark, Iowa roll; USC and UConn prevail

The women's NCAA tournament continued Saturday with 16 first-round games.

Top seeds Iowa and USC hosted games Saturday afternoon, with Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes advancing with a 91-65 win over Holy Cross. JuJu Watkins and Southern California prevailed 87-55 over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Elsewhere, Hannah Hidalgo and No. 2 Notre Dame defeated Kent State, 81-67, and Paige Bueckers and No. 3 UConn won vs. Jackson State, 85-64. In a late game, No. 2 UCLA put on a defensive clinic against Cal Baptist, holding them to 29% shooting for the game in an 84-55 win, while No. 5 Utah survived a second-quarter scare against South Dakota State for a 68-54 win.

Women’s March Madness games are airing and streaming across ESPN’s family of channels.

Utah survives second-quarter scare, knocks out SD State

When Alissa Pili is hitting like this, there’s not a whole lot you can do.

Pili had 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting and seven boards for Utah, which survived a second-quarter scare from South Dakota State to win 68-54 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Pili and Kennady McQueen (17 points) were the Utes’ only players in double-figures. Jenna Johnson contributed 10 rebounds.

Utah’s win snapped South Dakota State’s 21-game winning streak.

MORE: Women's NCAA Tournament 2024: Scores, schedule, times, how to watch March Madness games

The Jackrabbits erased almost all of a 20-point deficit in the second quarter and went into halftime trailing only by three. But Pili went 4 of 7 in the third quarter and South Dakota State couldn’t keep up. It didn’t help that, Tori Nelson aside, the Jackrabbits struggled mightily from the field. Nelson was 4 of 7 for the game but the rest of the Jackrabbits were 12 of 42.

UCLA defense shuts down Cal Baptist

In a defensive effort that would have made John Wooden proud, the UCLA Bruins held Cal Baptist to 29% shooting for the game — and 25% through three quarters — on their way to a commanding 84-55 win, earning a trip to the second round, where they’ll meet Creighton.

UCLA was without star sophomore center Lauren Betts, who injured her right foot and is day-to-day, but it didn’t matter. Guard Kiki Rice scored 20 and grabbed seven rebounds while Gabriela Jaquez scored 19, also snagging seven boards. Meanwhile, fifth-year senior Charisma Osborne came close to a triple-double with 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Kinsley Barrington led CBU with 16 points. — Lindsay Schnell

After surge, South Dakota State back in double-digit hole

If anyone besides Tori Nelson and Brooklyn Meyer could make a bucket, South Dakota State might have a chance against Utah.

Alas.

After erasing nearly all of a 20-point deficit in the second quarter to go into halftime trailing by just three, South Dakota State is in a double-digit hole again. Trailing 53-41 after the third quarter, to be exact.

The problem is while Nelson is 4 of 5 and Meyer is 4 of 9, the rest of the Jackrabbits are a combined 4 of 24. You can’t win games like that.  – Nancy Armour

UCLA running away from Cal State Baptist

Nothing to see here.

Second-seeded UCLA has all but shut the door on Cal State Baptist. The Bruins have a 19-point lead, 57-38, after three quarters, are limiting the Lancers to 25% shooting – none of their players have reached double-figures yet – and have a decisive advantage on the boards. Hard to make a game of it when you’ve got that much working against you.  — Nancy Armour

South Dakota State makes it a game, goes on 17-0 run vs. Utah before halftime

After being held to only three points in the first quarter, the Jackrabbits responded with a stronger effort in the second quarter. Senior Tori Nelson scored eight straight points for South Dakota State, who put together a 17-0 run to come within three points of the Utes after trailing by as many as 20. Utah leads 27-24.

Free throws fueled South Dakota State’s comeback. The Jackrabbits have converted 10-of-17 free throws, while Utah has only made it to the line once (1-of-2).

Nelson leads the Jackrabbits with 11 points and four rebounds.

Utah star Alissa Pili, one of many Polynesian players starring on teams across women’s basketball, has a team-high 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Pili, a Samoan and Alaskan Native (Inupiaq), is closing in on a double-double. — Cydney Henderson

Cal Baptist up to the task in first half vs. UCLA

Fifteenth-seed Cal Baptist cut it to as few as three early in the second quarter, but UCLA responded by reeling off eight unanswered points to close the period, taking a 34-22 halftime lead into the locker room. Kiki Rice has already scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds for UCLA.

Cal Baptist, which is making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament, isn’t likely to go away quietly though. The Lancers sold more than 1,000 tickets to CBU students, and they’re having a blast in Pauley Pavilion and doing everything they can to get their team back in it. To make a run, Cal Baptist will need to (dramatically) improve on its 21% shooting percentage from the first half. — Lindsay Schnell

South Dakota State has more turnovers than points

No. 5 seed Utah got off to a hot start, opening their first-round matchup against South Dakota State on a 12-1 run. Utes senior Alissa Pili and junior Kennady McQueen combined for 14 of Utah’s 20 points, while the Jackrabbits were held only three points.

South Dakota State freshman Jenna Hopp scored the team’s lone field goal. The Jackrabbits are shooting 1-of-12 from the field (8.3%) and 0-of-5 from three. Turnovers haven’t help the Jackrabbits cause. They’ve turned the ball over seven times compared to Utah’s two.

Utah leads 20-3. — Cydney Henderson

UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez, sister of Jaime Jaquez, can dunk, too

Surely you’re familiar with Jaime Jaquez, the rookie for the Miami Heat known for doing a little bit of everything — including participating in the 2024 NBA dunk contest (he finished last).

But did you know his little sister can dunk too?

Gabriela Jaquez, a guard at UCLA, is one of the best players off the bench in the country, regularly giving the Bruins a lift. She averages 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and is known for making all the right plays in the right moments. And while she’s only 6-foot, she’s also extremely athletic, as evidenced by her dunking a tennis ball and a volleyball earlier this week.

Is a basketball next? — Lindsay Schnell

UCLA - playing without Lauren Betts - off to strong start vs. Cal Baptist

The second-seeded UCLA Bruins are off to a good start, leading 15th-seeded Cal Baptist 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. Former Bruins star point guard Russell Westbrook, who played at UCLA from 2006-08, is even in the house to watch his alma mater.

But it’s not all good news for UCLA: star sophomore center Lauren Betts is not playing today after suffering a left foot injury during practice this week. She’s day-to-day.

That would be a huge long-term loss for the Bruins. The top-ranked player in the 2022 class, Betts transferred to UCLA from Stanford in the offseason, and is fourth in the country in field goal percentage, shooting 65.3%. At 6-foot-7 with polished footwork, Betts is a lot to handle in the paint. She averages 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds. — Lindsay Schnell

USWNT star Alex Morgan shows support for Caitlin Clark

With no Cal in the NCAA tournament, Alex Morgan is throwing her support behind Caitlin Clark.

The soccer star showed up for the San Diego Wave’s game Saturday night wearing Clark’s No. 22 jersey. The black road version, which is the same Tim McGraw rocked during his concert in Des Moines on Thursday night.

Morgan also did the “You can’t see me” gesture, which Clark so famously did during last year’s tournament. After dropping her sixth 3-pointer during on Louisville in the Elite Eight, Clark taunted the Cardinals by waving her hand in front of her face in imitation of WWE wrestler John Cena’s trademark move. Clark finished with a triple-double in that game.

After LSU beat Iowa in the national championship game, Angel Reese flashed the same gesture at Clark, setting off a firestorm. Clark later said she had no problem with it. — Nancy Armour

Gonzaga vs. UC Irvine final: Bulldogs rout Anteaters despite early deficit

No. 4 seed Gonzaga is cruising to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament after a 75-56 win over No. 13 seed UC Irvine. The Bulldogs were down 11 points early in the contest before coming back and pulling away by as many as 26 points.

Senior Yvonne Ejim had a double-double in the win. She scored a game-high 23 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Senior Kayleigh Truong added 12 points and five assists. They shot 49.2% from the field and 7-of-23 from three.

Anteaters senior Nevaeh Parkinson led UC Irvine with 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. They shot 32.2% from the field and only 4-of-21 from three. — Cydney Henderson

Creighton ousts UNLV to advance

The No. 7 Creighton Bluejays beat the No. 10 UNLV Rebels 87-73 to make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Bluejays were in control for the majority of the game and had a lead as large as 18 points.

Emma Ronsiek had 23 points, all in the second half to help boost Creighton. Lauren Jensen led the team with 25 points. The Bluejays drilled 15 three-point shots and 23 assists as a unit.

For the Rebels, senior center Desi-Rae Young had 30 points and nine rebounds. She went to the bench early in the fourth quarter with her fourth foul. She returned later in the period to attempt to keep her team alive, but the win proved to be elusive.

Creighton will face the winner between No. 2 UCLA and No. 15 California Baptist. — Victoria Hernandez

Why Hannah Stuelke didn't play in the second half for Iowa

Iowa women's basketball star sophomore Hannah Stuelke didn't play in the second half of Saturday's NCAA Tournament victory over Holy Cross, leading Hawkeye fans to wonder about her absence.

"She didn’t feel well and wasn’t worth putting her in there when didn’t have to have her. Just trying to save her for Monday," Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said after Saturday's game.

Stuelke said later that she was battling migraines.

"I wasn't feeling good at half," she said. "Just migraines ...

"I think we had the game handled, so there was no point in me playing when we play again in two days." — Des Moines Register

Gonzaga start to pull away before half after early scare vs. UC Irvine

It took 14 minutes for the No. 4 Gonzaga Bulldogs to get their first lead against the No. 13 UC Irvine Anteaters. After a back-and-forth through the rest of the second quarter, the Bulldogs go into the halftime break up 30-25, their biggest lead of the game.

Senior forward Yvonne Ejim has kept her team alive with 12 points and seven rebounds. She had the last four points of the second quarter, both layups.

The Anteaters had a lead as big as 11 points late in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs had a 10-point run between the two periods. — Victoria Hernandez

West Virginia dashes Princeton’s dancing dreams

The No. 8 West Virginia Mountaineers ousted the No. 9 Princeton Tigers, 63-53, to advance to the second round of the Big Dance.

JJ Quinerly had back-to-back baskets with three minutes left in the game to give the Mountaineers a 10-point lead. She finished with a team high 29 points and added seven rebounds.

Princeton clawed until the very end and brought the game within six. The final two minutes dragged on because each team called three timeouts and there were nine fouls.

Last year’s Ivy League Player of the Year, Kaitlyn Chen, had 17 points and Madison St. Rose added 22.

The Mountaineers move on to face the other Kaitlyn, Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa in the second round. — Victoria Hernandez

Creighton leading UNLV at the half

The No. 7 Creighton Blue Jays have taken control of the game against the No. 10 UNLV Rebels and are up 44-32 at the half.

The Blue Jays have scored 10 three-point buckets and their opponent has only drained one shot from beyond the arc.

The game started as a back-and-forth, but Creighton started to pull away and goes into the break with their largest lead of the night.

Senior guard Lauren Jensen has 13 points for the Blue Jays and senior forward Morgan Maly has added 12 points with six rebounds.

Rebels senior center Desi-Rae Young has 12 points and eight boards. — Victoria Hernandez

Mississippi dominates Marquette to advance

The Marquette women will not be following the men into the second round.

No. 7 Mississippi defeated the No. 10 Golden Eagles, 67-55, to advance to the second round. The Rebels had 10 more rebounds than their opponent and had 13 points off of turnovers.

The Golden Eagles were only down by three to start the last quarter, but Mississippi pulled away with team play from Madison Scott and Kennedy Todd-Williams. Scott was the Rebels’ leading scorer with 20 points and six rebounds. For Marquette, Liza Karlen had 19 points and 14 boards.

The Rebels will face No. 2 Notre Dame next.

Southern California breezes past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Freshman guard JuJu Watkins and graduate guard McKenzie Forbes each scored 23 points as top seed Southern California downed No. 16 Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, 87-55, in what was essentially a home game at the Galen Center. Caleb Williams, Cheryl Miller and Vanessa Bryant were in attendance.

Graduate guard India Otto, who is a friend of the Bryant family, was given an ovation when she entered the game in the final minutes. She had five points to put icing on the cake. Senior guard Mireia Aguado had 15 points for the Islanders. She scored the first points of the game, giving her team its only lead.

The Trojans will play No. 8 Kansas in the second round.

Princeton holding onto thin lead over West Virginia at half

No. 9 Princeton is up 26-24 over No. 8 West Virginia, with the winner advancing to play Caitlin Clark and Iowa on Monday.

The Tigers had as large a lead as nine, but the Mountaineers are hanging in there and haven’t had a lead of their own yet. Princeton is outrebounding West Virginia 23-12. Princeton’s Kaitlyn Chen and West Virginia’s JJ Quinerly each have 11 points.

NCAA replaces official, but not with backup

RALEIGH – A game official was subbed out at halftime of the NC State-Chattanooga women's basketball game Saturday due to a "background conflict."

Official Tommi Paris started the game with the crew but did not officiate the second half of the No. 3-seeded Wolfpack's 64-45 win over No. 14 seed Chattanooga in a first-round NCAA Tournament game. The NCAA provided a statement after the game explaining the switch and why official Angelica Suffren, who officiated the previous game between Tennessee and Wisconsin-Green Bay, replaced Paris. The standby official, Danielle Jackson, was not used. NC State led 26-17 at halftime.

"There was a switch of game officials at halftime of the Chattanooga-NC State first-round game because it was learned after the game had started that Umpire 2 Tommi Paris had a background conflict that, if known, would prevent her from working that assigned game," the statement said. "The decision was made to move Angelica Suffren, who had worked the first game of the session, into the Umpire 2 position because it provided the most on-court experience and allowed the game to maintain a full officiating crew, plus standby."

According to a bio on Paris' employer's website and her LinkedIn, Paris has a master's degree from the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga. Paris, who played in college at Furman, is also from Chattanooga. Paris has been a game official for 10 years, according to her bio. — Fayetteville Observer

Oklahoma outlasts FGCU to advance

No. 5 Oklahoma can breathe a sigh of relief after beating No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast, 73-70.

With .4 left, the Eagles called a timeout and formulated a play. They got the ball to Uju Ezeudu behind the arc, who shot the ball as the buzzer sounded, but it bounced off the rim.

The Eagles kept the Sooners against the ropes with 11 three-point buckets and eight steals with 24 points off turnovers. They led by as much as 14. But Oklahoma had 40 points in the second half and made 17 of its 22 free throws to secure a berth in the second round. Senior forward Skyler Vann led the Sooners with 24 points.

Oklahoma will play No. 4 Indiana in the second round.

Dyaisha Fair rallies Syracuse past Arizona to advance

Dyaisha Fair was the epitome of resilience as No. 6 Syracuse beat No. 11 Arizona, 74-69.

The graduate guard came back on the court two minutes into the fourth quarter after she was helped into the tunnel with an injury between periods. She went on an 11-0 run in the final three minutes and finished with 32 points, four assists and six steals to boost her team to victory.

The Orange finally got their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter with a jumpshot from Kennedi Perkins. They were down by as many as nine. For the Wildcats, fifth-year senior Esmery Martinez fouled out with 1:04 on the clock. She finished her last college game with seven points, seven rebounds and five steals. Arizona freshman guard Skylar Jones finished with a career-high 24 points.

The Orange will face No. 3 Connecticut in the second round, a rematch of the 2016 national championship.

Marquette vs. Ole Miss halftime: Rebels have slight lead, 36-33

The Marquette men’s basketball team advanced to the second round. Will the women’s team do the same?

The No. 10 Golden Eagles trail No. 7 Ole Miss 36-33 at halftime. Senior Rose Nkumu has 13 points and two steals, while senior Liza Karlen is near a double-double (10 points, nine rebounds). Rebels senior Kennedy Todd-Williams has a team-high 10 points. Ole Miss has gotten multiple looks at the basket with nine offensive rebounds (24 total).

Bonjour! Who is Caitlin Clark?

Caitlin Clark has gone global.

A French television station had a reporter at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for Iowa’s first-round victory over Holy Cross. Clark’s eyes opened wide when the reporter introduced himself, and she responded, “Welcome,” when he said it was his first time in Des Moines.

It was clear the reporter is new to the Caitlin Clark frenzy the rest of the country has experienced this season, because he asked her to describe who she is. She joked that was a “loaded question” and suggested he’d get a more in-depth answer from Google, alluding to all the coverage of her there’s been this year.

The reporter later asked Iowa coach Lisa Bluder a similar question.

“You know, I continue to be impressed with her and her abilities,” Bluder said. “Not only on the court but just the type of young lady she is off the court.”

USC vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi halftime: Juju Watkins up to 15 in March Madness debut 

The No. 16 Islanders turned it up a notch in the second quarter. After scoring only four points in the first quarter and trailing by as many as 19, Texas A&M-CC went on an 11-3 run to start the second quarter.

But the Islanders couldn’t keep USC’s offense stalled for long. Juju Watkins turned defense into offense and committed back-to-back steals to get them going. They have a 36-20 lead at halftime. Watkins is up to 15 points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks in her first March Madness game.

Watkins has opened her college career scoring 818 points, passing two-time champion Cheryl Miller for most points in a season in USC history. The Trojans are looking for its first NCAA women’s tournament win since 2006. USC last won the title in 1984.

UConn wears custom Geno Auriemma shirts for coach’s birthday

The Connecticut Huskies didn’t have much to sweat over for their first-round game, so they had time to have some fun.

Many players wore custom T-shirts for head coach Geno Auriemma’s 70th birthday. One shirt had an image similar to that of Carl in Disney’s “Up.” One had a photo of a younger Auriemma on the sidelines wearing a tie and making a large gesture. Paige Bueckers wore a shirt with a photo of her sitting on the bench holding up a peace sign while the 11-time championship coach took a snooze.

Caleb Williams, Cheryl Miller, Vanessa Bryant at USC vs. Texas A&M-CC 

It’s a star-studded crowd in Los Angeles.

JuJu Watkins and the Trojans drew some stars to their matchup against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, including two-time NCAA champion Cheryl Miller, who played at USC from 1982-1986. Vanessa Bryant, her children and USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft next month, were also at Galen Center on Saturday.

Because Nike doesn't yet make mini JuJu jerseys, coach Lindsay Gottlieb's baby girl, Reese, who is almost 16 months, wears a Williams football jersey to games. He and JuJu wear No. 12.

Syracuse, Arizona tied after third quarter; Dyaisha Fair helped off court with injury

No. 6 Syracuse is surging and has tied the score with No. 11 Arizona at 51 after the third quarter.

As the period expired, Dyaisha Fair euro-stepped to the basket and fell to the court in pain. She handed the ball off to Kyra Wood, who nailed a layup at the buzzer, but the shot didn’t count because the ball didn’t leave her hand before time expired. Fair laid on the court for a while before trainers helped her to her feet. They assisted her in hobbling to the locker room. She had 19 points for the Orange before getting injured. She returned to the court at 7:51 in the fourth quarter.

The Orange have not led the game through three quarters and have missed 11 free throws. Wildcats freshman guard Skylar Jones has scored a career-high 20 points so far.

USC vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: Trojans hold Islanders to four first-quarter points 

No. 1 USC is on fire. The Trojans held No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to only two field goals through the first quarter and lead, 21-4.

The Islanders are shooting 9.5% from the field (2-of-21) and haven’t knocked down a 3-pointer (0-of-3). Seniors Mireia Aguado and Alecia Westbrook each have two points.

The Trojans recorded six blocks and one steal. Freshman sensation Juju Watkins had six points, while senior Kaitlyn Davis had four points and three blocks.

Caitlin Clark scores 27 points as Iowa rolls over Holy Cross

Iowa can win even when Caitlin Clark has an off night.

Though she finished with 27 points, college basketball’s leading scorer went just 8 of 19 from the field Saturday. But she also had 10 assists and finished two rebounds shy of her second triple-double in the NCAA Tournament as top-seeded Iowa overcame a slow start to beat Holy Cross, 91-65.

The Hawkeyes will play the winner of West Virginia-Princeton on Monday night. The game will be shown on ESPN.

Holy Cross trailed by just two points after the first quarter, with Bronagh Power-Cassidy going on a tear from 3-point range. But as Clark has insisted throughout the season, Iowa is not a one-person team and the Hawkeyes proved it, outscoring Holy Cross 68-44 over the final three quarters.

The Hawkeyes had three other players in double figures, including Kate Martin’s double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Sydney Affolter finished with nine.

Caitlin Clark closing in on triple-double

The triple-double watch is on.

Caitlin Clark has 27 points and just got her 10th assist, and she has eight rebounds. But she might have run out of time. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder just pulled her with 4:49 left and the Hawkeyes up 82-53 on Holy Cross.

Clark had a triple-double in the NCAA Turnament last year, against Louisville.

Iowa leads Holy Cross after third quarter

Iowa is more than Caitlin Clark.

Clark leads the Hawkeyes with 21 points heading into the final quarter and is flirting with a triple-double with nine assists and eight rebounds. But she’s having an off night, going just 5 of 14 from the floor. No matter. Three other Hawkeyes are in double-figures, including a double-double by Kate Martin, who has 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Gabbie Marshall is doing Gabbie Marshall in March things, knocking down three 3-pointers. And Addison O’Grady has 12 points, though she’s also picked up four fouls.

The point is, Iowa can hurt you in all different ways, as Holy Cross has found out. The Hawkeyes take a 21-point lead, 71-50, into the final period.

Arizona holding on to lead, threatening upset over Syracuse at halftime

No. 11 Arizona is going into halftime up 37-32 over No. 6 Syracuse.

The Wildcats have had control essentially the entire game with 11 steals and 12 points off of turnovers. Syracuse is only shooting 13-of-30 from the field, but is outrebounding Arizona 22-13.

Wildcats freshman guard Skylar Jones cooled down a bit in the second quarter and only landed a jumpshot to bring her total to 12 points. For the Orange, senior guard Dyaisha Fair has 11 points.

NC State vs. Chattanooga: Wolfpack moving on with blowout win

Despite only shooting 33.3% from the field, No. 3 NC State dominated No. 14 Chattanooga, 64-45.

Junior Aziaha James had 19 points after knocking down 5-of-10 3-pointers. Junior Saniya Rivers added 16 points and eight rebounds. Jada Guinn led the Mocs with 13 points and seven rebounds. NC State lost the battle in the paint, but outrebounded Chattanooga 46-29.

The Wolfpack will face. No. 6 seed Tennessee.

Kansas completes comeback against Michigan in overtime

No. 8 Kansas came alive in the fourth quarter and overtime to defeat No. 9 Michigan 81-72.

The Jayhawks outscored their opponent 14-5 in the extra period after being down by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter. Just when Kansas seemed to be pulling away, Lauren Hansen made a three-point bucket to put Michigan within a score with 1:21 left. The Jayhawks responded by taking some time off the clock and then true freshman S'Mya Nichols drove for a layup. She was fouled and made her free throw for the three-point play, which essentially sealed the deal.

Kansas guard Zakiyah Franklin led all scorers with 22 points and she added five rebounds. Four Jayhawks players finished with double digits. For the Wolverines, senior forward Cameron Williams had 18 points.

The Jayhawks will face the winner of Southern California vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Holy Cross coach did outfit check on daughters, who are Caitlin Clark fans

Holy Cross coach Maureen Magarity had to add an outfit check to her pre-game routine.

Magarity’s two daughters are big Caitlin Clark fans, and Mom’s team just happens to be playing her and Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Both girls said they were cheering for Holy Cross, but Magarity wasn’t taking chances.

“Underneath they have their Holy Cross shirts on,” Magarity told ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

Magarity nodded when Rowe asked if she’d checked to make sure they weren’t wearing any contraband Clark gear.

“I had to. Absolutely,” Magarity said.

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Notre Dame vs. Kent State final: Fighting Irish defeat Golden Flashes 81-67

No. 2 seed Notre Dame led by as many as 21 points in its 81-67 win over No. 15 Kent State.

The Fighting Irish’s offense was churning Saturday as the team was shooting 52.2% from the field and 41.2% from three. Junior Sonia Citron had a game-high 29 points, six rebounds and two steals. Freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo, the ACC defensive player of the year and ACC rookie of the year, added a double-double with 14 points, 11 assists and six steals.

The Golden Flashes’ 16 turnovers led to 21 points for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish also scored 48 points in the paint, compared to Kent State’s 28.

Senior Katie Shumate led the Golden Flashes with a double-double of her own (20 points, 10 rebounds).

Iowa leads Holy Cross at halftime

If you have Caitlin Clark and Iowa on the ropes, you better finish the job.

Holy Cross didn’t.

After a slow start, Clark and Iowa came alive in the second quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 25-9 on their way to a 48-30 lead at the half. Clark is still having an off day, just 2 of 8 from the floor, but she’s got a team-high 13 points along with seven assists and five rebounds.

Best of all, Clark is handling the ball better. After turning the ball over five times in the first quarter, she had just one in the second quarter.

Still, it’s clear college basketball’s all-time scoring leader isn’t thrilled with her performance.

“I wish she wouldn’t be frustrated,” coach Lisa Bluder told ESPN at halftime. “We love the assists. We want her to pass the ball, she’s one of the best in the country. Let’s showcase that today.”

Arizona vs. Syracuse: Wildcats lead after first quarter

No. 11 Arizona is giving No. 6 Syracuse a fit early. The Wildcats are up 21-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Their defense has snagged six steals and gotten seven points off turnovers. Wildcats freshman guard Skylar Jones already has 10 points.

Holy Cross' Janelle Allen in foul trouble

Holy Cross’ task just got tougher.

Janelle Allen, who has started all 33 games for the Crusaders this season and is averaging 10 points and nearly five rebounds a game, picked up her third foul with 5:40 left in the second half and immediately came out of the game.

Michigan and Kansas headed to overtime

There will be free basketball in the Kansas-Michigan 8-9 matchup as they head to the extra frame tied at 67.

The Wolverines took their largest lead at 60-50 four minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Jayhawks wouldn’t go away.

Zakiyah Franklin has 20 points for the Jayhawks and Wyvette Mayberry, whose three-pointer with 3:58 remaining cut the lead to 62-59, had 15. But on the next possession Elissa Brett hit a three-pointer of her own to get the lead back up to 6.

Again, Kansas cut the lead to three with 2:33 left after Taiyannar Jackson made one of two free throws, but Laila Phelia’s layup pushed the lead back to five.

Kansas tied the score at 67 when Franklin hit a three-pointer with 12 seconds left, setting off a wild celebration on the b.ench Michigan had a chance to win but Lauren Hansen’s buzzer-beater missed.

Kim Mulkey opens fire on reporter over 'hit piece'

Kim Mulkey is going nuclear.

One day after rumors started circulating on social media about a major investigative piece that the Washington Post was planning to publish on the LSU coach, now in her third year in Baton Rouge, Mulkey gave a fiery statement Saturday during the Tigers’ news conference.

Mulkey said a reporter from the Post has been trying to “put a hit piece together” for two years, and added the reporter had contacted both former coaches who worked under Mulkey and former players — including ones who have previously voiced displeasure with her. She said the reporter tried to “trick” the coaches into talking while offering players' anonymity if they “say negative things about me.”

Mulkey, who last year led LSU to its first national title in women’s basketball, said she has “hired the best defamation law firm in the country, and I will sue the Washington Post if they publish a false story on me. Not many people are in a position to hold these kinds of journalists accountable but I am, and I’ll do it.”

Mulkey said she’d previously told the reporter she would not meet with him because she “didn’t appreciate” a piece he wrote on LSU football coach Brian Kelly. – Lindsay Schnell

Caitlin Clark gets popped in the face on intentional foul call

Oh, Bronagh Power-Cassidy has done it now.

The Holy Cross guard who’s been raining 3s hit Caitlin Clark in the face with 8:50 to play in the second quarter. The crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena booed and jeered when the replay was shown while officials were reviewing it to see if the foul should be upgraded. They decided it was, deeming it an intentional foul. That meant any Iowa player could shoot two free throws and the Hawkeyes naturally chose Clark. She made both, extending Iowa’s lead to 28-21.

Caitlin Clark, Iowa lead 23-21 after first quarter

Well this isn’t how anyone expected things to go.

Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa are struggling against No. 16 seed Holy Cross, clinging to a 23-21 lead after the first quarter. Clark didn’t get her first field goal until there were just 22 seconds left in the quarter, a jumper that also drew a foul. She converted the three-point play and has five points.

But she also has five turnovers, and Holy Cross has turned Iowa’s miscues into seven points.

Though Holy Cross has not seemed fazed to face Clark and Iowa, the question is whether the Crusaders can keep it up. Bronagh Power-Cassidy, in particular. She’s 4 of 6 from 3-point range and also has two steals.

Indiana vs. Fairfield final: Hoosiers blow out Stags by 33

The No. 13 Stags were no match for the No. 4 seed Hoosiers, who cruised to the second round with an 89-56 rout of Fairfield.

Senior Sara Scalia led the charge for Indiana with 27 points (9-6 FG, 5-10 3PT), while starters Mackenzie Holmes, Yarden Garzon and Chloe Moore-McNeil each added 13. The team shot 50.8% from the field, 10-of-26 from three and outrebounded the Stags, 45-29.

Fairfield senior Janelle Brown had a team-high 19 points and six rebounds.

NC State vs. Chattanooga halftime: Wolkpack leads 26-17

No. 3 seed NC State is heading into the locker room with a nine-point lead over Chattanooga, which scored a season-low 17 points at halftime.

Senior Jada Guinn leads the Mocs with six points and six rebounds. The team as a whole is shooting a dismal 23.1% from the field.

NC State junior Saniya Rivers has a team-high seven points and three rebounds. The Wolfpack is shooting 30.8% from the field.

Both teams are struggling from the 3-point line. Chattanooga is 1-of-11, while NC State is slightly better, shooting 2-of-13.

Michigan and Kansas in tight battle

The 8-9 matchup between Michigan and Kansas in the Portland 3 Regional is a tight affair going into the fourth quarter, with the Wolverines leading 53-44. Michigan broke a four-minute scoring drought on a layup by Cameron Williams, who has scored 10 of her 18 points in the third quarter.

Kansas couldn’t find the basket either and Michigan jumped out to its biggest lead by hitting its last five shots of the quarter.

Zakiyah Franklin has 15 points for the Jayhawks, who have three players with three fouls heading into the fourth quarter.

Caitlin Clark, Iowa off to slow start

Caitlin Clark and Iowa are showing signs of either nerves or rust.

Almost six minutes into the first quarter, 16th-seeded Holy Cross leads Clark and the top-seeded Hawkeyes 11-10. All credit to Holy Cross, which doesn’t look overwhelmed by facing the biggest player in college basketball this season in a nationally televised game. But Clark isn’t helping matters. She’s already got four turnovers, and Holy Cross has turned them into four points.

Clark is 0-for-1 from the floor, her two points coming at the free throw line. She also has three rebounds and four assists.

Champ makes special appearance with Dawn Staley

NCAA officials are usually prepared for everything at tournament news conferences, a stack of name plates at the ready for whoever appears.

Not this time, however. One member of South Carolina’s team was conspicuously overlooked at Saturday’s availability. And in the Gamecocks’ own arena, no less!

“He said until he gets a nameplate, he's not answering any questions,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley cracked.

The “he” in question was Champ, Staley’s adorable Havanese that she got after South Carolina won the national title in 2017. Hence his name.

Champ is a popular figure among South Carolina fans, with more than 11,000 followers on social media, and he often accompanies Staley to practices and news conferences. On Saturday, he lounged on the dais while his human and her players talked. But if he had thoughts about Sunday’s matchup with North Carolina, he kept them to himself. −Nancy Armour

UConn routs Jackson State, moves on to second round

Paige Bueckers scored 28 points and Ashlynn Shade added a career-high 26 as UConn rolled in its first-round matchup against Jackson State 86-64 in Portland’s Regional 3.

Bueckers, playing in her first NCAA Tournament in two years because of knee injuries, also had 11 rebounds and seven assists. Shade hit four of UConn’s nine 3-pointers, and Aaliyah Edwards returned from a two-week absence because of a broken nose to score 20 points and pull down 10 rebounds.

Jackson State (26-7), the SWAC tournament champion and No. 14 seed, was sloppy, committing 16 turnovers and shooting 35%. The Tigers went three minutes or more without scoring a field goal three different times during the game.

The No. 3 seed Huskies also asserted their dominance in the paint, scoring 32 points on layups and outrebounded the Tigers 45-36.

UConn (30-5) plays the winner of No. 6 seed Syracuse and No. 11 Arizona in the next round. −Scooby Axson

Indiana takes 15-point lead against Fairfield

And just like that, fourth-seeded Indiana has a 15-point lead on 13th-seeded Fairfield, up 64-49 going into the fourth quarter. A 13-0 run midway through the third period will do that. Sara Scalia has 21 points for the Hoosiers, to go along with three rebounds and two assists.

Even more impressive for Indiana: The Hoosiers, a program that prides itself on defense, have already blocked nine shots, with all but two players recording a block. Can Yarden Garzon and Juli LaMendola get in on the block party in the fourth? −Lindsay Schnell

Notre Dame pulling away early against Kent State

Notre Dame is up by 20 with 7 minutes left in the second quarter against Kent State. The Irish are shooting 54% from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.

UConn builds big lead over Jackson State

UConn is well on its way to the second round as the Huskies continue to rout Jackson State, leading the Tigers 72-50 at the end of three quarters.

Ashlynn Shade scored 14 of her 23 points in the third quarter for the Huskies, who have 26 points in the paint and are hitting 51% of their shots. Paige Bueckers also has 23 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists, and Aaliyah Edwards has 16 points and eight rebounds.

Jackson State is led by Ti’lan Boyer’s 16 points. She is the only Tigers player in double figures. −Scooby Axson

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame tip off vs. Kent St.

Notre Dame has tipped off vs. 15th-seeded Kent State, and while the Irish are again at a disadvantage (forward Kylee Watson is out for the NCAA Tournament after tearing her ACL), you know freshman speedster Hannah Hidalgo will do everything in her power to push the Irish deep into March. Hidalgo, one of the top freshman in the country who was just named an AP first-team All-American, is poised to become one of the faces of women's basketball. −Lindsay Schnell

Indiana 38, Fairfield 34 at halftime

Basketball is a game of runs. And if you needed proof of that, just tune into Indiana-Fairfield.

After trading runs, the back-and-forth game might very well come down to who has the ball last. Indiana is up 38-34 at halftime behind 12 points from Hoosiers guard Yarden Garzon, but no lead seems safe in this contest. Fairfield’s Janelle Brown also has 12 points, and both teams are shooting 41% or better from the field. The biggest difference right now is in free throws: Indiana has taken 10 (and made seven), while Fairfield hasn’t been to the line at all.

By the way if you’re a WNBA fan, you probably recognize the name Carly Thibault-DuDonis, Fairfield’s coach. She’s the daughter of Mike Thibault, the winningest coach in WNBA history and now serves as the Washington Mystics GM. His son Eric, Carly’s brother, is the Mystics head coach. You could say coaching runs in her blood. −Lindsay Schnell

Tennessee cruises past Green Bay to second round

Green Bay hung on for one quarter. Then Tennessee put the game away, outscoring Green Bay 47-23 over the next two to build a 26-point lead going into the final frame. The No. 6 seed Vols beat the No. 11 Phoenix 92-63. Tennessee was led by senior forward Rickea Jackson, who had 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting along with nine rebounds and two assists. −Cora Hall

Fairfield keeps it close against Indiana

Fairfield clearly missed the memo about first-round games in the women’s tournament being boring.

The Stags are giving fourth-seeded Indiana everything the Hoosiers can handle, trailing just 20-17 at the end of the first quarter. Fairfield clearly has no answer for Yarden Garzon, though, who already has seven points on 3-of-5 shooting. She’s also grabbed three rebounds.

It’s plenty early, but Fairfield has already hit three 3s, to Indiana’s one. But Indiana is dominating the paint — not surprising given that the Hoosiers have Mackenzie Holmes inside — outscoring Fairfield 14-8. −Lindsay Schnell

UConn dominates Jackson State, takes big lead at halftime

The Huskies are making quick work of Jackson State, using 19 points from Paige Bueckers to take a 49-28 lead at halftime.

Aaliyah Edwards, playing with a mask because of a broken nose, scored 14 points to go along with six rebounds, as UConn scored 22 points in the paint to take advantage of Edwards’ size and skill. Each of the Huskies starters has at least one field goal, as they dressed only seven scholarship players because of injuries. They are shooting 53 percent from the field.

Jackson State, the No. 14 seed in the Portland Regional 3, had prolonged scoring droughts in the first half, going seven minutes and five minutes at different stretches without scoring a field goal. The Tigers hit only eight of their 29 field-goal attempts, including 1-for-11 from 3-point land, and turned the ball over 11 times.

Ti’lan Boler leads Jackson State with 13 points. −Scooby Axson

UConn takes commanding lead behind Paige Bueckers

Turnovers and poor shooting are dooming Jackson State in its upset bid against UConn. The Huskies used a 14-2 run to take a commanding 22-8 first-quarter lead.

The Tigers missed 11 of 12 shots and went more than seven minutes without a point. Jackson State is shooting 19 percent, while the Huskies are hitting 50 percent of their field goals. Aaliyah Edwards scored four points in her return to the lineup. Paige Bueckers is leading the way with eight points, as every UConn starter has at least one field goal. −Scooby Axson

Bueckers hot as UConn takes early lead on Jackson St.

The Huskies came out on fire, using a 10-0 run to take an early 12-4 lead on Jackson State at the first timeout. Paige Bueckers has eight points (3-for-3 FG) and two rebounds.

Jackson State, the SWAC champions and winners of 21 straight, has gone more than three minutes without scoring and is shooting 29% from the field.

Today’s game marks the return of UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards as she is making her first appearance since breaking her nose in the Big East tournament. −Scooby Axson

Caitlin Clark: A little fun before Iowa's tip

We're still a couple of hours away from Iowa's tip against Holy Cross. But if you need a Caitlin Clark fix, here's a musical tribute to the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.

Paige Bueckers returns to March Madness

It’s been 720 days since the last time Paige Bueckers played in an NCAA tournament game.

Yes, 720. How crazy is that? Even crazier: the UConn All-American hasn’t missed a beat this season, averaging 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists all while shooting 53.8% from the field. And you know that Bueckers, who came into college as one of the most heralded recruits of all time, is eager to lead UConn back to the Final Four, and to its first title since 2016. That UConn has gone seven seasons and counting without a national championship is very strange given the long dominance in Storrs.

Another reason she’ll be motivated today as the Huskies begin March Madness vs. 14th-seeded Jackson State: it’s her coach's birthday. Geno Auriemma is celebrating his 70th today, though surely we can all agree he doesn’t look a day over 69. −Lindsay Schnell

Tennessee takes halftime lead

The Volunteers used a 16-2 run in the second quarter powered by hot shooting from Jewel Spear to take a 44-28 halftime lead over Green Bay in a first-round game of Portland Regional 4.

Rickea Jackson leads all scorers with 13 points. Shead has 11 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point land, and Sara Puckett chipped in nine for Tennessee, which is shooting 65 percent from the floor, including 5-for-9 from three.

Tennessee outscored Green Bay 21-7 in the second quarter, as the Phoenix went the last 5:50 without a point. Cassie Schiltz leads Green Bay with six points, and Natalie McNeal, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, has four. −Scooby Axson

Tennessee extends lead thanks to Spear

Jewel Spear has scored 11 of Tennessee’s 15 points in the second quarter so far as the Volunteers extended their lead to 38-28 over Green Bay.

The Volunteers are also starting to assert themselves down low, scoring 16 points in the paint and hitting their last three shots. Both teams continue their hot shooting from the outside as Green Bay is 57% from 3-point range and the Vols are 63%. −Scooby Axson

Tennessee takes lead with hot shooting

The Phoenix went more than three minutes without scoring as the Volunteers continue to stay hot from the floor. Tennessee leads 23-21 after the first quarter.

Both teams are hoisting up the three-point ball, with nine attempts through the first 10 minutes. Green Bay has hit three from long range and the Vols have hit two.

Rickea Jackson has nine points and two assists for Tennessee, and Maddy Schreiber has six points and three rebounds for Green Bay, which is holding its own on the boards against the much taller Volunteers. −Scooby Axson

Both Tennessee, Green Bay come out hot

Green Bay has taken an early lead, courtesy of an 11-0 run and has a 17-4 lead. Both teams have shot the ball well, and the Phoenix are hitting 78% of their shots and the Vols are shooting 67%.

Green Bay has had six players score already, with Cassi Schiltz leading with four points. Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson has seven points, followed by Sara Puckett with five. −Scooby Axson

Tennessee tips off vs. Green Bay

As Tennessee tips off vs. Green Bay, something I’m curious to watch is how Tennessee starts. After that heartbreaking loss to South Carolina in the SEC tournament — when Kamilla Cardoso hit her first-ever 3 and, to quote one of my friends, it looked like Kellie Harper’s soul left her body — the Lady Vols are either going to come out on fire and use that loss as fuel, or they’re going to come out deflated from the jump. My money is on option one — especially because I anticipate Rickea Jackson being on a personal mission to erase that March memory. −Lindsay Schnell

March Madness women's bracket

You can find the complete women's March Madness bracket here.

NCAA women’s tournament scores

Here’s the full scoreboard for all of the women's March Madness first-round games on Saturday.

When does Caitlin Clark play next?

Iowa star Caitlin Clark is tipping off in her final March Madness at 3 p.m. Saturday. Clark and Iowa begin their bid to return to the NCAA women's national championship game as the No. 1 Hawkeyes take on No. 16 Holy Cross, which blew out UT Martin in the the First Four on Thursday. This is the first time Iowa has received a No. 1 seed in the tournament since 1992. — Cydney Henderson

Women’s March Madness games today

Here is Saturday’s full slate.

• Noon: No. 6 Tennessee (19-12) vs. No. 11 Green Bay (27-6), ESPN

• 1 p.m.: No. 3 UConn (29-5) vs. No. 14 Jackson State (26-6), ABC

• 1:30 p.m.: No. 4 Indiana (24-5) vs. No. 13 Fairfield (31-1), ESPN2

• 2 p.m.: No. 8 Kansas (19-12) vs. No. 9 Michigan (20-13), ESPNews

• 2:15 p.m.: No. 2 Notre Dame (26-6) vs. No. 15 Kent State (21-10), ESPN

• 2:30 p.m.: No. 3 NC State (27-6) vs. No. 14 Chattanooga (28-4), ESPNU

• 3 p.m.: No. 1 Iowa (29-4) vs. No. 16 Holy Cross, ABC

• 3:30 p.m.: No. 6 Syracuse (23-7) vs. No. 11 Arizona, ESPN2

• 4 p.m.: No. 5 Oklahoma (22-9) vs. No. 12 FGCU (29-4), ESPNews

• 4:30 p.m.: No. 1 USC (26-5) vs. No. 16 A&M-Corpus Christi (23-8), ESPN

• 4:45 p.m.: No. 7 Ole Miss (23-8) vs. No. 10 Marquette (23-8), ESPNU

• 5:30 p.m.: No. 8 West Virginia (24-7) vs. No. 9 Princeton (25-4), ESPN2

• 7 p.m.: No. 7 Creighton (25-5) vs. No. 10 UNLV (30-2), ESPNews

• 7:30 p.m.: No. 4 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 13 UC Irvine (23-8), ESPN2

• 9:30 p.m.: No. 2 UCLA (25-6) vs. No. 15 California Baptist (28-3), ESPN2

• 10 p.m.: No. 5 Utah (22-10) vs. No. 12 South Dakota State (27-5), ESPNU

Caitlin Clark: Complete guide to basketball career of Iowa's prolific scorer and superstar

Caitlin Clark is the reigning national player of the year, a sharpshooting supernova with a penchant for launching 3-pointers from the logo, flicking no-look passes through defenders' arms and talking trash to any and all who stand in her way.

The postseason for Clark and Iowa starts next week, with the Hawkeyes playing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten conference tournament. No matter what happens in the next few days, Iowa is expected to earn a top four seed in the NCAA tournament, and host the first two rounds. A year after leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark is trying to get back to her second consecutive Final Four, an accomplishment few players have achieved. USA TODAY Sports has been tracking her game closely. In case you need to brush up on your Clark trivia, we’ve got you covered with our complete guide to all things Clark.

Where to watch women's March Madness

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC carry games in the first and second rounds, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. ESPN will air Final Four games. ABC will air the national championship game. You can stream all the games in the ESPN app by logging in with your TV provider. Here's how to watch women's March Madness like a pro.

Women’s March Madness predictions

Here’s who USA TODAY Sports’ Nancy Armour picked to win today’s first-round games: Iowa, USC, Notre Dame, UCLA, UConn, NC State, Indiana, Gonzaga, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arizona, Marquette, Creighton, Princeton, Michigan. Check out all of Nancy Armour’s picks here.

Women’s March Madness schedule today, by TV channel and time

ABC

• 1 p.m.: No. 3 UConn (29-5) vs. No. 14 Jackson State (26-6)

• 3 p.m.: No. 1 Iowa (29-4) vs. No. 16 Holy Cross

ESPN

• Noon : No. 6 Tennessee (19-12) vs. No. 11 Green Bay (27-6)

• 2:15 p.m.: No. 2 Notre Dame (26-6) vs. No. 15 Kent State (21-10)

ESPN2

• 1:30 p.m.: No. 4 Indiana (24-5) vs. No. 13 Fairfield (31-1)

• 3:30 p.m.: No. 6 Syracuse (23-7) vs. No. 11 Arizona

• 5:30 p.m.: No. 8 West Virginia (24-7) vs. No. 9 Princeton (25-4)

• 7:30 p.m.: No. 4 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 13 UC Irvine (23-8)

• 9:30 p.m.: No. 2 UCLA (25-6) vs. No. 15 California Baptist (28-3)

ESPNU

• 2:30 p.m.: No. 3 NC State (27-6) vs. No. 14 Chattanooga (28-4)

• 4:45 p.m.: No. 7 Ole Miss (23-8) vs. No. 10 Marquette (23-8)

• 10 p.m.: No. 5 Utah (22-10) vs. No. 12 South Dakota State (27-5)

ESPNews

• 2 p.m.: No. 8 Kansas (19-12) vs. No. 9 Michigan (20-13)

• 4 p.m.: No. 5 Oklahoma (22-9) vs. No. 12 FGCU (29-4)

• 7 p.m.: No. 7 Creighton (25-5) vs. No. 10 UNLV (30-2)

Women’s March Madness schedule

Here is the women's schedule:

• First round: March 22-23

• Second round: March 24-25

• Sweet 16: March 29-30

• Elite Eight: March 31-April 1

• Final Four: Friday, April 5 at 7:30 and 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

• NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC

How to watch women's March Madness like a pro

So, you’re going to watch women’s March Madness. Is this your first time? If so, welcome. The women’s game is growing at a rapid rate, and we’re happy to have you here. You’ve picked a great time to join the party, given the star power of players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who are playing in their last March Madness. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of young superstars in the game too, from JuJu Watkins (Southern Cal) to Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame)to Madison Booker (Texas) and a whole host of others.

Filling out men’s brackets has always been par for the course but this year, nearly every bracket competition has seen a significant uptick in people filling out women’s brackets. There’s no question the women’s tournament is going to shine this year — maybe even outshine the men’s — and we’re here to help you enjoy it. So let’s talk semantics, so you can have the best women’s tournament viewing experience possible. — Lindsay Schnell

Women’s March Madness 2024 game locations 

A quick reminder that like in 2023, the women’s tournament will have two “super” regionals, meaning there will be four Sweet 16 and two Elite Eight games at each site. This change was made in an effort to draw more fans, and worked well last year. Given the star power in the game this season — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers — you can expect more of the same.

First round

• Dates: March 22-23

• Venues and locations: Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, S.C.); Moody Center (Austin, Texas); Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio); Maples Pavilion (Stanford, Calif.); Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, La.); Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, Ore.); Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.); Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan).; Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa); Galen Center (Los Angeles, Calif.); Purcell Pavilion (South Bend, Ind.); Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.); Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, Conn.), Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, N.C.); Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Ind.); McCarthey Athletic Center (Spokane, Wash).

Second round

• Dates: March 24-25

• Venues and locations: Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, S.C.); Moody Center (Austin, Texas); Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio); Maples Pavilion (Stanford, Calif.); Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, La.); Gill Coliseum (Corvallis, Ore.); Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.); Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, Kan).; Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa); Galen Center (Los Angeles, Calif.); Purcell Pavilion (South Bend, Ind.); Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.); Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, Conn.), Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, N.C.); Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Ind.); McCarthey Athletic Center (Spokane, Wash).

Who won the 2023 women’s basketball national championship?

Last year's NCAA Tournament featured the most-watched Final Four in the sport's history when Iowa handed South Carolina a rare loss and then lost a nail-biter to LSU in the championship.

Who are the women's basketball stars to watch in 2024 March Madness?

The Hawkeyes' Caitlin Clark is poised for another Final Four run after her landmark season where she broke Pete Maravich's all-time scoring record. LSU's Angel Reese, Stanford's Cameron Brink, Connecticut's Paige Bueckers and South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao are hoping to stand in the way of her first national title.

Caitlin Clark stars in new State Farm ad narrated by Lisa Leslie

Patrick, Travis Chris (and Cliff) may need to make some more room for Caitlin Clark.

On March 21, State Farm released a new ad featuring the Iowa star, and it's narrated by women's hoops legend Lisa Leslie. The ad will air throughout the remainder of the women's college basketball tournament. To view the spot, click here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women’s March Madness Saturday recap: Games, scores, bracket