NOTE: This story contains discussion regarding suicidal thoughts.
Shortly after helping No. 2 seed TCU reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history with an 85-70 win over No. 7 seed Louisville, Horned Frogs star Hailey Van Lith opened up about her extensive mental health struggles going back several years to when she was a phenom recruit.
“The way that I got exposed to the media and social media at such a young age, I really struggled with mental health things,” Van Lith said. “When I was younger and in college, I was suicidal, I was heavily medicated, and I felt trapped, and you would never know because I was having a ton of success on the court, but internally, and in life in general, I was ready to be done.
“That’s what I mean when I speak on suffering and pain. It’s like I didn’t even want to live.”
Hailing from small-town Wenatchee, Wash., Van Lith was a five-star point guard in the loaded 2020 recruiting class that also featured Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink. In addition, Van Lith developed a friendship with Kobe Bryant and served as a role model to Bryant’s daughter, Gigi, which also put her in the spotlight.
Van Lith emerged as a star at Louisville, earning All-ACC first team honors twice and leading the Cardinals to a Final Four and two Elite Eights in her three years there. As such, Sunday’s victory over her former program was an emotional one for her, though she kept those emotions in check during the game.
Women’s March Madness 2025: Hailey Van Lith stays composed to lead TCU over Louisville and into Sweet 16 Jack Maloney Women’s March Madness 2025: Hailey Van Lith stays composed to lead TCU over Louisville and into Sweet 16 Ahead of the 2023-24 season, Van Lith transferred to LSU, where she teamed up with Reese and helped the Tigers make the Elite Eight. But on the whole, she had a down year compared to her time at Louisville. With the extra year afforded to her due to COVID-19, Van Lith transferred to TCU, which didn’t have quite the track record as her previous two programs but afforded her a much-needed change of scenery.
“To come from that to this, is incredible, and I have been praying all year like, ‘God, I know you’ve given me this testimony to share it with the world and shed your light,’ and I think this is the year and this is the moment that he wants people to know my story and how he has taken me from the depths of wanting to die to this moment of loving life,” Van Lith said. “Even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here and love these people.”
The 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament has generally lacked excitement, but that was not an issue in College Park on Monday, as No. seed 4 Maryland came back from a 17-point second-half deficit to stun No. 5 seed Alabama in double-overtime, 111-108. The Terrapins are now off to the Sweet 16, where they’ll face No. 1 seed South Carolina.
There are still four-plus rounds to go, but the game of the tournament has likely already been wrapped up.
This was the first double-overtime game in the Big Dance since 2022, when UConn beat NC State, and the Terrapins’ 17-point comeback was the seventh-largest in NCAA Tournament history, right behind their own 18-point comeback over Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 in 2012.
Women’s March Madness 2025: Printable NCAA Tournament bracket with Sweet 16 action underway CBS Sports Staff Women’s March Madness 2025: Printable NCAA Tournament bracket with Sweet 16 action underway Furthermore, the 219 points scored were the second-most in a tournament game. Ironically, Alabama was also on the losing side of the highest-scoring game ever when they fell to Duke in quadruple-overtime in the second round back in 1995, 121-120.
On an individual level, Sarah Ashlee Barker’s career-high 45 points set an Alabama school record and were tied for the fourth-most in NCAA Tournament history.
With this instant classic in the books, let’s take a look back at the five craziest moments.
Te-Biasu starts the second overtime with a clutch 3 Maryland won the tip to start the second overtime, and veteran guard Sarah Te-Biasu took control of the ball. She would not give it up the entire possession. This way and that she maneuvered, dribbling a whopping 23 times before she wound up near the top of the key. Finally, after using more than two-thirds of the shot clock, she put up a step-back 3-pointer that caught nothing but net.
If that shot missess, it goes down as one of the worst possessions of the entire game. Instead, it became a perfect start to the second overtime.
Nye fouls out late in regulation With just over a minute to play in regulation, Alabama sharpshooter Aaliyah Nye had a great look in the corner that could have put the Crimson Tide up by five. Instead, it clanged off the rim, and a few seconds later she was done for the night. Down on the other end, Nye clattered into Shyanne Sellers on a pull-up jumper, sending the Terrapins star to the line for two game-tying free throws and fouling out in the process.
This was a forgotten moment amid all the madness, but it had a big impact on the outcome as the Crimson Tide really missed Nye in the extra frames.
Collins’ 3 doesn’t go down in double overtime Diana Collins didn’t play much for Alabama down the stretch in the regular season, and only saw 13 minutes of action in the first-round win over Green Bay. But after Nye and Zaay Green fouled out, she was forced into the biggest moment of her career.
As time wound down in the second overtime, the Crimson Tide trailed by three and Collins raced up the floor. Her inexperience showed, as she dribbled into the corner and away from Barker. After a flip to Karly Weathers, Collins then spaced to the corner, where she found herself wide open. Weathers got it back to her, but Collins’ 3 was a bit too long.
Barker and Te-Biasu trade 3s late in regulation After letting a 17-point lead slip away, Alabama had a chance to escape at the end of regulation, and thought they had done so when Barker drained a 3 with less than 40 seconds remaining put them back up by three.
Down on the other end, Barker then blocked a potential game-tying attempts by Kaylene Smikle, but Smikle recovered the loose ball and found Te-Biasu, who responded with a clutch 3 of her own to tie the game.
There was still one last chance for Alabama to win in regulation, but Weathers’ mid-range attempt bounced off the back of the rim, straight up in the air and out.
Barker gets fouled at the end of the first overtime This play ultimately didn’t decide the game, but it was the most stunning moment of the night. Maryland’s Saylor Poffenbarger was fouled with 6.3 seconds remaining and had a chance to put the Terrapins up by four, but missed the first free throw, which gave Alabama life.
It got worse for Poffenbarger a few seconds later when she fouled Barker on a desperation heave from way downtown with less than a second remaining. Barker, a 71.7% free throw shooter, calmly stepped to the line and made all three fouls shots to force another extra frame.
“You dream of these moments,” Barker said. “You live for these moments, and you know, it didn’t go our way, but at the end of the day, like coach [Kristy Curry] told us, hold your head high and walk out of the locker room that way because that was an amazing basketball game.
“For anybody who was watching women’s basketball, I think we put on a show for women’s basketball tonight and I’m very thankful for that. I’m very grateful that I’m in this opportunity and I was able to be a part of such a great game like that.”
With 3:38 remaining in No. 2 seed UConn’s 91-57 win over No. 10 seed South Dakota State in the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament, Paige Bueckers walked off the floor for the last time at Gampel Pavilion. She did so to a standing ovation after pouring in 34 points, tying her career high, to go along with three rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Following the game, Bueckers took the public address announcer’s microphone and addressed the adoring crowd as coach Geno Auriemma and her teammates looked on.
“On behalf of our seniors, our whole entire team, I’ve had the time of my life here,” Bueckers said. “It’s been the five years I dreamt of as a kid. I can’t thank you enough, we can’t thank you enough for all the support. Thank you for making this a second home. Best supporters in the country. Thank you for this season, for everything. We’d love to see you in Spokane. Thank you for everything.”
Women’s March Madness 2025: Printable NCAA Tournament bracket with Sweet 16 action underway CBS Sports Staff Women’s March Madness 2025: Printable NCAA Tournament bracket with Sweet 16 action underway Bueckers’ 34 points were the most by a UConn player in the Big Dance since Maya Moore scored 36 against Notre Dame in the 2011 Final Four. Furthermore, this was Bueckers’ sixth 25-point game in the tournament, which brought her into a tie with Moore for the most such games by a UConn player in the last 25 years.
Bueckers now has 2,335 career points, which is sixth on UConn’s all-time scoring list. That, despite playing just 119 games over her five years due to an array of injuries, including a torn ACL that sidelined her for the entire 2022-23 season. While Bueckers’ college career hasn’t gone to plan, she wouldn’t change anything that’s happened.
“The emotions haven’t hit me in a wave yet,” Bueckers said during an interview with ESPN. “I almost got emotional before the game today just listening to gospel and being in a state of gratitude for everything that’s come my way, come our way as a team. I’m just extremely grateful for the teams — this year, last year, my whole entire five years — my teammates, my relationships, the journey, the injuries, I’m grateful for it all.
“The support here is second to none. I love playing here, I love wearing this jersey. It’s just an honor to play here.”
UConn is now on to the Sweet 16 for the 31st year in a row, which is the all-time record for consecutive appearances. There, the Huskies will face the No. 3 seed Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. The Huskies’ road will only get more difficult as they advance, but a national championship could soon be within reach.
While UConn has a record 11 national titles, the storied program hasn’t won it all since 2016. And for Bueckers, a trophy is the only blank spot on her historic resume. She said that her team has “confidence,” but is trying to stay focused on the present.
“We’re just trying to take it one game at a time, one practice at a time, one rest day at a time, one travel day at a time,” Bueckers said. “A lot of teams are playing for a national title and we know that, so we just have to keep chipping away and being the best version of ourselves every single day.”
LOS ANGELES — You could hear a pin drop inside the Galen Center the moment USC superstar JuJu Watkins went down with a season-ending torn ACL injury less than five minutes into No. 1 seed USC’s eventual 96-59 win over No. 9 seed Mississippi State Monday in the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament. Watkins stayed on the floor for several minutes as her injury — and the reality of it — sent shockwaves throughout the arena.
The lasting image of one of the faces of women’s college basketball suffering that injury could have been a death knell on USC’s dream season. With Watkins out, her co-star Kiki Iriafen stepped up and delivered her best game in a USC uniform when her team needed it the most.
JuJu Watkins injury: USC star’s season ends with torn ACL after contact in Women’s March Madness game Jack Maloney JuJu Watkins injury: USC star’s season ends with torn ACL after contact in Women’s March Madness game Iriafen set a USC program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game (36) and finished just five points off her career-high of 41 set when she played at Stanford. Iriafen’s previous season-high came against Saint Louis in her seventh game in a USC uniform.
“It’s hard when you have such a key player not with you,” Iriafen said. “At the end of the day, we have to win the game. Respectfully, no one cares on Mississippi State that we lost [JuJu]. I think for us, it was making sure we got the job done. We wanted our season to be extended. Really rallying and doing whatever we can to get out of Galen.”
Iriafen was one of the best players in basketball last season and ranked as the No. 2 transfer when she jetted from Palo Alto to Los Angeles. Her counting stats had been barely down from last season; she is one point off and nearly three rebounds shy from those averages, but she is is every bit of a college basketball superstar and has proven she can carry a high-end team. Perhaps she can even use the pressure and privilege of being USC’s top offensive option to re-establish her WNBA Draft stock. She’s currently projected to go No. 5 overall but began the season as No. 2, behind UConn’s Paige Bueckers, on many boards.
It wasn’t just Iriafen who stepped up, though. USC center Rayah Marshall nearly finished with a double-double (12 points, nine rebounds). She also delivered a highlight that transformed the arena’s atmosphere from somber sadness to pure joy in the final moments of the first half.
Marshall, who had just made 10 3-pointers in her college career coming into the night, banked in a 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter buzzer that got the crowd on their feet. Immediately after the shot counted, some of Marshall’s teammates — including Iriafen — hugged her and celebrated around her.
The sounds of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” could be heard echoing throughout the arena as USC ran into the tunnel after that shot — a stark contrast to the mood everyone in the arena felt less than an hour before. When Marshall and Iriafen exited the game for good in the fourth quarter, fans cheered their name. The audible sounds of “Kiki, Kiki, Kiki!” were deafening as she checked out with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.
“What a performance by this group,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “When you throw a bunch of talented people on a team, it doesn’t become a team until you work through some things. I always thought throughout the year that if we had something we had to work on it would be when things didn’t go right right away, we sometimes stressed out.”
The scene in Los Angeles after Watkins sustained her devastating injury was a microcosm of a team, fanbase and city rallying around a homegrown star that has given so much already to a program yearning for a winner to cheer for after missing the NCAA Tournament seven consecutive seasons before Gottlieb’s arrival.
If the 35 minutes USC played without Watkins on the court proved anything to college basketball fans, it’s that USC will rally around one of the sport’s transformational stars in the sport, whether she’s playing or supporting from the bench.
“To see this place rally behind her, I hope at some point she can see the significance that she has here,” Gottlieb said. “It goes far beyond her talent and abilities. That’s what’s really generational about it, the way she’s galvanized everyone. The way her team had her back, it really is a team.”
USC faces Kansas State in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, and should it win it would face the winner of UConn vs. Oklahoma. Of course, a possible UConn vs. USC showdown — Watkins vs. Bueckers being the two best players in the sports — was the game everybody had circled when the bracket was released last week. That particular matchup won’t happen, which is a shame: When the two played in December, it was an absolute classic, with USC winning 72-70.
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🏀 It’s not such a good a horrible morning for … JUJU WATKINS AND THE (1) USC TROJANS
(1) USC superstar JuJu Watkins had to be carried off the court after sustaining a torn ACL in her right knee early in the Trojans’ eventual 96-59 triumph over (9) Mississippi State. Watkins will miss the remainder of the NCAA Tournament and her injury will require surgery.
Watkins was leading a fastbreak with USC leading 13-2 just over five minutes into the game before getting bumped and collapsing to the court. She writhed in pain for several minutes as the building fell silent before she was helped up. It did not appear that she was able to put any weight on her right leg, and she was eventually wheeled out of the building for further testing.
This is, plainly, devastating. For her. For USC. For women’s basketball. For basketball, period. Watkins is a face of the sport, an All-American who truly does it all. Last month, she willed USC over No. 1 UCLA with 38 points (including six 3s), 11 rebounds, five assists and eight blocks.
No one else has had those stats in men’s or women’s college basketball game in the last 20 years. No one has had it in the NBA or WNBA … ever.
Of course, the silver lining is the Trojans won, and in emphatic fashion. Kiki Iriafen scored a USC tournament-record 36 points, and Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel combined for 31 points off the bench.
Cameron Salerno describes a how the energy inside Los Angeles’ Galen Center eventually picked up as the partisan fans rallied behind the USC players, who seized the moment to lift one another in the face of adversity.
Salerno: “The sounds of The White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ could be heard echoing throughout the arena as USC ran into the tunnel after that shot — a stark contrast to the mood everyone in the arena felt less than an hour before. When Marshall and Iriafen exited the game for good in the fourth quarter, fans cheered their name. The audible sounds of “Kiki, Kiki, Kiki!” were deafening as she checked out with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.” 👎 Not so honorable mentions Jayson Tatum rolled his ankle. Anthony Davis returning from injury is misguided at best, Sam Quinn writes. Jimmy Butler sounds unmoved about the Heat giving him a tribute video tonight. Mookie Betts has had significant weight loss amid an illness. Connor McDavid (lower body) and Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) will miss more time. Can the NBA fix its tanking problem? Mauricio Pochettino admitted the USMNT needs to “play in a different way.” Here’s Chuck Booth’s stock watch, and here’s why the Gold Cup will be so important. Barbra Banda was the victim of “hateful language” at an NWSL game. 🏀 Good morning to all, but especially to … untitled-design-2025-03-24t224110-643.png Getty Images THE (4) MARYLAND TERRAPINS AND THE REST OF THE WOMEN’S SWEET 16
Watkins’ injury sadly put a significant damper on what was otherwise an excellent day of women’s college hoops. They all paled in comparison, however, to an all-time classic: (4) Maryland 111, (5) Alabama 108 in double overtime. And somehow, that crazy score — the second-highest combined score in tournament history — still doesn’t do it justice.
Let’s go chronologically, with Jack Maloney’s five craziest moments as a guide. To be honest, this list could have been twice as long.
Alabama led by 17 late in the third quarter, but Maryland closed the quarter strong to get it to nine and drew even with 1:01 left in regulation. Sarah Ashlee Barker nailed a 3 to give the Crimson Tide the lead, but Sarah Te-Biasu bailed out an awful possession with a 3 of her own to force overtime. In overtime, it looked like the Terrapins had things under control leading by three with six seconds left. But Saylor Puffenberger fouled Barker on a 3 as time expired, and Barker sank all three free throws. In double overtime, Barker kept the visitors in it, but Alabama finally ran out of answers when Diana Collins missed a 3 with under two seconds left. Te-Biasu stole the inbounds pass moments later to seal it. Barker’s 45 points were tied for fourth-most in women’s NCAA Tournament history. She was magnificent. But so, too, were Te-Biasu (26 points, 5 for 7 on 3s), Shyanne Sellers (28 points) and Kaylene Smikle (24 points).
“I think we put on a show for women’s basketball tonight, and I’m very thankful for that,” Barker said postgame.
We, the fans, should be the thankful ones.
We should also be thankful for Paige Bueckers. The (2) UConn crowd certainly was. In her final collegiate home game, Bueckers tied a career high with 34 points as the Huskies cruised by (10) South Dakota State, 91-57. Here’s our full recap from Monday’s action.
The Titans showed up in droves for Cam Ward’s pro day, but Abdul Carter still believes he’ll be the No. 1 pick. Stefon Diggs got a positive update in his ACL recovery. Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, commits today. Here are her finalists. Here’s how the Athletics will honor Rickey Henderson at their home opener. Texas hired Sean Miller, and Minnesota hired Niko Medved. Here’s our coaching changes tracker. This heartwarming Ole Miss scholarship video is the best. Justin Pippen (Scottie’s son) entered the transfer portal amid Michigan’s Sweet 16 run. Speaking of the portal, here are 10 names to know. What’s next for Dan Hurley and UConn? Eric Bossi looked at the state of the roster, and Isaac looked at big decisions looming. Sacramento State hired Mike Bibby as coach. 🏀 Men’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 preview, best of first weekend untitled-design-2025-03-25t015513-553.png Getty Images It’s 52 games down, 15 to go in the men’s NCAA Tournament, and despite all the exhilarating moments there’s been plenty of discussion about what hasn’t happened: a Cinderella run. For the first time since 2007, there’s not a No. 11 seed or worse in the Sweet 16. The only double-digit seed left is (10) Arkansas, an SEC team coached by John Calipari and loaded with blue-chip talent … not exactly Cinderella.
But fear not: The glass slippers aren’t gone forever, David Cobb writes.
Cobb: “It is factually correct that this is the first Sweet 16 made up exclusively of high-major programs. But that’s largely the byproduct of conference consolidation as opposed to some larger indictment on the viability of underdogs in the age of unlimited transferring and player compensation. … No, Cinderella isn’t dead. She just had an off year by her standards, which remain incredibly impressive, even in this new era of college basketball. FAU, FDU, Princeton and Saint Peter’s provide plenty of recent evidence.” Yes, everyone (except your bracket) loves a Cinderella. On the other hand, the clock almost always strikes midnight by the second weekend for those teams, sometimes in blowout fashion. This year’s Sweet 16 matchups are absolute dandies. The top seeds are getting huge tests. (1) Duke has been the most impressive team of the tournament, but the Blue Devils now face old nemesis Caleb Love and (4) Arizona, who made a big leap in Chip Patterson’s reseeding the Sweet 16.
Patterson: “10. Arizona — The Wildcats beat Akron by 28 points then endured the many wild swings of a late-night thriller against former Pac-12 foe Oregon. Arizona has the best tournament 3-point percentage (48.9%) of any team in the Sweet 16, and it flexed some big-time defensive muscles in the first round win against the Zips. NCAA committee ranking: No. 16” Still, Isaac Trotter and Cameron Salerno agree that Duke is the favorite to win it all.
Love was part of David’s All-First Weekend Team, as was a Blue Devil … but maybe not the one you thought of first.
⚾ MLB Power Rankings, big questions: Dodgers No. 1, but can they repeat? untitled-design-2025-03-25t015635-058.png Getty Images “Three-peat” was the phrase du jour in the NFL this year before the Chiefs came up short. The same went for UConn men’s basketball. In fact, the NFL, NBA, NHL, WNBA, college football and men’s and women’s college basketball have had back-to-back champions in the past decade.
But MLB? Can we just get the word “repeat” back into our lexicon? It hasn’t happened since 1998-2000, when the Yankees won three straight championships.
Can the Dodgers change that? In a surprise to absolutely nobody, they top Matt Snyder’s Power Rankings. Here’s the top five:
While these rankings are nice, of course (great job Matt!), all that matters is who’s on top come November. So in his 10 big questions, R.J. Anderson asks the big one: Can the Dodgers repeat?
Anderson: “The winter saw them add two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and international sensation Roki Sasaki to their rotation, as well as veteran outfielder Michael Conforto to their lineup and both Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to their bullpen. … It would be only wise to take the field over Los Angeles winning another World Series; at the same time, though, it is fair to conclude that no team has better individual championship odds entering the season than these Dodgers.”
Monday night was supposed to be a chance for the home crowd to celebrate the (1) USC Trojans, as they were heavily favored against (9) Mississippi State. However, four minutes into the game, disaster struck when JuJu Watkins fell to the floor in agony after being fouled in transition, and the mood shifted dramatically inside the Galen Center.
Watkins was carried off of the floor with what was later reported to be a torn ACL, and while it seemed to just be an unfortunate injury, the emotions of seeing their star player injured had the USC crowd and bench upset, and Mississippi State became the outlet for them. The crowd booed loudly every time Mississippi State had the ball and the injury seemed to galvanize the Trojans as they jumped out to a 28-8 lead after the first quarter, with Kiki Iriafen stepping into the starring role.
The game remained physical and tense throughout despite it being a blowout. USC’s Malia Samuels hit the floor hard after a foul at the rim, leading coach Lindsay Gottlieb to glare over at the Bulldog bench after going out to check on her. At the end of USC’s 96-59 win, the two teams met in the customary handshake line and some players had to be separated after exchanging words.
It was pretty clear USC felt Mississippi State’s physicality crossed a line, while the Bulldogs would defend it as hard-nosed basketball. It’s hard to blame the Trojans for being upset given they saw their best player suffer a season-ending injury, and because it happened on a foul, Mississippi State became the target of their anger and frustration.
“We don’t play to hurt, we play to compete and that’s just an unfortunate situation. There was no harm, and I hope us as a society, I know social media can be ugly, that you understand that the other lady that was involved that’s on my team is a woman of class,” Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell said after the game. “She’s comes from a family too of loving parents, I’m sure she is remorseful and obviously didn’t want to have that happen. I hope that we understand as a society that it was a thoughtful apology and don’t take it further than it needs to. On behalf of the Bulldogs, again, we’re praying for her recovery because she’s the ultimate competitor and we want to see her back on that court.”
USC star JuJu Watkins suffered a torn ACL during her team’s 96-59 win over No. 9 seed Mississippi State in the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament, the school announced. The injury will require surgery, meaning the season for the Trojans’ top player is over.
Watkins went down during the first quarter and was writhing on the floor in pain. She needed to be carried off the floor without putting any weight on her injured leg. There were a lot of mixed emotions for the Trojans, who stepped up in her absence.
“I’m feeling a lot of emotions, obviously,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said after the game, but before finding out Watkins diagnosis.
“But the biggest one is pride. What a performance by this group. When you throw a bunch of talented people on a team, it doesn’t become a team until you work through some things. I always thought throughout the year that if we had something we had to work on it would be when things didn’t go right right away, we sometimes stressed out.
“And how about this. Something didn’t go right for us,” Gottlieb said. “You never want anyone to go down, especially someone like JuJu that we all lean on in so many ways. But this team rallied. They rallied for her, they rallied for each other, our fans had our back. I’m just really proud and I think we showed what kind of team we are.”
JuJu Watkins’ ACL injury rocks USC, spoils potential clash vs. Paige Bueckers—but Trojans aren’t done yet Cameron Salerno JuJu Watkins’ ACL injury rocks USC, spoils potential clash vs. Paige Bueckers—but Trojans aren’t done yet Just over five mintues into the game, Watkins was pushing the ball in transition when she was bumped by multiple defenders. She immediately collapsed to the ground and screamed out in pain as she grabbed at her right knee. The Trojans’ medical staff briefly attended to her on the court before carrying her to the locker room.
The officials went to the monitor to review the play, but determined that it was a common foul and did not need to be upgraded. Avery Howell, who stepped up with 18 points off the bench, took the free throws for Watkins.
“We don’t play to hurt, we play to compete and that’s just an unfortunate situation. There was no harm, and I hope us as a society, I know social media can be ugly, that you understand that the other lady that was involved that’s on my team is a woman of class,” Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell said after the game.
“She’s comes from a family too of loving parents, I’m sure she is remorseful and obviously didn’t want to have that happen. I hope that we understand as a society that it was a thoughtful apology and don’t take it further than it needs to. On behalf of the Bulldogs, again, we’re praying for her recovery because she’s the ultimate competitor and we want to see her back on that court.”
Watkins entered the game with multiple minor knocks to her left hand and left ankle, which occurred during the team’s first-round win over No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro, but was deemed good to go after being a full participant in practice on Sunday.
USC entered the tournament as one of the main contenders to win the national championship thanks in large part to Watkins, who is averaging 24.6 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocks, and will likely be named Naismith Player of the Year later this spring.
The Trojans were able to ride their home crowd and Kiki Iriafen’s 36-point performance to get past an overmatched Bulldogs team, but with Watkins out for the remainder of the Big Dance, it’s hard to see how they lift the trophy, especially considering they already had arguably the toughest path of any No. 1 seed.
Up next is No. 5 seed Kansas State in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, and if the tournament goes chalk, beyond that would be No. 2 UConn, No. 1 UCLA and No. 1 South Carolina. Perhaps they find a way to get past the Wildcats in Spokane, but even that will be very difficult. Anything else is asking far too much without Watkins, who accounted for over 30% of the team’s points this season.
The UConn Huskies look as dangerous as ever after a pair of blowout wins over Arkansas State and South Dakota State to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Geno Auriemma’s group was firing on all cylinders playing at home at Gampel Pavilion for the first weekend, and on Tuesday the good vibes continued in Storrs as star guard Azzi Fudd announced she would be returning for a fifth year at UConn.
Fudd was the top recruit in the nation in the class of 2021 and seemed destined to be one of the Huskies next big stars, but injuries stalled her progress. Fudd was limited to 15 games as a sophomore and then a torn ACL ended her junior season after just two games. Fudd has bounced back in a big way for her senior season, averaging 13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game on incredible efficiency, posting 48.6/45.3/92.6 shooting splits this season.
While Fudd could have opted to join Paige Bueckers in the 2025 WNBA Draft, she still believes there’s work to do before she turns pro, informing ESPN’s Alexa Philippou she will return to UConn for the 2025-26 season to “work on everything I need to work on.”
Had she entered the 2025 WNBA Draft, Fudd likely would’ve been a late first-round pick, as our most recent mock draft had her going ninth to the L.A. Sparks. Another season at UConn will give her an opportunity to raise her draft stock and take on an even bigger role with Bueckers headed to the WNBA as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick later this spring. On top of the basketball reasons to return to UConn, with a new WNBA collective bargaining agreement needing to be signed before the 2026 WNBA Draft, the rookie scale contract starting in 2026 figures to be worth considerably more than one starting in 2025.
A great week for Oklahoma women’s basketball got even better on Tuesday when Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025, announced she was committing to the Sooners. Chavez filled it up at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas, averaging 34.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game this season and will bring her immense talents to Norman later this year.
Chavez’s father had previously stated the six finalists for the star guard’s services were Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, UCLA, LSU and South Carolina, but 247Sports insiders indicated the real battle was between the Sooners, Longhorns and Red Raiders. Ultimately, Chavez picked the Sooners after taking a visit to watch Oklahoma in their first round game of the NCAA Tournament against FGCU.
After punching their ticket to the Sweet 16 with a dominant win over Iowa on Monday, Sooners coach Jennie Baranczyk was able to keep that positive momentum going on the recruiting trail by landing the top player in the nation. After three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, Oklahoma is looking to build a consistent power in the SEC and now has an apparent star for the future in Chavez.
Brandon Clay, the 247Sports Director of Women’s Basketball Scouting, highlighted Chavez’s ability to create her own shot and offered a comparison to former Louisville star Asia Durr.
“There’s no reason to think she won’t be an instant-impact player at any program,” Clay said. “Chavez is a ball-dominant guard who should be able to handle a role at the point from Day 1. She’ll be called upon to score the basketball while still making plays for her teammates. In that regard, Chavez’s usage rate should be more similar to Asia Durr’s during her at Louisville than Juju Watkins’. Durr went on to be the second overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. If all holds up over the next four seasons, Chavez could have a similar fate come the 2029 WNBA Draft.”
The Sooners have six seniors on their current squad, including three of their six top scorers, which should mean there’s ample opportunity for Chavez to step into a major role on the offensive end as a freshman.
With Chavez’s commitment to Oklahoma, the top of the class of 2025 is all settled and each of the top 10 players in the 247Sports rankings are headed to different schools.
In fact, there’s only one uncommitted player left in the top 100 of 247Sports’ rankings, four-star combo guard Nylah Wilson.
The Sweet 16 is upon us with some promising matchups ahead. There is a lot of parity this season and despite being down to 16 teams, picking a national champion still feels like an impossible task.
The next round is giving us some exciting rematches and might answer some of the biggest questions in this tournament. The main one being how the USC Trojans will adjust without JuJu Watkins, who tore her ACL in the second round. Their first full test without her will be against Kansas State.
Meanwhile, TCU has already made program history by reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time with Hailey Van Lith on the roster. South Carolina is trying to win its third national title in four years, and UConn — the winningest program in basketball history with 11 championships — wants to get Paige Bueckers a trophy before she leaves to the WNBA.
JuJu Watkins’ ACL injury rocks USC, spoils potential clash vs. Paige Bueckers—but Trojans aren’t done yet Cameron Salerno JuJu Watkins’ ACL injury rocks USC, spoils potential clash vs. Paige Bueckers—but Trojans aren’t done yet Without further ado, let’s take a look and rank the most interesting matchups in the Sweet 16.
(1) South Carolina vs. (4) Maryland Maryland gave us the most exciting game of the tournament in a double-overtime win against Alabama. That being said, the Terrapins had to overcome a 17-point deficit to make it happen and they can’t put themselves in that kind of hole against one of the best teams in the country like South Carolina. However, the Gamecocks did not cruise through the second round as Indiana figured out how to give them a battle for the second consecutive year in the NCAA Tournament. Brenda Frese can take notes from the Hoosiers, but Dawn Staley can also use that game as extra motivation for her team.
(1) UCLA vs. (5) Ole Miss Any chance to watch Lauren Betts play is worth it. She is one of the strongest candidates to win Player of the Year because of her dominance on both sides of the court. UCLA is the top overall seed and having its best season in program history with a well-rounded roster. Ole Miss has a tough task ahead, but the Rebels have been battle-tested this season. Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s Rebels have given multiple top opponents close battles and even pulled an upset against LSU earlier this month.
(2) UConn vs. (3) Oklahoma UConn is playing like a No. 1 seed and it’s a well-known fact that Geno Auriemma’s teams are always dangerous in March. The Huskies earned a ticket to their 31st consecutive Sweet 16 after Paige Bueckers tied a career-high with 34 points against South Dakota State in her last college basketball game at Storrs. However, Oklahoma also has clutch players like Raegan Beers, who played at Oregon State last year and guided the Beavers to an Elite Eight appearance.
(2) NC State vs. (3) LSU This is Wes Moore vs. Kim Mulkey. The two coaches have incredibly talented teams playing at the highest levels in March. You can’t really go wrong with that. Both teams have recent experience making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament as NC State made the Final Four last year and LSU won the 2023 national title. The Tigers took an 82-65 win during their meeting in November, but the Wolfpack got stronger as the season progressed and even pulled an upset over Notre Dame in February.
(1) USC vs. (5) Kansas State The Trojans have heavily relied on JuJu Watkins this season, but it will be Kiki Iriafen’s job to take on an even bigger role in her absence. Sometimes the Trojans lack consistency on offense, but the talent is definitely still there, especially on the defensive end. Kansas State will be a tough test for USC as the Wildcats showed a lot of grit while surviving a thrilling overtime game against Kentucky.
(2) Duke vs. (3) North Carolina These two schools have one of the best-known rivalries in college sports, and very much on brand, they split their series during the regular season. This third meeting matters most as it is the first time the in-state rivals will face each other in the NCAA Tournament. One thing to keep an eye on is the status of Duke leading scorer Toby Fournier, who “wasn’t feeling well” and missed the second round game against Oregon.
(2) TCU vs. (3) Notre Dame Notre Dame is of the most talented teams in the nation when fully locked in with the talented backcourt duo of Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, as well as players like Sonia Citron and Liatu King, who can make huge impacts on both sides of the court any given night. This is TCU’s first Sweet 16, but an earlier highlight of this historic season was the Horned Frogs beating Notre Dame in November. The addition of Hailey Van Lith helped TCU level up, and a fun fact about her is that she has never missed an Elite Eight in her college career with Louisville and LSU.
(1) Texas vs. (5) Tennessee Tennessee almost upset Texas earlier this season, and this could be another tight contest between two of the most successful programs in women’s basketball history. Both teams know how to go on runs and disrupt opponents by forcing turnovers. Tennessee has a fast, aggressive style of play and one of the best offenses in the nation with some strong 3-point shooting. Meanwhile, Texas has good guard depth and a suffocating defense that can stun any opponent.
