They’re the defending champions, received this 12 months’s Pac-12 outright and have a 28-3 file. Few groups enter the NCAA match with the Stanford Cardinal’s confidence. The No. 2 Cardinal haven’t misplaced since Dec. 21, which was in opposition to No. 1 South Carolina. It’s clear they’re the cream of the crop in not simply the Spokane Area however the NCAA Match basically.
Stanford has been phenomenal all season lengthy. Led by Cameron Brink, Haley Jones and Lexie Hull, they’ve received 20 video games in a row and have appeared practically unbeatable throughout that stretch. They’ve the boldness and high quality of defending champions, a balanced assault and veteran management. Stanford being a No. 1 seed was undoubtedly a simple resolution for the NCAA committee to make. The Cardinal popping out of the Spokane Area can be a preferred choose in lots of NCAA brackets. So, are they inevitable? Can anybody step up and problem them for a spot within the Ultimate 4?
Who’re the challengers to Stanford?
The quick reply is sure. In a win-or-go-home match, something can occur. Gamers can get sizzling, favorites can get chilly, and upsets are part of what makes the NCAA Match so particular.
Texas is the clear second favourite to come back out of the Spokane Area. They’d a formidable victory in opposition to Baylor to win the Huge 12 Match and with a dominant large like Lauren Ebo and a guard trio of Rori Harmon, Aliyah Matharu, and Joanne Allen-Taylor, the Longhorns have a balanced assault that’s robust to beat. They’re well-coached, Texas robust and coming off of a victory in opposition to a rival in Baylor that they haven’t crushed since 2017. They’ll be as assured as ever heading into the NCAA Match and are prone to make it to the Elite Eight dealing with off in opposition to Stanford for a visit to the Ultimate 4. In the event that they do, they’ll like their probabilities, on condition that they’ve already crushed Stanford this 12 months 61-56. That recreation was a basic Texas recreation. Harmon led the workforce in scoring with 21 and Ebo grabbed six boards off the bench. We’ll see if the Longhorns can get the job performed on the most important stage.
The No. 3 seed in Spokane, the LSU Tigers, had a superb first 12 months underneath coach Kim Mulkey. They went 25-5, had been second within the SEC, and had six wins in opposition to Prime 25 groups. In the event that they’re going to tug off an upset in opposition to the highest seeds within the area, they’ll want Khayla Pointer to take them there. She’s the spark plug of the workforce, main them in factors, rebounds, and assists. The Tigers will go so far as she takes them, and up to now, she’s taken them above and past all expectations.
No. 4 Maryland will look to play Cinderella within the Spokane Area, and with a participant like Angel Reese on its facet, it’ll have an opportunity to take action. The Sophmore has been nothing in need of sensational all season lengthy, averaging 17.5 factors and 10.8 rebounds a recreation. An enormous recreation from her in opposition to Texas and Stanford may very well be sufficient to tug off upsets this spring.
Any lower-seeded groups to control?
Predicting upsets is the toughest factor to do within the NCAA Match. We all know there can be surprises, however who and why? Listed below are a number of the groups to control within the Spokane Area.
The Utah Utes are a harmful workforce. They went 21-8 on the season, and so they have a dynamic scoring guard in Gianna Kneepkens. They’ve had disappointing losses to top-seeded groups, however in a match state of affairs, they will beat anybody in the event that they get sizzling.
Ohio State went 23-6 and had been a power within the Huge Ten. They’ve a superb scoring duo in Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell and have crushed prime groups like Maryland and Iowa. Can they pull off comparable wins in Spokane?
Gamers to observe
Cameron Brink, Stanford: Flirts with a double-double each night time and is a frontrunner on this workforce
Rori Harmon, Texas: A strolling bucket and some of the environment friendly scorers in school
Gianna Kneepkens, Utah: Freshman main the Utes in factors
Angel Reese, Maryland: The very best participant on Maryland, main the workforce in factors and rebounds
