While the Spokane 4 region may have gotten immediate attention on Selection Sunday, I’d argue the Birmingham 3 region is the true “region of death” in this year’s NCAA Women’s basketball tournament.
Headlined by the No. 1 seeded Texas Longhorns, the region also features No. 3 seed Notre Dame’s potent guard trio. Not to mention a No. 2 seed in TCU that’s completed the ultimate turnaround led by Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith.
Let’s dive into the most compelling storylines in this corner of the bracket.
Is Texas Equipped To Make A Run?
Texas spent some time atop the A.P. Poll this season, but I don’t think it’s too hot of a take to say it is the least imposing of the four No. 1 seeds.
While Madison Booker is certainly a star in Austin, she doesn’t have the consistent scoring prowess of USC’s JuJu Watkins or as proficient of a supporting cast as Watkins has around her.
While Texas split the regular season series with South Carolina, the Longhorns’ 19-point loss to Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks in the SEC Championship game did little to inspire belief that they’ll be the last team standing on the first Sunday of April.
So, what made Texas a No. 1 seed this season? Consistency. Where most teams that cycled throughout the top five this season stumbled, Texas handled business on a night-in, night-out basis.
The Longhorns earned wins against some of the toughest teams in the country, including UConn, Maryland, Tennessee and Oklahoma. The Longhorns’ highlights weren’t on the A-block of SportsCenter like some other women’s teams, but their campaign was still legitimately impressive.
Unfortunately, the one team besides South Carolina that gave Texas the most trouble this season happens to be in the region with them. Notre Dame handed the Longhorns their first (and only non-South Carolina) loss with an 80-70 overtime decision in early December. I would imagine that Vic Schaefer and company aren’t too thrilled at the possibility of that rematch in the Elite 8.
Notre Dame’s Trio Too Tough To Beat?
For most of the season, Notre Dame falling to the No. 3 line would have been unfathomable. Hell, there was a time this season when it seemed the Irish wouldn’t even be knocked off the mantle as the nation’s best team.
Yet, after a disappointing end to the regular season and a loss in the ACC semis, the Irish and their star-studded trio of guards find themselves somewhat under the radar right now. Me? I’m not buying it.
For my money, there aren’t many players in this country I’d take over any one of Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron in a one game scenario. Period. We’re talking about three players that will eventually be drafted in the top five of the WNBA draft, Miles and Citron this year. Hidalgo in 2027.
Yes, I know they’ve had their struggles, but March is a month where talent often reigns supreme. If Notre Dame beats TCU, the Irish will make it out of the region. More on the Horned Frogs below.
Can TCU, Van Lith Complete Ultimate Comeback?
The TCU women’s basketball program has come a long way from where it was last season, when it held open tryouts on campus just so the team could finish an injury-ridden season. The “Underfrogs” were a touching story last year but I don’t think anybody expected the program to be as dominant as it was this season.
Coach Mark Campbell did a masterful job of rebuilding the team via the transfer portal. The Frogs’ most prized acquisition was similarly redemption-minded point guard Hailey Van Lith. It ended up being the perfect fit for Van Lith and the Frogs alike, with Van Lith again proving her mettle as one of the nation’s best guards.
TCU also added former Oregon State star Donavyn Hunter to a lineup that already included veteran center Sedona Prince, rounding out a roster that looks fully capable of competing for a berth to the Final Four. The Frogs also have a head-to-head win over Notre Dame this season that proved they can handle perhaps the biggest threat in the region.
If the Frogs were to advance to Tampa, it would be a comeback story that rivals some of the greatest we’ve seen in college sports. It would also show just how drastically the transfer portal has changed the NCAA W landscape.
