Women’s Basketball over the past decade has been described by one word. UConn. By over the past 3 seasons that has not been the case as UConn has been bounced in back to back national semi-finals and we’ve had new champions in what seems like forever.
All 4 of these teams have been dominant in their own way and how that will shape up on the biggest stages of them all in Women’s Sports will be very exciting to see.
Baylor Bears
After 6 straight years of not advancing past the Elite 8, the Baylor Bears are back in the Final Four for the 4th time in program history and the first since the 40-0 season back in 2011-2012. This year’s team does have a player that is the same stature as one back on that 40-0 team. That would be Kalani Brown.
6’7 Kalani Brown to go along side with a shot blocking threat in 6’4 Lauren Cox. Cox averages just a mere 13 PPG, but also averages 8 RPG, has a hidden 3 point shot, and leads the nation in blocks with 91 on the season.
Others like DiDi Richards, Chloe Jackson, and Juicy Landrum have been able to provide some spark, but it’s been Richards that has been standing out. Richards had 25 in the Regional Semis against South Carolina and 16 Points to go along with 10 Rebounds, 6 Assists, and 6 steals in their 31 point win over #2 Iowa.
Their depth is probably 2nd out of the 4 teams (behind Notre Dame), but Baylor plays 8 deep and has some freshman that can play coming off the bench.
Inexperience could be an issue for the Bears as no one on the roster has made it to the final 4. That may be a good thing against Oregon, but against a veteran heavy Notre Dame and UConn, that can come up as a legitimate issue for the Bears.
Oregon Ducks
If you’ve not heard of Sabrina Ionescu, then I don’t know where you have been. She is #1 in not only womens basketball, but men’s basketball in all time Triple-Doubles with 18 and already has one in this tournament. Oregon is an elite 3 point shooting team and has them all over the court.
It is rare to ever see it, but Oregon has 4 players that are shooting over 40% from 3 and that is led by Ionescu. But Ionescu is not the only legitimate threat. Ruthy Hebard averages a near double double on the season with 16.4 PPG and 9 RPG. Oregon will score a ton of points and they will do It in a fashionable way.
There are a few flaws with Oregon in this first matchup. It is a contrasting of 2 different styles as Baylor was able to hold the #1 Field Goal % team to just 53 points in Iowa. Oregon relies heavily on the 3 ball and scores a bunch of points.
Oregon will have to play really well against good on ball defenders in Chloe Jackson and DiDi Richards. Ionescu will get hers, but it might take more than just her for the Ducks to pull off what is considered by many would be an upset.
UConn Huskies
There was a ton of controversy when the NCAA Committee decided to put UConn as the #2 seed in a region that was in their own backyard (The Portland Region).
UConn has suffered just 2 losses this season. One coming against Louisville on the road (which they were able to return the favor in the Elite 8, 80-73). And the other in Waco way back in January when they fell to the Lady Bears, 68-57. Their final four matchup consists of Notre Dame, where they blew out the Fighting Irish earlier this season in South Bend with a comfortable 89-71 Win.
Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson have been the catalyst for this UConn team and are both expected to go in the first round of the WNBA draft along side with potentially Crystal Dangerfield. Collier and Samuelson combine for nearly 40 PPG, on over 54% shooting from the field and over 17 RPG. Those two are a huge key to UConn’s success.
There has been signs of flaws on this team whether it be a lack of depth or of a overwhelming star on the team. Christyn Williams was able to shoot 11-16 from the field and net 28 Points for the Huskies in their win back in December.
Neither team was able to shoot the ball well in the first contest, so it will be very interesting how they fair off in their 2nd and much more important meeting.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
This will be the Fighting Irish’s 6th Final Four Appearance since 2010-2011 and are looking to repeat as back to back champs. Notre Dame was able to get the monkey off of it’s shoulder last year after losing their previous 4 National Title games, but was able to surge past Mississippi State in last year’s contest.
ND had a couple of strange losses against North Carolina and Miami (both on the road), but were able to bounce back. Ever since the incredible 2 shots she made back in last April to secure that national title, Arike Ogunbowale has been a star as she’s continued her play on the court, but also off.
Arike was announced not only female athlete of the year last year (to go along with Lamar Jackson being the male), but was also on Season 26 of Dancing with the Stars. If Arike is able to create yet another set of heroics like she did last year, it will go down as iconic and she’d become one of the most clutch player in not only Women’s Basketball, but College Basketball All-Time.
Notre Dame wants nothing more than sweet revenge against essentially a rival in UConn. In a series that is dominated by the Huskies (37-12-1), The Fighting Irish want another postseason victory against UConn.
Score Predictions for the games:
Final Four:
Baylor over Oregon, 73-61
UConn over Notre Dame, 77-64
National Championship:
Baylor vs. UConn
Image Credit: https://baylorbears.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5770
