The NCAA regular season is almost complete, and much like other years, this one too had its surprises and shocks. The teams that had the most expectations were the winners in the last five championships, and today let us take a look at how they have fared this season:
The Louisiana State University Lady Tigers 2023
The LSU Lady Tigers won the 2023 National Championship. They have a 22-4 record and are placed in the second spot in the SEC. They have a good 9-3 record in the conference round.
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The LSU have been so consistent this season that their losses have come as a shock for their fans. Especially, the Lady Tigers stood tall against the South Carolina Gamecocks, scoring 70 in response to their 76.
The team has performed exceptionally well this season, with their top performers being forward Angel Reese and guard Aneesah Morrow. Reese has averaged 19.2 points per game with 12.5 rebounds per match. Meanwhile, Morrow has averaged 17.6 points per game with 10.1 rebounds per contest. Both of the double-double champions have upheld their team’s high standards.
Their head coach, Kim Mulkey, would be having a go at back-to-back championships, and the way they have been playing, this team looks capable of clinching another championship.
South Carolina Gamecocks 2022
The South Carolina Gamecocks have an undefeated 25-0 run this season and therefore have performed spectacularly well. They are ranked at the top spot in the SEC and have defeated formidable teams like Notre Dame, the LSU Lady Tigers, and the UConn Huskies. The Gamecocks have shown a brilliant defense this season, which has helped contain their opponents while breaking through their ranks.
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The top performers for the team have been their center, Kamilla Cardoso, and their guards, Te-Hina Paopao and MiLaysia Fulwiley. Paopao and Fulwiley have throttled 11.8 and 11.2 points per game, respectively, whereas Cardoso has thrashed 14.1 points per contest. If the Gamecocks continue their ongoing rampage, who knows? They might turn out to be the best contenders for the NCAA title. Their head coach, Dawn Staley, has stood tall to her reputation, and now with only four games left in the season, it will be interesting to see if the Gamecocks have a clean record.
Stanford Cardinal 2021
If the LSU Lady Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks are doing well, the Cardinals aren’t far behind either. They have a 23-3 record along with a 12-2 tally in the regular season. Riding on their exploits, the Cardinals are placed in the top spot in the Pac-12. Even in the AP women’s basketball polls, the Cardinals occupy the third spot and therefore are a team to watch out for.
The top players for the Cardinals have been their forwards, Kiki Iriafen and Cameron Brink. While Iriafen has smashed 18.5 points per game, Brink has shattered 17.8 points per contest. Their specialty has been a good ceiling with supporting roles played by the other players. However, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that they have mediocre depth, especially with their guard Elena Bosgana and forward Nunu Agara smoking just 6.7 and 6.5 points per game as the fourth and fifth players, respectively. Nonetheless, the Cardinals have countered most of the difficulties coming their way.
Baylor Bears 2019
The Baylors had won the 2019 NCAA Championship, but that was under the guidance of Kim Mulkey. As of now, Mulkey has transferred to LSU, and it remains to be seen if the Bears can pull off a title with their new head coach, Nicki Collen. Though Collen recorded the most wins by a rookie head coach in her debut season with the Bears, it will be icing on the cake if she helps this team bag the coveted title. It will prove that the Bears are as strong in Mulkey’s absence as they were during her era.
They have a 19-6 tally this season and occupy the fifth spot in the Big 12. The good part about them is that they have considerable depth. Despite not doing much in the regular season, if they make it to the playoffs and use depth to their advantage, then they will be a team to bet on and can also make the most of the season.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2018
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a 19-6 tally in the regular season and don’t seem to be performing exceptionally well. They occupy the 6th spot in the ACC and 19th place in the AP women’s basketball polls. They had won the 2019 season under head coach Muffet McGraw, but now they are playing under the mentorship of Niele Ivey.
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Their exploits this season have mostly rested on one freshman, Hannah Hidalgo, who has thrashed an exemplary 24.4 points per game with 6.3 rebounds per match and 5.3 assists per contest. Other than Hildago, the other players to perform astonishingly are their guard, Sonia Citron, and forward Maddy Westbeld. Notre Dame will have to concentrate on their gameplay if they are to make an impact this season.
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