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LSU women’s basketball highlights from March Madness win vs SDSU

BATON ROUGE, La. – Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow showed no signs of injuries bothering them on Saturday night, leading No. 3 LSU to a 103-48 victory over No. 14 San Diego State in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

“I was nervous, I ain’t going to lie,” Johnson said about coming back from lingering shin inflammation in her right leg. Saturday marked the first time Johnson had played since the Tigers’ Feb. 27 loss to Alabama.

Johnson led the team with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, pushing her past the 1,500-point mark for her career, and Morrow grabbed her nation-leading 28th double-double of the season of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Their offensive effort was key to LSU’s 103 points, a program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game.

“Setting the record that’s something no one can ever take away from you,” Morrow said. “That’s something very powerful.”

LSU women’s basketball highlights

The duo played with passion and confidence on both offense and defense.

“I told myself that when I came back that I want to be the energy for the team,” Johnson said. “I feel like when you don’t get a chance to play basketball, it really changes your perspective on coming out and giving it everything you got.”

After a steal and layup early in the first quarter, Johnson looked to the crowd while hitting her chest and jumping up and down.

In a similar fashion, Morrow banked in a jumper and blew a kiss to the crowd to close out the first quarter. The fans’ response was blaring. 

Johnson ended the third quarter with another layup off a fast break. When the buzzer sounded, she looked up to the crowd, raising her hands to booming cheers.

Both Johnson and Morrow have been recovering from injuries that caused them to miss time at the tail end of the season. Morrow re-aggravated a left foot sprain in the third quarter of LSU’s second-round loss to Texas in the SEC tournament.

The duo took their recovery seriously, sporting the Nike x Hyperice boot while speaking with reporters on Friday. 

Earlier this week, Morrow and Johnson were recognized as second- and third team AP All-Americans, respectively. In games the duo have started, the Tigers are 26-3 on the season.

Who does LSU women’s basketball play next?

With the win, the Tigers move on to play No. 6 Florida State in the second round on Monday.

Tatum Esparza is a student in the University of Georgia’sSports Media Certificate program.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Nvidia’s CEO did a Q&A with analysts. What he said and what Wall Street thinks about it.

Investors have closely watched Nvidia’s week-long GPU Technology Conference (GTC) for news and updates from the dominant maker of chips that power artificial intelligence applications.

The event comes at a pivotal time for Nvidia shares. After two years of monster gains, the stock is down 15% over the past month and 22% below the January all-time high.

As part of the event, CEO Jensen Huang took questions from analysts on topics ranging from demand for its advanced Blackwell chips to the impact of Trump administration tariffs. Here’s a breakdown of how Huang responded — and what analysts homed in on — during some of the most important questions:

Huang said he “underrepresented” demand in a slide that showed 3.6 million in estimated Blackwell shipments to the top four cloud service providers this year. While Huang acknowledged speculation regarding shrinking demand, he said the amount of computation needed for AI has “exploded” and that the four biggest cloud service clients remain “fully invested.”

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore noted that Huang’s commentary on Blackwell demand in data centers was the first-ever such disclosure.

“It was clear that the reason the company made the decision to give that data was to refocus the narrative on the strength of the demand profile, as they continue to field questions related to Open AI related spending shifting from 1 of the 4 to another of the 4, or the pressure of ASICs, which come from these 4 customers,” Moore wrote to clients, referring to application-specific integrated circuits.

Piper Sandler analyst Harsh Kumar said the slide was “only scratching the surface” on demand. Beyond the four largest customers, he said others are also likely “all in line looking to get their hands on as much compute as their budgets allow.”

Another takeaway for Moore was the growth in physical AI, which refers to the use of the technology to power machines’ actions in the real world as opposed to within software.

At previous GTCs, Moore said physical AI “felt a little bit like speculative fiction.” But this year, “we are now hearing developers wrestling with tangible problems in the physical realm.”

Truist analyst William Stein, meanwhile, described physical AI as something that’s “starting to materialize.” The next wave for physical AI centers around robotics, he said, and presents a potential $50 trillion market for Nvidia.

Stein highliughted Jensen’s demonstration of Isaac GR00T N1, a customizable foundation model for humanoid robots.

Several analysts highlighted Huang’s explanation of what tariffs mean for Nvidia’s business.

“Management noted they have been preparing for such scenarios and are beginning to manufacture more onshore,” D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria said. “It was mentioned that Nvidia is already utilizing [Taiwan Semiconductor’s’] Arizona fab where it is manufacturing production silicon.”

Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said Huang’s answer made it seem like Nvidia’s push to relocate some manufacturing to the U.S. would limit the effect of higher tariffs.

Rasgon also noted that Huang brushed off concerns of a recession hurting customer spending. Huang argued that companies would first cut spending in the areas of their business that aren’t growing, Rasgon said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Two Ways to Use the Zweig Breadth Thrust – Plus an Added Twist

The Zweig Breadth Thrust is best known for its bullish reversal signals, which capture a material increase in upside participation. There is, however, more to the indicator because traders can also use the “setup” period to identify oversold conditions. This report will explain the original Zweig Breadth Thrust and show how these signals work.

Note that our breadth models turned bearish in mid March and the major index ETFs triggered long-term downtrend signals. I am now watching for something that would prove this stance otherwise, such as a Zweig Breadth Thrust. A set up is in the making using S&P 500 data, but this has yet to translate into a signal. We will follow this setup closely in the coming days. Click here for a trial and full access to our reports and videos.

A Sharp Increase in Advancing Stocks 

The Zweig Breadth Thrust (ZBT) indicator uses NYSE advance-decline data to identify major shifts in the percentage of advancing stocks (breadth). The first step is to calculate the percentage of advancing stocks (advances divided by advances plus declines). Second, apply a 10-day EMA. Thus, the indicator is the 10-day EMA of Advances/(Advances + Declines). This formula comes from Greg Morris’ book, the Encyclopedia of Breadth Indicators.

A value of .40 means the 10-day EMA is just 40%, which shows an extremely low percentage of advancing stocks. A value of .615 means the 10-day EMA is 61.5%, which shows an exceptionally large percentage of advancing stocks. For reference, the chart below shows NYSE Advances and Declines in the middle window and the ZBT indicator in the lower window.

From Setup to Signal

The Zweig Breadth Thrust triggers when the indicator moves from an extremely low level to an exceptionally high level in a short period. Such moves show a major turnaround in participation (advancing stocks). A setup occurs when the indicator dips below .40 (40%), and the Zweig Breadth Thrust signals when the indicator surges above .615 (61.5%) within 10 days.

The chart above shows the ZBT indicator (!BINYBT) in the top window, the digital signal in the middle window (!BINYBTD) and the NY Composite in the lower window. The blue shadings show the indicator surging from below .40 to above .615 within a 10 day window (April and November 2023). The pink shadings show two signals that missed the 10 day cutoff.

This indicator can also identify short-term oversold conditions with a move below .40 (40%). The gray vertical lines show instances when this indicator became oversold (March, August, September and October 2023, April and December 2024). Short-term oversold conditions reflect an extreme pullback that can lead to a bounce.

Solid Rationale, but Something Missing

There is a solid rationale behind the Zweig Breadth Thrust, but something is missing. Those “somethings” are Nasdaq stocks. I suspect Zweig used NYSE breadth because he developed it when the big board (NYSE) dominated trading (80s). The Nasdaq is now a major exchange so a modern breadth indicator should include Nasdaq stocks. I would suggest using S&P 500 or S&P 1500 stocks. Nasdaq stocks account for around 30% of the S&P 500, which is the most important benchmark and where institutions are active. Nasdaq stocks account for around 33% of the S&P 1500, a broad index that covers large-caps, mid-caps and small-caps.

The NYSE ZBT Indicator did not move below .40 in mid March, but versions using the S&P 1500 and S&P 1500 did on March 13th. This means two things. First, the S&P 500 and S&P 1500 became oversold and ripe for a bounce. Second, a possible Zweig Breadth Thrust is setting up with March 27th as the cut off date.

The full version of this report is reversed for subscribers. We show how to set up the ZBT indicator using S&P 500 and S&P 1500 breadth, review past signals and analyze the current situation. This report includes custom SharpCharts with links and a video for deeper understanding. Click here to subscribe and gain immediate access. 

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American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) Breaks Record

We wrote about the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) poll results a few weeks ago. Since then, the bearish activity on the chart has broken a record for the poll. Going back to the poll’s inception in 1987, we have never seen four weeks in a row of bearish readings above 55%. We are now at bearish extremes for this indicator.

Remember that sentiment, which this poll measures, is contrarian. This means that when market participants are extraordinarily bearish, it is a bullish indication. The opposite also applies; extraordinarily bullish readings are bearish for the market.

Clearly, you can see that, even after and during the bear market in 2022, we never saw a cluster of readings this high. This has put the bull/bear ratio at a very low reading. Typically speaking, this would result in an upside reversal.

One thing we would say is that sometimes poll takers are RIGHT! So while we do see extremely bearish readings, we wouldn’t bet the house that this isn’t a bear market. At DecisionPoint.com we have been monitoring our indicators and participation and we are considering that we are in the throes of a bear market rally and that it isn’t likely to stick around. However, charts like this do have us wondering if the correction is all we’ll get.

Conclusion: Sentiment is extremely bearish on AAII and typically this will lead to a sustained rally. However, we have to understand that sometimes the respondents are correct and we’ll see more downside after all.

The DP Alert: Your First Stop to a Great Trade!

Before you trade any stock or ETF, you need to know the trend and condition of the market. The DP Alert gives you all you need to know with an executive summary of the market’s current trend and condition. It not only covers the market! We look at Bitcoin, Yields, Bonds, Gold, the Dollar, Gold Miners and Crude Oil! Only $50/month! Or, use our free trial to try it out for two weeks using coupon code: DPTRIAL2. Click HERE to subscribe NOW!

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Technical Analysis is a windsock, not a crystal ball. –Carl Swenlin

(c) Copyright 2025 DecisionPoint.com

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

DecisionPoint is not a registered investment advisor. Investment and trading decisions are solely your responsibility. DecisionPoint newsletters, blogs or website materials should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security or to take any specific action.

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Stocks in Focus: 3 Stocks to Watch

Seeing that the earnings slate is light, this week we focus on certain stocks to watch during uncertain times.

If you are jittery and risk-averse, we have two safer (boring) stocks, plus one tech stock that has shown great relative strength compared to its peers. Let’s do a deep dive into all three.

American International Group (AIG)

Insurance stocks have done quite well in the current volatile environment. As inflation fears mount, it’s ironic that an inflationary sector is a good one to buy in the current cycle.

We can go with a basket of insurance stocks by adding the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK), which is up 7.3% YTD, but, for this article, let’s focus on one of its leaders, AIG.

Fundamentally, results have been solid and bolstered by a strong buyback program. AIG pays a dividend of 1.9%. Analysts, according to Bloomberg data, have the equivalent of 12 buys, 8 holds, and 0 sells with an average price target at current levels of $85.

FIGURE 1. WEEKLY CHART OF AIG. The stock is one of strongest within its sector and is likely to be more stable.

Technically, let’s keep it simple. Looking at multiple time frames, we are seeing breakouts. There are great risk/reward set-ups based on these patterns. It’s one of the strongest within the sector and looks attractive above $80. 

Shares won’t run up like a tech stock, but, in tougher and unpredictable times, look for more stable and slow growth with solid returns; thus, one of the best within the insurance sector.

John Deere (DE)

Another stock with great relative strength within the Industrial sector is DE. It’s up 11.3% year-to-date and outperforming both the Industrials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) (up 0.2% year-to-date) and the S&P 500 (-4%).

Fundamentally, John Deere’s guidance was not solid. Tariff concerns were mentioned, but — and this is a BIG BUT — CEO John May noted in the call that “75% of all products that we sell in the U.S. are assembled here in the U.S.” This fits well with the narrative coming out of Washington.

FIGURE 2. WEEKLY CHART OF DE. After breaking out of a two-year base, it looks like a great setup.

Technically, we see another great set-up. Shares experienced a major break-out of a two-year base on a weekly timeframe. The daily chart, while a tad more choppy, looks solid as well. The risk/reward set-up is also favorable to the bulls.

Again, kinda boring, but pullbacks have been bought. An upside target of $540 over the next year is very plausible given the base it broke out of on the weekly. Use a near-term stop on a pullback just under the $440 level, depending on your risk tolerance.

Broadcom (AVGO)

Broadcom (AVGO) is anything but boring. It’s the third biggest weight in the VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH), fourth in the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and eighth in S&P 500. It’s one of the biggest stocks in a sector that has been struggling. And yet, when you look at it technically, it’s a top name with great relative strength.

Fundamentally, AVGO had a great quarterly result. AI chip revenue was up 220% y-o-y to $12.2 billion. The $69 billion acquisition of VMWare (end of 2023) is starting to pay dividends, as it helped expand its software business now that it has a full year under its belt. Like most semiconductor stocks, it hasn’t recovered since the DeepSeek news.

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF BROADCOM STOCK. AVGO has retraced to its 200-day simple moving average and looks like a good risk/reward setup.

Yet technically, shares have retraced back to the rising 200-day simple moving average (SMA) and held. That level also coincides with the gap from which it broke above. Thus, the former major resistance area now becomes support. This gives investors a good risk/reward set-up, using the recent lows just below $177 as a near-term stop.

We can also see a bullish crossover in the Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD), which signaled a buy signal last week. Between solid support holding, good technical relative strength, and a MACD buy signal, shares could run back to $215. That target would reach its declining 50-day moving average. If we see momentum come back into the sector, this should lead the rally.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Uncover the Week’s Key Stock Market Movements

If one word could characterize this week’s stock market price action, it would be “sideways.” At least it’s better than trending lower.

The stock market seemed comfortable with the Federal Reserve’s message on Wednesday, but lost that upside momentum and wasn’t able to follow through on the upside move until the last 30 minutes of Friday’s trading.

The Dow ($INDU), S&P 500 ($SPX), and Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ) managed to eke out gains, ending the week on a slightly optimistic note.

On the bright side, the Cboe Volatility Index ($VIX) pulled back from its March 10 level. Even quadruple witching Friday—when contracts for stock index futures, stock index options, stock options, and single-stock futures all expire—didn’t see volatility spike too high. That said, the VIX is still elevated, relatively speaking, so we’re not exactly in complacent territory.

Quarterly earnings reports from Nike, Inc. (NKE), FedEx Corp. (FDX), and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) didn’t help. The most troubling of the three is FDX. FedEx’s performance indicates the overall health of the U.S. economy. Tariffs, declining consumer confidence, and uncertainty about economic growth could be headwinds, for FedEx and other companies.

The weekly chart of FDX below shows the stock is trading below its 150-week exponential moving average (EMA) with its 40-week EMA trending lower. FDX has been underperforming the Industrials Select Sector SPDR (XLI) since early September 2024.

FIGURE 1. WEEKLY CHART OF FEDEX STOCK. FDX is trading below its 150-week EMA and underperforming the Industrial sector. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Be sure to save this chart to your ChartLists. It acts like a monitor to check the U.S. economy’s pulse.

Precious Metals Shine

But it’s not all negative. Gold and silver prices have trended higher with gold hitting an all-time high this week. The daily six-month chart of gold futures ($GOLD) below shows that gold prices are trading above $3,000 per ounce.

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF GOLD FUTURES. Gold prices have rallied most of the year and could keep rising if investors invest in safe-haven assets such as gold. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

In addition to trading above its 50- and 200-day SMAs, gold is outperforming the S&P 500. A rise in gold prices indicates risk-off sentiment, and, if investors continue to sell off stocks, gold prices could rise further. This is another valuable chart to monitor when uncertainty reigns.

Next week is heavy on macro data, so this back-and-forth movement could continue. Fasten your seatbelts.

End-of-Week Wrap-Up

  • S&P 500 up 0.51% on the week, at 5667.56, Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.2% on the week at 41,985.35; Nasdaq Composite up 0.17% on the week at 17,784.05.
  • $VIX down 11.39% on the week, closing at 19.28.
  • Best performing sector for the week: Energy
  • Worst performing sector for the week: Utilities
  • Top 5 Large Cap SCTR stocks: Elbit Systems, Ltd. (ESLT); XPeng, Inc. (XPEV); Palantir Technologies, Inc. (PLTR); Applovin Corp. (APP); Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB)

On the Radar Next Week

  • March S&P Global PMI
  • February PCE
  • Q4 GDP Growth Rate (final)
  • Fed speeches from Bostic, Barr, Kugler, and others

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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March Madness scores: NCAA bracket update from Friday’s games

The first day of action from the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament is complete.

Elsewhere, No. 1 seeds UCLA and South Carolina took care of business, as expected, downing Southern and Tennessee Tech with scores of 84-46 and 108-48, respectively. No. 2 seed Duke had one of the most dominant showings of the day, defeating Lehigh 86-25 and holding the Mountain Hawks to single-digit scoring in each quarter.

10-seed Oregon took down 7-seed Vanderbilt in the lone overtime game of the women’s NCAA Tournament so far, taking down the Commodores 77-73 after outscoring Vanderbilt 10-6 in the extra period.

Here’s the full list of scores from the day, along with updates from all 16 games on Friday:

Women’s March Madness games today

All times Eastern

  • (6) Michigan 80, (11) Iowa State 74
  • (4) Kentucky 79, (13) Liberty 78
  • (9) Indiana 76, (8) Utah 68
  • (3) Notre Dame 106, (14) Stephen F. Austin 54
  • (5) Kansas State 85, (12) Fairfield 41
  • (4) Baylor 73, (13) Grand Canyon 60
  • (2) TCU 73, (15) FDU 51
  • (1) South Carolina 108, (16) Tennessee Tech 48
  • (10) Oregon 77, (7) Vanderbilt73 (OT)
  • (4) Ohio State 71, (13) Montana State 51
  • (5) Ole Miss 83, (12) Ball State 65
  • (7) Louisville 63, (10) Nebraska 58
  • (8) Richmond 74, (9) Georgia Tech 49
  • (2) Duke 86, (15) Lehigh 25
  • (5) Tennessee 101, (12) South Florida 66
  • (1) UCLA 84, (16) Southern 46

UCLA wins 84-46 over Southern

UCLA takes its first-round matchup over Southern with ease, defeating the Jaguars 84-46 behind Lauren Betts’ game-leading 14 points with six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Cheers to the first full day of action at the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Lauren Betts dominating down low

Lauren Betts, 6-foot-7, is doing her thing against Southern, with 12 points and three blocks so far tonight.

UCLA opens third quarter on 10-2 run

The Bruins are putting the clamps on Southern, with a 10-2 run to start the third quarter. Leaving very little hope for the SWAC champion Jaguars.

UCLA leads Southern 38-16 at half

The last game of the day, featuring No. 1 overall seed UCLA vs. Southern, sees the Bruins holding a 38-16 lead in the first half of Friday’s action.

Tennessee rolls to 101-66 win

Tennessee has no issues with South Florida, as the Lady Vols and Kim Caldwell move onto the Round of 32 with a 101-66 win.

Talaysia Cooper paced Tennessee with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists with two steals and two blocks on the night off the bench. Samara Spencer added 15 points.

Duke handling Lehigh with ease

Duke has been dominant defensively against Lehigh, holding the Mountain Hawks to only 19 points midway through the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils lead 71-19.

Perfect brackets remaining

Following the completion of the Oregon and Louisville women’s basketball games, roughly 240,000 perfect brackets still remain on the women’s side:

Lehigh-Duke tips off

2-seed Duke and 15-seed Lehigh are underway from Durham, North Carolina.

Hopefully for the Blue Devils, C.J. McCollum doesn’t appear and upset Duke like he did in the men’s NCAA Tournament in 2012. That game was also a 2-seed vs. 15-seed matchup.

Louisville beats Nebraska

Louisville gets two key free throws from Olivia Cochran down the stretch to pull out with a 63-58 win over No. 10 Nebraska to advance to the second round.

Now comes one of the most highly anticipated games of the first weekend of the women’s NCAA Tournament: Hailey Van Lith looking to lead No. 2 TCU to a trip to the Sweet 16 against her former squad. Van Lith, of course, transferred from Louisville to LSU after the 2022-23 season before arriving at TCU this past offseason.

Oregon upsets Vanderbilt

No. 10 Oregon knocks out No. 7 Vanderbilt of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 77-73 overtime win on Friday.

The Commodores came all the way back and forced overtime, but foul trouble down the stretch held Shea Ralph’s squad back from advancing to the second round of the Region 2 Birmingham side of the bracket. Oregon will now face the winner of No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Lehigh in the second round on Sunday.

Mikayla Blakes fouls out for Vanderbilt

A huge loss for Vanderbilt in the winding seconds of overtime, as Mikayla Blakes fouls out of the game on an offensive charge. The Commodores are currently trailing 74-73 with under a minute to go.

Vanderbilt forces overtime

Free basketball is in store in Durham!

With seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Leilani Kapinus hits one of the biggest shots in Vanderbilt women’s basketball history to tie the game at 67-67 against Oregon and force overtime.

The Ducks attempted to throw a Hail Mary pass on the inbound in hopes of hitting the buzzer beater game-winning shot, but it hits off the rim from

Vanderbilt giving Oregon its money’s worth

As Ohio State defeats Montana State to advance, Oregon is looking to break up the chalk party against No. 7 Vanderbilt. The Ducks lead by four with under two minutes in the fourth quarter against the Commodores as they look to advance. Vanderbilt, however, has had a massive run down the stretch to stay alive.

No. 4 Ohio State handling No. 13 Montana State

Montana State was able to hang with the Buckeyes for a time, but Ohio State has pulled away in the second half. The Buckeyes’ lead has ballooned to 20 in the fourth quarter.

Lisa Leslie on hand to cheer on best friend Dawn Staley, South Carolina in March Madness

Legendary WNBA and Olympic forward Lisa Leslie took in No. 1 South Carolina’s commanding 108-48 win over No. 16 Tennessee Tech on Friday at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Leslie and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley played with each other on Team USA at several Olympic games.

Ole Miss takes lead over Ball State

Ole Miss has come all the way back from down 7-0 to take an 21-12 lead going into the second quarter of Friday’s first-round game against No. 12 Ball State.

The No. 7 Rebels picked it up defensively over the final three minutes of the first quarter down in Waco, Texas, as they held the Cardinals scoreless over the final 3:15 of the frame. It was a 19-5 run for Ole Miss over the final 7:39.

Oregon leads Vanderbilt at halftime

A potential upset is brewing in Durham, North Carolina, as No. 10 seed Oregon leads No. 7 seed Vanderbilt 36-25 at halftime. Oregon outscored Vanderbilt 24-14 in the second quarter thanks to an impressive 8 of 9 shooting (3 for 3 3-point shooting) from the field in the frame alone.

Commodores leading scorer Mikayla Blakes leads the game with 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the field at halftime.

South Carolina defeats Tennessee Tech

South Carolina opens up its March Madness run with a decisive 108-48 win over No. 16 seed Tennessee State on Friday. Full domination by the reigning national champions, who rested their starters for extended periods in the second half.

As noted by ESPN’s broadcast, South Carolina is now 17-1 in its last 18 women’s NCAA Tournament games. The Gamecocks set a NCAA Tournament record with 66 points from their bench.

Baylor holds on, advances

No. 4 seed Baylor staves off a possible upset to No. 13 Grand Canyon, as the Lady Bears hold on for a 73-60 win in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Lopes had it as close as four points at two different points in the fourth quarter, but a nearly six-minute stretch of not hitting a single field goal to close the quarter was the difference between a potential upset victory and the loss.

Grand Canyon-Baylor remains close

No. 4 seed Baylor and No. 13 Grand Canyon is shaping up to be a fun finish, as Molly Miller’s Lopes are trailing by just six points in the fourth quarter. Baylor has not led by more than nine points in the game.

Less than four minutes to play in Waco, Texas with the Lady Bears leading 63-57.

TCU advances past Fairleigh Dickinson

Hailey Van Lith, Madison Conner and Sedona Prince are on to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a decisive 73-49 win over No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. It’s the first NCAA Tournament victory for TCU since 2006.

TCU played the part of a No. 2 seed on Friday, as the Horned Frogs shot 52.7% from the field and outnumbered the Knights in virtually every statistical category. TCU will face the winner of No. 7 seed Louisville vs. No. 10 Nebraska on Sunday.

Injury update on Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles

Per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said that guard Olivia Miles told her that she’ll be okay for the Irish’s second-round game vs. No. 6 Michigan ‘but she’s got to get treatment.’

Ivey said that Miles’ injury, which came in the fourth quarter of Notre Dame’s first-round win over Stephen F. Austin, came as a result of stepping on someone’s foot. Click here to read more about Miles’ injury.

Notre Dame updates women’s March Madness bracket

The Fighting Irish crank out a big celebration at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana, as they update the women’s NCAA Tournament bracket on the wall.

Notre Dame showed why it is considered one of six legit contenders to win the national championship this year on Friday, as it opened up March Madness with a 106-54 win over No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin. As noted by the Irish’s postgame notes, it is just the second time in program history that Notre Dame has scored at least 100 points in an NCAA Tournament game.

South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley makes highlight pass

Oh, that was smooth! South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley finds Chloe Kitts inside the paint for a behind-the-back bounce pass and the layup.

Gamecocks are now out to a commanding 40-12 lead over Tennessee Tech. South Carolina is shooting 71.4% from the field, compared to Tennessee Tech’s 28.6%.

South Carolina up big after first quarter

The defending champs came ready to play on Friday, as No. 1 seed South Carolina leads No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech 33-12 after the first quarter. South Carolina closed the first quarter on a 17-6 run over the last 3:47 of the frame.

A balanced scoring attack by the Gamecocks in the first quarter, as eight of their nine players that touched the floor in the first quarter have scored. Apart from its scorching 66.7% shooting from the field, perhaps the most impressive stat of the first quarter for South Carolina is its 21 points from its bench.

Kansas State advances

No. 5 Kansas State is on to the second round of the Region 4 Spoken side of the bracket with a commanding 85-41 win over No. 12 seed Fairfield.

The Wildcats will take on No. 4 seed Kentucky on Sunday, March 23 in the second round.

TCU leads Fairleigh Dickinson at halftime

No. 2 seed TCU holds an eight-point lead over No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson at halftime in Fort Worth, Texas.

Madison Conner was the difference marker in the second quarter for TCU, as the Horned Frogs guard had 10 points in the second frame alone after just going 1-for-3 from the field for three points in the first quarter. Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith had a quiet first half, as she just has five points on 2 of 7 shooting at halftime.

South Carolina tips off against Tennessee Tech

The defending national championship, No. 1 seed South Carolina, has tipped off at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina against No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech.

Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks are looking to become the first program since UConn to win back-to-back national championship titles since 2013-16. The winner of this game will get No. 9 Indiana, which upset No. 8 Utah earlier Friday.

Notre Dame puts up 100 points to defeat Stephen F. Austin

The Irish are on to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a decisive 106-54 win over No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin on Friday at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana.

Notre Dame, which was led by Sonia Citron and Hannah Hidalgo’s 24 points, now faces No. 6 seed Michigan, which beat No. 11 seed Iowa State earlier Friday. A story to keep an eye on surrounding the Irish is the health of guard Olivia Miles, who exited the game around the 8:15 mark of the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle injury.

TCU-FDU tips off in Texas

Game 7 of the day between No. 2 seed TCU and No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson has tipped off down in Fort Worth, Texas at Schollmaier Arena.

Madison Conner has a quick five points for the Horned Frogs, who lead 8-6 at the 4:40 mark of the first quarter.

Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles exits game

Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles exits the game at the 8:15 mark of the fourth quarter after tweaking her ankle. ESPN’s cameras show Miles walking off the court in South Bend, Indiana on her own power but with a significant hobble.

Kansas State leads Fairfield at halftime

No. 5 seed Kansas State heads into the locker room with a 37-25 lead over No. 12 seed Fairfield.

The Stags put together a much better second-quarter performance than its first, as they scored an even 16 points with the Wildcats in the second frame alone. To put into a compare-contrast of the first and second quarters in Lexington, Kentucky, Kansas State led 21-9 after the opening 10 minutes.

Notre Dame forces three straight turnovers

Defense is leading to offense for Notre Dame — literally.

Already up 60-33 in the third quarter against No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin, the No. 3 seeded Irish force three consecutive turnovers on defense, leading to six quick points. Notre Dame is out in front of Stephen F. Austin 67-33 in South Bend right now.

Indiana upsets Utah

The first upset of the women’s NCAA Tournament has taken place, as No. 9 seed Indiana knocks off No. 8 seed Utah 76-68 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Yarden Garzon led Indiana with 17 points on the afternoon.

The Hoosiers will now get the winner of No. 1 seed South Carolina vs. No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech on Sunday, March 23 in the second round of the Region 2 Birmingham side of the bracket.

Notre Dame pushes lead over Stephen F. Austin to 28

Olivia Miles hits Liatu King inside the paint for the layup to extend Notre Dame’s lead over Stephen F. Austin to 56-28 in Friday’s first-round game of the Region 3 Birmingham side of the bracket.

A real smooth pass from Miles who found King while on the run. The Irish are out to a hot 10-0 run to start the third quarter in South Bend.

Kansas State breaking away

No. 5 seed Kansas State has jumped out to a 23-9 lead over No. 12 seed Fairfield with eight minutes remaining in the first half of this Region 4 Spokane first-round matchup.

As noted by ESPN’s broadcast, Fairfield has not scored since the 3:53 mark of the first quarter. Total domination by the Wildcats right now in Lexington, Kentucky.

Notre Dame leads big at halftime

An extended time off since the ACC tournament appears to have been what Notre Dame needed, as the No. 3 seeded Irish lead No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin 46-25 at halftime.

Sonia Citron leads Notre Dame with 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting (3 of 5 3-point shooting). Hannah Hidalgo has just eight points on 4 of 8 shooting from the field at halftime. The Irish outscored the Lady Jacks 22-6 inside the paint in the first 20 minutes of action in South Bend, Indiana.

Dawn Staley outfit for NCAA Tournament first-round game

Who won the 2024 women’s March Madness

South Carolina won the national championship last season, defeating Caitlin Clark and Iowa 87-75.

Indiana gains separation from Utah

The Hoosiers have gained some separation from Utah in the first-round matchup with a 44-38 lead at the media timeout with 4:44 left in the third quarter. Gianna Kneepkens is up to 15 points to lead Indiana.

Notre Dame doubles up Stephen F. Austin after one quarter

After one quarter, Notre Dame leads Stephen F. Austin 26-13. The Lumberjacks opened the game with the first six points, but were outscored 26-7 after that. Hannah Hidalgo leads the Fighting Irish with eight points.

Indiana-Utah tied at halftime

Utah and Indiana head to halftime tied at 31. Gianna Kneepkens leads the Badgers with 11 points, while Lilly Meister has eight points to lead the Hoosiers off the bench.

Notre Dame-Stephen F. Austin State tip-off

The matchup between Notre Dame and Stephen F. Austin State has tipped off in South Bend, Indiana. The Lumberjacks started on an 8-2 run to start the game, but Notre Dame uses a 10-0 run to the media timeout to lead 12-8.

The winner of this game plays No. 6 Michigan.

Kentucky survives with 79-78 win over Liberty

Kentucky survived with a 79-78 win over Liberty after the Flames could not foul Georgia Amoore with 2.8 seconds left, allowing the Wildcats to shoot free throws and keep themselves alive.

The Wildcats will play the winner of Iowa-Murray State. Amoore finished with 34 points ― tying a Kentucky NCAA Tournament game record ― and eight assists in 40 minutes.

Georgia Amoore ties Kentucky NCAA Tournament record for points

With 6.8 seconds left, Georgia Amoore hits one of two free throws to tie the Kentucky record for points in an NCAA Tournament game with 34. Kentucky leads 79-78 with 2.8 seconds left after a 3-pointer from Emma Hess.

Liberty within one point of Kentucky

Kentucky’s lead is down to just one point, as Liberty guard Avery Mills hits a 3-pointer to bring the game to 74-73 with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.

It is the first shot from the field and points of the day for Mills. Liberty is on a 16-6 run in the last 6:12 of the game.

Kentucky-Liberty tightening up

Potential upset alert in Lexington, Kentucky, as No. 13 seed Liberty has gone on a 13-2 run over the last 4:47 in the fourth quarter to cut No. 4 seed Kentucky’s lead to 74-68.

The Wildcats are one for their last nine from the field, and once had a 17-point lead at the 9:36 mark of the fourth quarter.

Indiana-Utah tips off

The first game of the day at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina is underway between No. 8 seed Utah and No. 9 seed Indiana. Shay Ciezki gets the scoring going as she hits a 3-pointer off the assist from Yarden Garzon to put the Hoosiers then-up 3-0.

Indiana is making its seventh women’s NCAA Tournament appearance under Teri Moren. The winner of this game will get the winner of No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech.

Michigan advances to second round

The first game of the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament is in the books, and it goes to No. 6 seed Michigan.

The Wolverines receive a big-time jumper with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter from freshman guard Olivia Olson to get a five-point cushion to eventually defeat No. 11 seed Iowa State 80-74 in Friday’s first-round game in the Birmingham 3 regional.

Watch women’s March Madness with Fubo (free trial)

Jordan Hobbs gives Michigan lead late

Jordan Hobbs is up to a career-high 26 points and Michigan leads Iowa State 75-69 at the media timeout with 3:27 left in the game.

Kentucky gains separation; Michigan-Iowa State tightening up

Kentucky has opened the second half with a strong run and pushed its lead to 55-39, while Michigan is leading Iowa State 60-57 in the fourth quarter with 7:09 remaining.

Georgia Amoore hit another 3-pointer for Kentucky and is at 26 points now.

Iowa State leads Michigan 56-53 heading into fourth

Iowa State holds a slim 56-53 lead over Michigan heading into the fourth quarter. Audi Crooks leads the Cyclones with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists. She’s shooting 9 of 11 from the field.

Jordan Hobbs is keeping the Wolverines in the game with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting. She also has three rebounds and two assists.

What is the women’s NCAA Tournament record for points in a game?

Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore scored 23 points in the first half against Liberty. That begs the question: What’s the NCAA Tournament record for points, and does Amoore have a chance to break it?

Amoore also made five 3-pointers in the first half. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (2024), Connecticut’s Kia Nurse (2017) and Purdue’s Courtney Moses (2012) hold the NCAA Tournament game record with nine.

Georgia Amoore leads Kentucky to a 10-point halftime lead

Kentucky leads Liberty 44-34 at halftime on the first-round matchup behind a 23-point effort from Georgia Amoore. The senior has shot 9 of 13 from the field and has five 3-pointers. She has also added three assists.

Georgia Amoore with 20 points early against Liberty

Kentucky star Georgia Amoore is off to a hot start with 20 points early in the second quarter. Amoore had 15 points in the first quarter and already has hit four 3-pointers. Kentucky leads Liberty 32-19 with 6:36 left in the second quarter.

Iowa State uses 10-0 run to take control before halftime

Led by Audi Crooks, Iowa State went on a 10-0 run to take a 37-29 lead over Michigan. Syla Sword hit a 3-pointer right before the halftime buzzer to make it a 37-32 halftime score.

Crooks leads all scorers with 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting. Jordan Hobbs has 13 points to lead the Wolverines.

Kentucky-Liberty tips off

The second game of the afternoon has tipped off now too, between No. 3 seed Kentucky and No. 14 seed Liberty. The Wildcats hold an early 13-8 lead midway through the first quarter.

Audi Crooks heating up for Iowa State

Audi Crooks, who had 27 points in the First Four, is heating up for Iowa State. She scores back-to-back baskets to cut the Michigan lead to 26-25 at the media timeout with 4:40 left in the first half.

Crooks has nine points, three rebounds and a block in 11 minutes.

Michigan leads Iowa State after first quarter

The first quarter of the first 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament first-round game is in the books. Michigan forces seven turnovers and allows just four made shots to Iowa State to hold a 19-13 lead after the first quarter.

Jordan Hobbs leads all scorers with 10 points. She has half of the six baskets for the Wolverines.

Michigan holds slim advantage early vs Iowa State

At the first media timeout, Michigan leads Iowa State 10-8. Jordan Hobbs leads all scorers with six points for the Wolverines early.

Women’s NCAA Tournament tips off

The women’s NCAA Tournament is underway from South Bend, as No. 6 Michigan takes on No. 11 Iowa State. Iowa State won a First Four game over Princeton to earn this matchup, and is looking to make a run as a double-digit seed.

Michigan-Iowa State predictions

Here’s how our experts at USA TODAY Sports predicted the Michigan vs. Iowa State matchup.

Score predictions for round one games

In an hour, the first game of the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament will tip off. Here’s a prediction for scores for all the games in the first round.

Women’s March Madness can’t miss first-round games

The first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament will feature 32 games across two days. Here’s a look at the seven games you cannot miss this weekend, including three games on Friday.

Quarters vs halves: Why women’s, men’s NCAA tournament games use different formats

Why do men’s and women’s basketball have different formats for game structure? The men’s side plays two 20-minute halves, while the women play four 10-minute quarters. Read about why that is the case here.

Women’s March Madness upset picks

Filling out what could be the perfect bracket is fun. But once the games begin, watching upsets and brackets being destroyed is also fun during March Madness. Check out seven potential bracket-busters here.

Women’s March Madness locations

Here’s a full look at the locations for the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament, beginning with the first round:

First, second rounds

  • Purcell Pavilion (South Bend, Indiana)
  • Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, Kentucky)
  • Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, South Carolina)
  • Schollmaier Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)
  • Foster Pavilion (Waco, Texas)
  • Schottenstein Center (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, North Carolina)
  • Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles)
  • Lloyd Noble Center (Norman, Oklahoma)
  • Gampel Pavilion (Storrs, Connecticut)
  • XFINITY Center (College Park, Maryland)
  • Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, North Carolina)
  • Carmichael Arena (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
  • Galen Center (Los Angeles)
  • Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
  • Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Women’s March Madness schedule by round

Here’s a round-by-round look at the women’s March Madness schedule, from the first round through the national title game:

  • First round: March 21-22
  • Second round: March 23-24
  • Sweet 16: March 27-28
  • Elite Eight: March 29-30
  • Final Four: April 4
  • National championship: April 6

What time is first women’s NCAA Tournament game?

  • 11:30 a.m. ET

The first tip of the day will come at 11:30 a.m. ET, when No. 6 seed Michigan takes on No. 11 seed Iowa State at 11:30 a.m.

How to stream women’s March Madness games for free

While there are no ways to stream women’s March Madness games for absolutely free, there are a few ways to watch it at no cost. For those who already have a cable subscription, March Madness Live will cover every game online. Another option is Fubo, which covers the entire ESPN family of networks and offers a limited free trial.

Printable March Madness bracket

Time is running out to fill out a bracket for women’s March Madness. Click here for a printable copy.

Where to watch women’s March Madness

  • TV channels: ESPN | ESPN2 | ESPNU | ESPNews
  • Streaming: March Madness Live | ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament will air on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. Streaming options include March Madness Live and the ESPN app, both of which require a valid cable login.

Another option is Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Women’s March Madness bracket predictions

Here’s a look at the bracket predictions for several experts throughout the USA TODAY Sports Network:

Nancy Armour

  • Final Four: UCLA, UConn, Texas, Duke

Cora Hall

  • Final Four: South Carolina, UConn, NC State, Notre Dame

Meghan L. Hall

  • Final Four: UCLA, USC, South Carolina, Notre Dame

Cydney Henderson

  • Final Four: UCLA, UConn, South Carolina, TCU

Jordan Mendoza

  • Final Four: UCLA, USC, South Carolina, Notre Dame

For a full look at each expert’s Final Four and national champion picks, click here.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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Women’s March Madness: What teams have won back-to-back titles?

South Carolina has a chance to join an elite company in the 2025 NCAA women’s tournament. 

The Gamecocks earned the top seed in the 2025 women’s March Madness bracket after finishing the 2024-25 season with a 30-3 record and an SEC tournament win over Texas.

If South Carolina repeats as national champions, the Gamecocks will become the fourth program to win back-to-back titles in the women’s tournament since 1982.

Here are the repeat winners. 

UConn (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) 

Breanna Stewart and the Huskies did the improbable with four consecutive titles, which hasn’t been replicated since.

UConn (2009, 2010) 

The Huskies were unstoppable with an undefeated record in each title season and a starring cast of Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Tiffany Hayes.

Tennessee (2007, 2008) 

Legendary coach Pat Summitt’s final two of her eight titles came from Candace Parker-led teams. Parker went No. 1 overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft.

UConn (2002, 2003, 2004) 

The Huskies had an impressive run with four championships in five years and punctuated the run with three consecutive titles. The eventual No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Diana Taurasi was on all three teams.

Tennessee (1996, 1997, 1998) 

After losing the national championship to UConn in 1995, Pat Summitt’s teams won three consecutive titles. The Lady Vols got revenge and beat the Huskies in the Final Four in 1996 and the Midwest Regional Final in 1997.

USC (1983, 1984) 

Linda Sharp’s teams had greats Cheryl Miller and Cynthia Cooper on the roster as the Trojans became the first team to repeat as champions in the new tournament format.

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Reports: QB Jameis Winston signing with NFC team

Hopefully the New York Giants are hungry, because they’re about to be eating some Ws.

New York has signed former Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Jameis Winston, according to the man himself.

The Giants are the fourth different team that Winston will play for in his career, having spent five years with the Buccaneers, four with the Saints and last year with the Browns.

Winston, 31, appeared in 12 games (seven starts) for Cleveland in 2024. He compiled a 2-5 record in those seven starts and threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 61.1% completion rate across all 12 games.

Winston is currently slated to be Giants’ starter heading into the 2025 season. The 10-year NFL veteran hasn’t started every game in a season since 2019, partly due to injuries.

The former No. 1 overall pick was in line to be the Saints’ starting quarterback in both 2021 and 2022. In Week 8 of 2021, ACL and MCL tears ended his season early. Winston’s 2022 season was even shorter. He suffered four fractures in his back during a Week 1 game and played only three games. He has served only as a backup quarterback in the years since.

Winston now joins the G-Men in the wake of a 3-14 season and will look to stabilize a quarterback room that struggled mightily last season.

The Giants currently hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and are in good position to select a young quarterback if they so choose.

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Angel Reese offers March Madness advice to childhood friend

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese knows a thing or two about March Madness. She did lead the LSU women’s basketball team to its first NCAA Tournament national championship in 2023, after all.

Reese isn’t dancing in the women’s NCAA Tournament this year, but on Friday night, she offered some advice to her childhood friend, Southern senior guard Aniya Gourdine, ahead of the Jaguars’ first-round matchup against No. 1 overall seed UCLA.

Gourdine, a Baltimore native, is the Jaguars’ leading scorer this season. Southern reached Friday’s first-round game after defeating UC San Diego 68-56 in the First Four on Wednesday.

‘I just want to wish you good luck with the tournament tonight. Your very first tournament,’ Reese said in a video message shared by ESPN’s Holly Rowe. ‘I’m super-excited for you. Put on for HBCUs. Put on for Baltimore.’

Southern fell to the Bruins on Friday, 84-46. Gourdine had a team-high 10 points and two rebounds.

Reese said she ‘learned how to play basketball’ alongside Gourdine. The two played in high school together at St. Frances Academy: ‘We literally grew up together. Literally best friends growing up from third grade to high school. Winning a championship together to playing at high school together to you going to college. I’m just super-proud of your growth on and off the court… Tonight, just go out there and kill it.’

WOMEN’S MARCH MADNESS: AI picks every women’s NCAA Tournament game winner

That wasn’t Reese’s only connection to the UCLA-Southern game.

In last year’s NCAA Tournament, her No. 3 seed LSU Tigers defeated the No. 2 seed Bruins 78-69 in the Sweet 16. The game was especially chippy between Reese and UCLA star Lauren Betts. Betts caught Reese with an elbow to the face in the first quarter, causing Reese’s nose to bleed.

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