5 Storylines Heading into the NCAAWB March Madness Tournament

Selection Sunday consistently follows the same pattern for fans: the bracket is revealed, analysts begin highlighting potential upsets, and fans quickly start discussing which teams might make it all the way. However, for the players, March is about more than just the bracket; it's about the people alongside you in the locker room, teammates who motivated you during early morning workouts, coaches who supported you when the season became challenging, and the families and classmates who cheered long before the cameras showed up.

This year's NCAA women's tournament includes teams that have the potential to set records and capture attention, but the real interest is found in the stories of the athletes on the court. Here are some of the athletes and teams to watch out for heading into the tournament.

Can UConn Remain Undefeated?

The biggest storyline in my mind is the UConn Huskies. After a phenomenal regular season, UConn will be looking to stay perfect and finish a historic year exactly where they expect to be. With that said, the road will not be easy. Regional 1 is stacked with talented teams, such as #3 Ohio State, #2 Vanderbilt, and #4 UNC. Do not forget about the middle-pack teams as well who could make a splash, such as #8 Iowa State, #6 Notre Dame, and even #10 Colorado.

UConn will not coast by any means, but the expectation is a title. We will touch more on this later, but for now, watch for UConn and how they are able to respond to the immense championship-or-bust expectations they have on them.

UCLA's Rise to the Top

The UCLA Bruins' rise to the top of the nation has been nothing short of incredible. Sure, they have been lingering around the top for a while now, but the Bruins truly broke out this season with a 31-1 record and have a legitimate shot at a deep tournament run.

Led by star center Lauren Betts, UCLA has changed the narrative as to who the expected top teams are each year. Their exciting style of play has propelled them to new heights in 2025-26, making them a serious threat to the throne UConn sits on.

Year of the Underdog?

As I mentioned, this year is a year we could see a bunch of Cinderella stories absolutely crush thousands of brackets. With the NCAAWB pool of talent so deep this year, I would not be shocked if we saw multiple upsets within the first two rounds. In terms of who specifically to watch out for, I have three teams who I think could make a name for themselves in the tournament.

First is Fairfield. As the 11-seed in Regional 1, Fairfield consists of a team who work hard on both ends of the floor. Led by Kaety L'Amoreaux, Fairfield ranked fourth in the nation in effective field-goal percentage while holding opponents to .71 points per play, which ranked 23rd in the nation. They also lead the nation in 3-pointers made per game (11.4), making them extremely dangerous for any team they face.

Another team I would watch out for is Gonzaga. As the 12-seed in Regional 2, Gonzaga may not have their usual high-end talent, but they are no stranger to the big moments. Having made the Sweet 16 every year since 2014, Gonzaga ranks second in the nation this year in 3-point shooting, shooting at a 39% clip. The Bulldogs are also third in the nation in total rebounding rate at 57.8%. This combination is usually lethal in the tournament.

Lastly, I have Western Illinois as a team to watch. Ranked as the 13 seed in Regional 1, Western Illinois dominated the OVC as the 1-seed. They play extremely hard on defense while also playing through the offensive powerhouse that is Mia Nicastro. They are a strong rebounding team, take smart shots that turn into high efficiency, and have the star power to make a serious run.

Who are the Biggest Players to Watch?

Speaking of Western Illinois One player I would keep an eye out for is Mia Nicastro. Nicastro, a 6-foot-2 senior guard for the Leathernecks, was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year this season. She ranks fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 24.2 points per game, and is 12th nationally in defensive rebounds per game with 8.8. Finishing right outside the prestigious 50-40-90 shooting percentage mark, Nicastro is shooting 52.2% from the field, 38.8% from beyond the arc, and 89.5% from the free throw line. She is also fifth in the nation in win shares and seventh in PER. Considering that along with the fact Nicastro has scored over 30 points in six games this year, she could break out as one of the stars of the tournament.

Another player I would watch out for is Sarah Strong from UConn. Strong is a generational talent. Her abilities are fully honed, and no weaknesses have been found in her game this year. She is also crucial to UConn's success in every area. She has a 42.7% three-point percentage, but that might not even rank among her top three strengths. Most advanced metric ratings consider her the best defensive player in the nation. Her unselfishness sometimes discredits her ability, but Strong is one of the best players in the nation on both ends of the floor and should be instrumental to UConn's success, should they make it far.

Staying on the UConn train, Strong's teammate Azzi Fudd could cement herself as the best two-way player in the nation. Having finally had a full season to demonstrate her talent, Fudd did not disappoint. Fudd averaged 17.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 3.0 APG on a very deep UConn team, becoming the first scoring option in most instances. This was a huge step up for Fudd, who did not lose a step after assuming the role of alum Paige Bueckers. Not only that, but Fudd is averaging career highs in points, assists, steals (2.5), and field goal (48.9%), 3-point (44.6%), and free throw (95.1%) percentages. Look for Fudd along with Strong to lead this UConn team to great things.

Lauren Betts is absolutely a name to watch this tournament. The 6'7" center from UCLA has been the leader of this Bruins team both offensively and defensively. She is the Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 16.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 1.9 BPG. Though her scoring average is down from last year, it has not taken away from the value she brings to what is a very deep UCLA team. Betts has unlimited potential and could make some major waves in the tournament.

Kaety L'Amoreaux out of Fairfield could be another breakout star. This 5-6 guard led the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in points per game (17.6) this season, while also being named the league’s player of the year. Averaging 5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, L'Amoreaux is a balanced player who plays both ends of the floor well despite her size. The Fairfield guard showed her ability to produce against major-conference foes as well, such as her 15-point, eight-assist, and six-rebound game against North Carolina. She is the heart and soul of what Fairfield has been able to accomplish, so look for her to potentially break a lot of bracket hopefuls' hearts come the tournament.

The last two names I want to quickly shout out are Taryn and Taylor Barbot out of Charlston. These twin sisters from Floral Park, New York, have played a crucial role in helping Charleston qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the very first time. Taryn Barbot, a two-time Coastal Athletic Association player of the year, has scored 30 or more points in four games this season. She leads the CAA in scoring, while Taylor leads the league in both assists and assist-turnover ratio. I expect both to show up in a bog way and bring #3 seed Duke to their limit.

Who are the Favorites?

Of course, all the #1 seeds (UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas) should be considered favorites. They are the top seeds for a reason, with each team having earned a justification as to why they can win the tournament.

However, there are a few other teams that should be considered among the teams who could win it. I am a big fan of what TCU, #3 seed, and Michigan, #2 seed, have been able to do this year. Both present a unique challenge with enough star power to make a serious run. Watch for #2 seed Vanderbilt and #3 Louisville to also make a strong run and potentially upset a team or two.

My final four prediction consists of UConn, TCU, UCLA, and Michigan, but ultimately I think this is UConn's tournament to lose. They have beaten every challenge that has come their way, with no team having greater depth or balance. With Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, and legendary Head Coach Geno Auriemma leading the charge, it is way too difficult for me to imagine a world where UConn doesn't win the championship, let alone make it at the very least.

So, while I do think multiple big upsets could be on the horizon, the Huskies should be the runaway favorites and should reign supreme once again as National Champions.

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