(Photo : (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)) PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 30: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans dribbles throughout the first half towards the Baylor Lady Bears within the Sweet 16 spherical of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 30, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.
A star-studded matchup in Portland tonight!
The second sport of the NCAA Women’s Tournament Elite 8 would put the No.3 UConn Huskies towards the No.1 USC Trojans.
The highlight might be on two of the brightest stars in school basketball, USC’s JuJu Watkins and UConn’s Paige Bueckers.
USC star freshman JuJu Watkins has burst onto the scene in averaging 27.0 factors per sport, which is finest for second within the nation behind Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
Now with USC’s first Elite 8 look since 1994, Watkins may have her palms full going up towards the UConn basketball juggernaut.
Paige Bueckers, a former National Player of the Year in her personal proper, has taken UConn to the Final Four twice, together with a visit to a National Title sport.
Bueckers has battled via two injured seasons, together with one which pressured her to overlook the whole 2023 season.
She has seemed good since returning to the nationwide stage averaging 20 factors per sport throughout the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
Paige Bueckers might be on the lookout for one other win tonight, main the Huskies again to a different Final Four match.
Related Article: NCAA Women’s Tournament: Hawkeyes Caitlin Clark and Tigers Angel Reese in a Dual of Fate
NCAA Women’s Tournament Elite 8 UConn vs. USC: Two Teams Hot on the Right Time
(Portland Regional 3)
Time: 9:00 PM
Network: ESPN
The UConn Huskies have gotten previous a wonderful Duke crew in a 53-45 win.
USC additionally took care of enterprise towards Baylor with a 74-70 win behind JuJu Watkins’ 28 factors, regardless of her taking pictures poorly; ending 8-for-28 from the sector.
Still, the expertise may play a job within the contest between UConn and USC. The Trojans, regardless of their No.1 Seed, are the underdogs coming into tonight’s matchup.
The Huskies have Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, and Nika Muhl; all who’ve expertise enjoying late within the NCAA Women’s Tournament. These three gamers have been all featured on the UConn 2021 and 2022 Final Four groups.
The USC Trojans do have some expertise enjoying towards elite-level golf equipment. They spent most of their time within the Pac-12, mixing it up with groups like UCLA and Stanford, two groups which are of the perfect within the nation.
However, UConn might be an actual check for the Trojans, who completed the season going (29-5).
USC does have all of the momentum going into tonight’s sport, happening 15-1 since February with a loss solely to Utah.
Since January thirty first, UConn has had its personal 15-1 win tally as effectively. However, the Huskies have suffered vital losses to groups like UCLA, Texas, and Notre Dame all through the season.
Read More: NCAA Tournament Player Profile: Zach Edey Dominants in Purdue’s Championship Run
NCAA Women’s Tournament Elite 8 UConn vs. USC: Injured Huskies
UConn’s depth might also be a trigger for concern. During the season, they misplaced a key piece in Aubrey Griffin, who sustained a torn ACL earlier within the season and has been taken out for the whole season.
Guard Azzi Fudd additionally went down with a season-ending knee damage, and Jana El Alfy went down throughout the preseason with an Achilles tendon damage.
The Huskies nonetheless discovered a option to handle in getting wins behind head coach Geno Auriemma; though it might turn out to be too tough to depend on starters who’ve performed heavy minutes all through the season.
Read More: NBA MVP Candidates: Four-Way Fight to Close Out the Season
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