The Weekly Fast Break: A sweet menu set-up

The road to the 2025 Final Four has 16 teams left, all of which are navigating their way to either Spokane, Wash. or Birmingham, Ala. They each have high hopes of dancing all the way to Tampa, Fla. to compete for a national title. This year’s Sweet 16 menu dabbles in a little bit of everything, and it would be hard to say that nothing on this list intrigues you. Whether it is a chef’s choice of all-American desserts, a trio of sorbets from The Triangle or a stiff glass of bourbon on the rocks for the Texas cowgirls, the storylines are baked in, but the flavors are yet to be determined. 

During the NCAA Tournament, we live by the simple rule here at The Weekly Fast Break that it does not matter if you win by one or by 21 — a win is a win. The menu for the Sweet 16 is set, and the challenges on the floor will get more difficult. While we at the table mull over our decision to have the cheesecake or another glass of wine, teams are hard at work to find the right recipe for success to keep their season alive. No matter your matchup or location, just remember — all you must do is survive and advance. If you can do that, then your next destination — and fabulous dessert — will be at the Final Four.

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How sweet it is

A year ago, the storylines surrounding the Sweet 16 were not about how Cinderella teams crashed the party, but rather about how the top seeds were pushed and challenged. This year, the top three seed lines in each regional have held, but a trio of No. 5 seeds are still at the table. The Big Ten had the most teams overall make the field of 68, but only three are still alive. The SEC is advancing six teams, including the two newbies, while the ACC brings four to the party. The Big 12 needs two dessert menus for the second weekend, and there is one member of the BIG EAST still very much ready to go. How did they all get there, and what lies ahead? We have your detailed menu for the next round.

Spokane 1 Regional (games to be played on March 28):

No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 Mississippi

The Bruins spent most of the 2024-25 season as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 Poll and came into this year’s tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. They won seven of their last eight games to end the regular season, avenging their only two losses this year by beating USC in the Pac-12 tournament title game. The roster that head coach Cori Close has assembled is one of the most talented and balanced in the field, led by 6’7 center Lauren Betts. The junior is averaging 19.7 points per game and coming off a 30-point, 14-rebound performance in the round of 32 against No. 9 seed Richmond.

UCLA scored 84 points in each of their first two games of the Big Dance. They will line up against the No. 5 seed Mississippi, who went into Waco, TX and forced No. 4 seed Baylor into a knock-down battle, besting the Bears for a 69-63 victory. The Rebels had three players score double figures while their aggressive defense forced 21 turnovers and won the rebounding war 40-37. Senior guard Madison Scott leads an experienced group for Mississippi, who are looking for their first win in the Sweet 16 since 2007. Can they get past the Bruins, who are searching for their first-ever national title? They say dreams come true in Hollywood — but they will have to start in Spokane.

No. 2 NC State vs. No. 3 LSU

Wes Moore and his Wolfpack program were the darlings of last year’s Final Four, but they came into this season with a new-look roster and many questions. They answered the call all year, coming into the tournament with just six losses and surging at the end of the year to capture a No. 2 seed. NC State steamrolled through their first weekend of the tournament, including an 83-49 dismantling of No. 7 seed Michigan State in the second round. Senior guard Aziaha James dropped 26 points, going 6-for-11 from behind the arc. They dominated the Spartans in every category and did what they do best — got out in transition and attacked. One of their six losses this season came at the hands of their next opponent, No. 3 seed LSU. The two programs faced each other in the Bahamas in November, where the Tigers took home an 82-65 victory.

Head coach Kim Mulkey’s squad is healthy and firing on all cylinders as they head to Spokane. LSU dispatched No. 6 seed Florida State 101-71 in the second round, highlighted by double-double performances from senior Aneesah Morrow and sophomore Sa’Myah Smith. Whoever controls the tempo of this game and can capitalize on mistakes will be in the driver’s seat to move on to the Elite 8.

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Birmingham 2 Regional (games to be played on March 28):

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Maryland

For the third straight year, the seeds hold serve in the regional where South Carolina sits at the top. While they were not the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament this year, the defending national champions did exactly what they needed to do to advance into the Sweet 16. South Carolina was pushed by No. 9 seed Indiana, whom they faced last year in the second weekend, but nevertheless clawed their way to a 64-53 win. The balance of the Gamecocks was on full display, led by senior Bree Hall, who had 11 points, and junior forward Chloe Kitts, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

Next up for Dawn Staley’s team will be a matchup with No. 4 seed Maryland, a team that is the true example of survive and advance. The Terrapins bounce into the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years after an epic two-overtime victory in the round of 32 over Alabama, 111-108. Maryland used their home court advantage to propel them to a win, behind three players who scored over 20 points and a double-double from 6’2 senior Allie Kubek (19 points and 12 rebounds). Does Maryland have another monster game in them to knock off a second straight SEC team in the Big Dance? South Carolina seems to be on a mission to keep their dance music volume on high. Who do you fear more — a rooster or a turtle?

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 North Carolina

Approximately 14 miles is all you must travel to get from the Duke campus to UNC-Chapel Hill. In that short trip, whether in your own vehicle or on the free bus service that connect the two communities, you can feel the disdain each fan base has for the other. While these two programs face each other every year in ACC play, they have never squared off in the NCAA Tournament. That all changes in Birmingham, as Duke makes its second consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16 and is in as the No. 2 seed.

The Blue Devils survived a scare in the second round, overcoming a halftime deficit to No. 10 seed Oregon to win 59-53. They were without their leading scorer, freshman Toby Fournier, who was unavailable due to sickness. A healthy Fournier (13.4 points per game) will be a big boost for Duke, who split with the Tar Heels in the regular season.

UNC was propelled by their starting five in a 58-47 win over No. 6 seed West Virginia. Forward Alyssa Ustby led the way with 21 points and the Tar Heels turned the tables on the Mountaineers, bringing their own heat defensively for 40 minutes. This Big Dance version of the Tobacco Road rivalry could very well be won by whomever can get to 45 points first.

Birmingham 3 Regional (Games to be played on March 29):

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Tennessee

In year one of the SEC, Texas made themselves a centerpiece of the conversation since tipoff. The Longhorns were co-champions of the league with South Carolina, and have carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Vic Schaefer’s squad dispatched of William & Mary in the first round, and then blew by Illinois out of the Big Ten in the second round, 65-48. Super sophomore Madison Booker had 20 points to lead the way as Texas held the Illini to just 38% from the field and forced them into 20 turnovers.

Next up for the Longhorns will be No. 5 seed Tennessee, who knocked off No. 4 seed Ohio State on their home floor. The Lady Vols are the top scoring offense in the country and into the Sweet 16 for the 37^th time in program history. The pace under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell is fast and frenetic, and the substitution patterns for those in orange and white can rival a hockey game. Tennessee forced 23 Buckeye turnovers in the second round and turned them into 37 points. In the only match up of these two SEC foes in the regular season, Texas came away with an 80-76 victory. Each team only committed 12 turnovers, so the X-factor in Birmingham will be who can create more offense with their defense. If you want to advance to the Elite 8, protect the rock with your life.

No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

A season of firsts for TCU earned the Horned Frogs the No. 2 seed in this regional, and they are riding high into Birmingham. In front of a packed crowd in Fort Worth, TCU beat Fairleigh Dickinson in round one and handled No. 7 seed Louisville in round two, 85-70. Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith has led this team all season, including 16 points and 10 assists in the win over the Cardinals to earn TCU’s first ever Sweet 16 appearance. The experience and balance of Mark Campbell’s squad will be tested as they take on Notre Dame next.

The Fighting Irish seem to be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder as they head to their fourth straight Sweet 16. The No. 3 seed had two decisive wins at home and will arrive in Birmingham with the most dynamic backcourt in the nation. Dynamic sophomore Hannah Hidalgo, the third leading scorer in the nation, and senior Olivia Miles control the game on both ends and dictate the pace of every contest. Senior Sonia Citron, a complete three-level scoring guard, is a handful to contain along with complimentary post players for a team scoring over 85 points per game. TCU thrives in the pick-and-roll system with the likes of 6’7 Sedona Prince and sharp-shooting guard Madison Conner. Can Notre Dame push the Horned Frogs out of that action to force them into contested shots in traffic? Will TCU be able to put the brakes on Hidalgo and company? Defensive stops will be at a premium, and you can bet there will be some wow moments you don’t want to miss in this matchup. 

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Spokane 4 Regional (Games to be played on March 29):

No. 1 USC vs. No. 5 Kansas State

For the second time since 1994, USC is in the Sweet 16. The Trojans head to Spokane with a record of 30-3 and were dominant in their first and second round matchups at home in Los Angeles. But the makeup of this team took a dramatic turn, as sophomore sensation JuJu Watkins is lost for the rest of the NCAA Tournament. Watkins scored just five points before going down in the first half against Mississippi State with an ACL injury. Her team responded to the challenge without her, beating the Bulldogs 96-59, led by senior transfer Kiki Iriafen’s 36 points and four other USC players who hit double figures. There is no simple solution to replacing Watkins, but head coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s squad this season is deeper and more versatile than last year.

Their next opponent is the No. 5 seed Kansas State. The Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 23 years after knocking off No. 4 seed Kentucky 80-79 in overtime. K-State has the services of 6’6 All-American center Ayoka Lee back in the post after she missed much of the Big 12 season with injuries. Senior point guard Serena Sundell is a playmaker and scorer, and complimentary shooters give the Wildcats serious threats from deep. As a team, they went 14-for-35 from behind the arc in their second-round victory. Without Watkins, K-State can take some chances with their defense, but the athleticism of USC’s posts has been a matchup problem for every opponent this season. How do the Trojans respond without their All-American? They have done it once in the tournament already — do they have the right recipe to keep dancing to the Elite 8?

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3. Oklahoma

The seeds held in the bottom part of the Spokane 4 Regional, with No. 2 UConn advancing to their 31^st straight Sweet 16. They will face the high-scoring Oklahoma Sooners, who are into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. The Huskies handled their business in the first and second round, scoring 103 points against No. 15 seed Arkansas State and then dispatching of No. 10 seed South Dakota State, 91-57.  All-American Paige Bueckers dropped 34 points (14-of-21 from the field) against the Jackrabbits in her final game in Storrs, CT. A healthy Azzi Fudd is ready to help get UConn back to the Final Four, while freshman sensation Sarah Strong is a three-level force that is hard to stop.

The No. 3 seed Sooners have been their own force to be reckoned with in year one in the SEC, as they became the fifth-best scoring offense in the nation, with 85.4 points per game. Jennie Baranczyk, who will make her first appearance as a head coach in the Sweet 16, has a balanced roster of versatile scorers and perimeter shooters, anchored by 6’4 center Raegan Beers. The junior transfer played in the Final Four a season ago with Oregon State and has given the Sooners an added weapon in the post (17.5 points and 9.3 boards per game). The one trophy that has alluded Bueckers in her career is a national title — can OU slow down the Huskies and derail UConn? If the Sooners can make shots and get stops, they could punch their own dance card to the Elite 8. 

Check your local listings and/or visit ESPN.com for a complete rundown of dates and times for the women’s NCAA Tournament games that will begin on Friday.

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