Editor’s note: See below for updates from Saturday’s Women’s March Madness first round. For live updates from Sunday’s second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, click here: March Madness championship odds, according to BetMGM. Odds as of Friday, March 21.Saturday’s women’s NCAA tournament round of 64 has begun with No. 11 Murray State going up against […]
Editor’s note: See below for updates from Saturday’s Women’s March Madness first round. For live updates from Sunday’s second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, click here:
March Madness championship odds, according to BetMGM. Odds as of Friday, March 21.Saturday’s women’s NCAA tournament round of 64 has begun with No. 11 Murray State going up against No. 6 Iowa. The next game of the day will feature No. 15 Arkansas facing No. 2 UConn at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.Ugonne Onyiah had 17 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.JuJu Watkins walked into the postgame interview room without a limp, a positive sign after getting banged up during No. 1 Southern California’s 71-25 win over No. 16 UNC Greensboro.
Here are all the women’s March Madness results and action on Saturday as teams battled it out in the crucial Round of 64.
Final: LSU 103, San Diego State 48
No. 11 Murray State continues to battle against No. 6 Iowa, with Ava Learn leading the Racers by scoring six points and grabbing ten rebounds. Lucy Olsen is leading the Hawkeyes with ten points and six assists. Iowa holds a 33-26 lead over Murray State with just two minutes remaining in the second quarter.The UConn Huskies led by Paige Bueckers, the Oklahoma Sooners with Reagan Beers, the USC Trojans under JuJu Watkins, and the Texas Longhorns, led by Madison Booker, all advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after convincing victories.
Final: Texas 105, William & Mary 61
The No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners defeated the No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 81-58 to advance to the second round of the March Madness tournament. Raegan Beers had an impressive performance for the Sooners, scoring 25 points and grabbing an astounding 18 rebounds. Skylar Vann also made significant contributions to the victory, netting 24 points and recording nine rebounds.The Trojans opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run, with Watkins chipping in four points as Southern California went ahead 36-11 – its largest lead. UNC Greensboro pulled back within 21 points, but back-to-back buckets for the Trojans prompted the Spartan to take a timeout. — Josh Peters
South Dakota State’s statement win
The team is led by guard Diamond Johnson, a graduate student who averages 19 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Johnson, who transferred from NC State two seasons ago, says she’s proud to show the world what HBCU basketball is all about. It’s not just Norfolk State, Johnson says, after watching Southern beat San Diego in Wednesday’s play-in game.
Halftime: Texas 50, William & Mary 33
Ta’Niya Latson leads Florida State with 16 points in the first half. Paula Suarez had 13 points for George Mason. They are the only two players to score double-digits for their respective schools.
Final: Florida State 94, George Mason 59
If you like points, be sure to tune into this one. Murray State, led by Katelyn Young, averages almost 90 points per game. Iowa will have to score a lot to fend off the Racers. — Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser
Halftime: LSU 49, San Diego State 20
The No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes are dominating No. 11 Murray State 88-56 in the final minutes, ensuring their March Madness journey continues while sending the Racers home early from the tournament.
Final: Illinois 66, Creighton 57
No. 3 seed Oklahoma Sooners lead the No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles by 10 points, with a score of 36-26. Raegan Beer is the leading scorer for the Sooners with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Halftime: Florida State 41, George Mason 29
If you’re wondering how she plays at such a terrific level with a magnificent, crisp high bun, read more here. — Josh Peter
Illinois leads Creighton in third quarter
The No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the No. 11 Murray State Racers 92-57, advancing to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Ava Heiden led the scoring for the Hawkeyes, contributing 15 points and seven rebounds. Hannah Stuelk and Sydney Affolter combined for 22 points, aiding in the Hawkeyes’ victory in the first round.
JuJu Watkins hangs out with Jayden Daniels after USC’s victory
Madison Booker produced a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds (10 on defense) in the dominant victory for the Longhorns. Taylor Jones had 19 points and six rebounds while Kyla Oldacre had 15 points and 15 rebounds (11 on defense). Bella Nascimento had a team-high 19 points for the Tribe in the loss.A first team All-American, JuJu Watkins is trying to lead USC to its first national title since 1984. She’s averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals. A 6-foot-2 guard, she’s also tied for the team lead in blocked shots with 1.9 per game.Time, TV: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
FINAL: Mississippi State 59, California 46
Time, TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. | ESPNews (Fubo)LSU will play Florida State in the second round.
How JuJu Watkins’ injury scare can help USC in March Madness
So much for the early blowout. Southern California jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but scrappy UNC Greensboro then pulled within 8-5 with 4:45 left in the opening quarter. Both teams are playing impressive defense. The Trojans have three blocked shots and UNC Greensboro has two.Daniels was also in attendance for the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets earlier in the week.An upset was brewing in Chapel Hill, but No. 3 North Carolina has taken a 13-point lead over No. 14 Oregon State 32-24 midway through the second half. The lead went back-and-forth in the first half and the Tar Heels went into halftime with a slim two-point lead. The Beavers have controlled the boards but turnovers have been an issue. North Carolina has 16 points off 12 Oregon State turnovers and started the third quarter on an 11-0 run.”We’re fortunate that we were able to sit everybody, all the starters down with about 6:30 to go,” Southern California coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “JuJu probably hasn’t played under 30 minutes in about a month and a half, or whatever, because the Big Ten season is hard.
Mississippi State’s Jerkaila Jordan gets technical for ‘eating’ celebration
The championship game will take place two days later on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.Watkins finished with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds and question about a banged up left wrist and rolled left ankle.UNC Greensboro is holding the high-powered Southern California offense in check. After one quarter, the Trojans lead 12-8 and are shooting % 5-for-14. As good as UNC Greensboro has been on defense, it’s been just as horrific on offense. The Spartans are shooting 21.4 % (3-for-14). — Josh Peters“So I think we earned the right to be in a game where we can rest some people somewhat.” — Josh Peter
Michigan State beats Harvard
The Tar Heels left little doubt in their opening round matchup against Oregon State after a dominant second half performance. North Carolina led by only two points at the start of the third quarter, and it went on to outscore the Beavers 30-9 in the third frame for a commanding lead. After that, it was smooth sailing toward a 70-49 win.
North Carolina uses strong second half to beat Oregon State
The No. 6 seed Iowa Hawkeyes lead the Murray State Racers 42-30 at halftime. Ava Heiden came off the bench to contribute 13 points, while Lucy Olson finished the first half with 12 points and six assists.The No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the No. 11 Columbia Tigers 78-59 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. JJ Quinerly delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 27 points, four rebounds, and seven assists.
Harvard hanging around with Michigan State
Harmoni Turner is one of the best guards in the nation, and she just might lead Harvard to an upset on Saturday. — Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel
JuJu Watkins injury update
Then, in the third quarter, she rolled her left ankle on a drive to the basket. Hobbling as she rejoined her teammates, he promptly buried a 3-pointer, and the Trojans have built a 30-point lead at 45-15 with 2:45 left in the quarter. — Josh PetersNo. 13 Norfolk State enters today’s game against No. 4 Maryland on a 19-game win streak and a 30-4 overall record. The Spartans earned their third consecutive trip to March Madness and reached 30 wins for the second time in school history.The Trojans also blocked 10 shots, including seven from senior post player Rayah Marshall.The No. 2 seed NC State Wolfpack secured their spot in the next round of the women’s NCAA Tournament by defeating the No. 15 seed Vermont 75-55. The Wolfpack was led by Zoe Brooks, who scored 19 points while Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers combined for 30 in the first round victory.Coverage for Saturday’s Day 2 action will be broadcast The 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament will air on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. ABC will also carry two games today. You can also watch the conclusion of the first round via streaming options: March Madness Live, ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.
Maryland beats Norfolk State after trailing at half
The video from the first half of the Southern California-UNC Greensboro does not belong in a time capsule, with Southern California leading 28-11. The Spartans are shooting 12.0 % (3-for-25). The Trojans are shooting 35.7 % (10-for-28) but only 1-for-6 from 3 point range.Ta’Niya Latson had 28 points and five rebounds for Florida State in the first-round victory. O’Mariah Gordon had 18 points and six rebounds in the victory. Paula Suarez had 25 points for George Mason in the loss. Florida State will play LSU.
North Carolina pulling away from Oregon State
The No. 14 seed Oregon State Beavers are keeping it close against the No. 3 seed North Carolina Tar Heels in their first-round matchup. The Tar Heels lead 6-5 with 4:53 remaining in the first quarter.
South Dakota State upsets Oklahoma State
The No. 10 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowgirls 74-68 to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament. Brooklyn Meter led the Jackrabbits in scoring with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Paige Meyer contributed with 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Together, they have propelled the Jackrabbits forward in their March Madness journey.
It’s over: Southern California 71, UNC Greensboro 25
No. 10 seed South Dakota and No. 7 seed Oklahoma State’s game has tipped off. The Jackrabbits hold a one-point lead over the Cowgirls, leading 9-8 with 5:12 left in the first quarter.The referees immediately blew the whistle for a technical foul for celebrating toward an opponent. According to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell argued to the refs that Jordan was celebrating toward the TV cameras. — Evan Gerike, Mississippi Clarion Ledger“HBCU’s we kind of like the underdog. Like you said, the SWAC, the MEAC, not a lot people know about a lot of HBCUs,” she said Friday. “It’s not just for us, it’s for literally every HBCU in the world and even just mid-majors that don’t get the recognition that I feel like they should.”— Roxanna ScottThe No. 2 seed UConn Huskies are facing off against the No. 15 seed Arkansas State Red Wolves, and the Huskies have come out strong, quickly building an early double-digit lead in the first quarter. With 6:56 remaining in the first quarter, UConn leads Arkansas State 13-2.All times Eastern.
South Dakota State holds slim lead in the 4th
USC has turned up the heat on defense with backcourt traps, helping spark a 8-0 run. Watkins’ capped it with a layup that prompted UNC Greensboro to call a timeout with Southern California up 20-10 – its first double-digit lead. — Josh Peter
How healthy is JuJu?
Adalia McKenzie and Illinois lead Creighton 47-41 with 3:17 left in the third quarter. McKenzie has 12 points and four rebounds for the Illini. Genesis Bryant has contributed with 11 points.
North Carolina and Oregon State underway
Mississippi State women’s basketball guard Jerkaila Jordan got a technical foul for celebrating in the second quarter of the Bulldogs’ first-round NCAA tournament game against Cal on Saturday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
Harvard and Michigan State underway
Brooklyn Meyer of South Dakota State talks about the statement win in the first round against Oklahoma State.
OK, so these are the real Trojans?
No. 5 Alabama and No. 12 Green Bay have tipped off, with the Crimson Tide taking a slim lead at the end of the first quarter. Alabama leads Green Bay 19-17 as the second quarter begins.The anxiety that circulated in this building is long gone.The No. 2seed UConn Huskies are making a strong statement in the first quarter against the No. 15 seed Arkansas State Red Wolves, finishing the quarter with a score of 34-5. Both Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd contributed significantly, scoring 13 points each in the first quarter.Katelyn Young was helped off the court early in the third quarter due to what appeared to be a foot injury. She had scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half of the game against Iowa.
JuJu getting banged up
Madison Booker had 12 points and four rebounds for the Longhorns. Taylor Jones added nine points and four rebounds in the first half.The women’s NCAA Tournament comes to a close starting on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Norfolk State comes out hot vs. Maryland
North Carolina forced Oregon State into 17 turnovers, which it turned into 22 points. The Tar Heels dominated the paint with 40 points near the bucket, and Lexi Donarski took care of business around the perimeter with 15 of her game-high 19 points from 3-point land.
Oklahoma advances to the next round
No. 2 UConn leads No. 15 Arkansas 66-16 at halftime. Azzi Fudd is the leading scorer for the Huskies with 21 points and seven assists, while Ashlynn Shade contributed 13 points off the bench.
Southern California pulling away
The No. 6 seed West Virginia Mountaineers are leading the No. 11 Columbia Lions 46-29 at halftime. JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison have each scored 16 points in the first half for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia moves on
Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the women’s tournament, everyone who sits at better odds than +5000.
Southern California creates breathing room
The championship game will take place two days later on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.Time, TV: Saturday, 12 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)UNC Greensboro’s defense has been outstanding too. — Josh PetersFlau’jae Johnson scored 22 points in LSU’s victory over San Diego State. Aneesah Morrow had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. The Tigers’ defense did not allow a single San Diego State player to score double-digit points in the game. Adryana Quezada had eight points for the Aztecs.
NC State moves on to the second round
Could a third No. 10 seed be moving onto the second round? Ivy League champion Harvard trails No. 7 Michigan State 45-35 heading into the fourth quarter. It’s been a tough day shooting on both sides, but Crimson guard Harmoni Turner has kept her team in the game with a game-high 19 points.
USC turns up the heat
No. 13 seed Norfolk State came out hot on Maryland’s home court, jumping out to a 7-0 lead at Xfinity Center in College Park. The No. 4 seed Terps settled in with Sarah Te-Biasu’s 3-pointer cutting the deficit to one with 3:30 left in the first quarter. Allie Kubek gave Maryland its first lead with a layup at the 1:30 mark, and the Terps were up 18-12 after the first quarter. — Roxanna Scott
South Dakota State and Oklahoma State underway
With 6:18 left in the game, she headed to the bench. Because the Trojans are burying UNC Greensboro or perhaps because the rolled left ankle could use the rest. She also sat the final 3:39 of the third quarter after she rolled her ankle on a drive to the basket. Then there’s the left wrist she hurt during a fall in the second quarter. But despite all of that, she’s got a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. — Josh Peters
West Virginia holds healthy lead in the 4th
So what happened?
UNC challenging Southern California
These two teams have done a lot of winning this season and the Jackrabbits have hung around with top competition this season and could pull the upset on Saturday. — Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times
Alabama rolls past Green Bay
Ahead of the NCAA Tournament, USA TODAY experts highlight several potential bracket busters. Here is who they picked.
Oklahoma has 10 point lead into halftime
LOS ANGELES – No one bothered to bring out a hammock or Barcalounger courtside at the Galen Center.
USC and UNC Greensboro underway
No. 2 NC State is facing No. 15 Vermont, with the Wolfpack taking an early 16-8 lead against the Catamounts. There are 3:05 remaining in the first quarter.Madina Okot had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs in the first-round victory over the Golden Bears. Eniya Russell added 14 points in the win. Mississippi State will play USC in the second round.
West Virginia lead Columbia into halftime
The women’s NCAA Tournament comes to a close starting on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
NC State hold slim lead over Vermont at the half
The former Heisman Trophy winner played college football at Arizona State and LSU but the California native played high school football at Cajon High in San Bernardino, where he led the school to a CIF State Championship.
JuJu Watkins’ bun is superpower for USC at March Madness
Watkins was spotted in the crowd for the Mississippi State vs. Cal game chatting with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and his mother.”Oh, yeah,” she said. “I’m all right. Don’t worry.’’ — Josh Peter and Banji Bamidele
Love, hate mingle at USC game
Watkins leads all scorers with 20 points to go along with eight rebounds. After committing three turnovers in the first half, Watkins has been spotless with her ball handling. — Josh PetersJuJu Watkins is 1-for-3 from the floor. —— Josh PeterWhile the offense has at time looked abysmal, the defense has been scintillating. UNC Greensboro entered the game 51.8 points a game, lowest in the nation. In a game that looked to close for comfort for the Trojans, they intensified the defense and it helped fuel a 14-0 run.
No. 2 seed UConn advances in style
And she’s OK?
Alabama leads Green Bay at the half
Women’s March Madness continues Saturday with another 16 games slated throughout the day. The action kicks off with No. 11 Murray State taking on No. 6 Iowa at 12 p.m. ET. The first-round concludes with No. 14 San Diego State vs. No. 3 LSU at 10:10 p.m. ET.
NC State and Vermont underway
They overcame a ragged start thanks to a smothering defense that held UNC Greensboro in the first half to just 11 points and 3-of-25 shooting from the floor.
UConn doesn’t let off the gas
The Women’s March Madness Round of 64 continued on Saturday with 16 games played throughout the day, keeping women’s basketball fans on the edge of their seats for better or worse.
Columbia and West Virginia underway
The No. 2 seed UConn Huskies dominated the No. 15 Arkansas State Red Wolves, winning 103-34. Azzi Fudd was a standout player for the Huskies, scoring 27 points and providing seven assists. Additionally, Sarah Strong and Ashlynn Shade teamed up to contribute an impressive total of 40 points in this Round of 64 victory.
Alabama and Green Bay underway
Through three quarters, the Trojans are up by 37 points at 53-16.
No. 6 Iowa cruises to the second round
Kendall Bostic had 12 points and 17 rebounds (14 on defense) for the Illini. Genesis Bryant had 17 points and four assists in 40 minutes of play. Illinois will play Texas in the next round.
Iowa extends lead by 30 in the final minute
Aaliyah Nye hit four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead No. 5 seed Alabama past No. 12 Green Bay 81-67 in College Park, Maryland. Green Bay fought but couldn’t keep up with the Tide in the paint. The Phoenix pulled within five points early in the fourth quarter, but Nye hit two late 3-pointers to put the game out of reach. Alabama plays Maryland in the next round. — Roxanna Scott
UConn running away with it early
The No. 10 seed, South Dakota State, leads No. 7 Oklahoma State 56-50 with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter.
UConn-Arkansas State is underway
No. 6 seed West Virginia and No. 11 seed Columbia are underway, with the Mountaineers holding a slim lead over the Lions. West Virginia leads Columbia 14-10 with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Murray State’s Katelyn Young exits the game
Harmoni Turner is a three-level scorer with a signature three-point shot that’s hard to defend. Teams have struggled to contain her, making Michigan State a prime candidate for the upset list. — Meghan Hall, For The Win
Iowa leads Murray State at the half
Murray State has the leading scoring offense in the nation (87.8 ppg) and averages 10.2 3-pointers per game. Speaking of threes, Iowa’s Lucy Olsen is averaging a career-high 36% from beyond the arc. Look forward to a high-scoring game. Look forward to a high-scoring game. — Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY
Murray State keeps it close against Iowa
Watkins has 11 points and seven rebounds, both game highs.
Iowa up by 6 in the first quarter
No. 6 seed Iowa is leading No. 11 seed Murray State 18-12 at the end of the first quarter in the first matchup of the day.
Saturday’s women’s first round underway
“I don’t know,” Watkins said. “You know it’s end of the season, body’s a little banged up. But on to the next…”
What time are March Madness games today?
The Spartans are moving on after beating Harvard in Raleigh. It was a low scoring affair but Michigan State found a rhythm with an 11-0 run in the second half to get some breathing room. With a 10-point lead to start the fourth quarter, the Spartans went on an 15-4 run that extended the lead to 21 points with four minutes to go and end any chance for the Crimson. Michigan State moves onto the second round to face NC State on Monday.
How to watch March Madness Friday: TV, streaming coverage
- TV channels: Coverage across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN News
- Live stream: March Madness Live | ESPN app | Fubo
Watch Women’s March Madness with Fubo
When is the Women’s Final Four?
The No. 7 seed Michigan State takes an early 11-2 lead against No. 10 seed Harvard with 5:39 left in the first quarter.The No. 7 seed Michigan State takes an early 11-2 lead against No. 10 seed Harvard with 5:39 left in the first quarter.Aneesah Morrow had 12 points and eight rebounds in the first half for the Tigers. Mjracle Sheppard recorded 10 points.Southern California will play Mississippi State game Monday in the second round. — Josh Peter
