NCAA Women’s Tournament: Upsets and Overtimes Define Second Round Action

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The second round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament is generating excitement with thrilling matchups and unexpected twists, including a dramatic overtime loss for Kentucky on March 24.

Defending champions South Carolina secured their 11th consecutive Sweet 16 appearance after a solid performance against Indiana, winning 64-53. “We knew it was going to be a challenge, but the girls executed our game plan well,” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

On the other side of the bracket, UCLA, the top overall seed, faced a formidable Richmond team and managed to escape with an 84-67 victory after a tight first half. “It was crucial for us to control the game in the second half,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “Our depth really showed today.”

Advancing teams will split their focus as they prepare for the Sweet 16. Currently, No. 1 seeds USC and Texas are set to join the competition, with Texas showcasing strong defensive skills by forcing 20 turnovers to secure a 65-48 win over Illinois.

However, the tournament’s landscape is shifting. After Oregon’s loss to Duke, South Dakota State remains the only double-digit seed still in the running. Facing the imposing UConn in the next round could spell the end of their tournament run.

This year, the first weekend’s contests had the highest seed in each four-team pod serving as the host. As the tournament progresses, Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington, will host the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight before the Final Four and championship game move to Tampa, Florida.

Some standout scores from the weekend include Duke’s 59-53 win over Oregon and Kansas State‘s dramatic 80-79 overtime victory against Kentucky. “Every game is an opportunity to show what we can do,” remarked Kansas State guard Nae’Qwan Tomlin.

The following is a recap of the results from March 23 and upcoming matchups on March 24:

March 23 Results:

• (2) Duke 59, (10) Oregon 53 — Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, N.C.
• (3) Notre Dame 76, (6) Michigan 55 — Purcell Pavilion, South Bend, Ind.
• (5) Kansas State 80, (4) Kentucky 79 (OT) — Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Ky.
• (1) South Carolina 64, (9) Indiana 53 — Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C.
• (5) Ole Miss 69, (4) Baylor 63 — Foster Pavilion, Waco, Texas.
• (2) TCU 85, (7) Louisville 70 — Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, Texas.
• (5) Tennessee 82, (4) Ohio State 67 — Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio.
• (1) UCLA 84, (8) Richmond 67 — Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, Calif.

March 24 Schedule:

• Noon: (2) NC State vs. (7) Michigan State
• 2 p.m.: (1) Texas vs. (8) Illinois
• 4 p.m.: (3) Oklahoma vs. (6) Iowa
• 5 p.m.: (4) Maryland vs. (5) Alabama
• 6 p.m.: (3) LSU vs. (6) Florida State
• 7 p.m.: (3) North Carolina vs. (6) West Virginia
• 8 p.m.: (2) UConn vs. (10) South Dakota State
• 10 p.m.: (1) USC vs. (9) Mississippi State

The excitement of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament continues to build as teams fight for a spot in the next round. Fans are encouraged to tune in for a thrilling showcase of talent and determination as the Sweet 16 approaches.