The Bruins are the top seed in the women’s NCAA tournament for the first time in history.
UCLA, after its dominant run through the Big Ten tournament and finally knocking off JuJu Watkins and USC in the championship game in Indianapolis, earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament on Sunday afternoon.
UCLA edged out the Trojans, South Carolina and Texas for that top overall seed. The Bruins dominated in their first season in the Big Ten, going 30-2 on the year. Their only losses were to Watkins and USC, though they finally bested them in the Big Ten tournament. That win came after a blowout 29-point win over No. 13 Ohio State in the semifinals, too.
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South Carolina took the top seed in the Birmingham 2 region. The reigning national champions went 30-3 this season and rolled through the SEC tournament before absolutely dominating Texas in the championship game earlier this month. Texas went 31-3 on the season and jumped to the No. 1 spot in the national rankings before that loss. It marked the Longhorns’ first loss since they fell at South Carolina in another blowout in mid-January. They’ll take on either High Point or William & Mary in the Birmingham 3 region, where they still earned a No. 1 seed.
USC took the last No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Trojans finished 28-3 with losses at Iowa and against Notre Dame back in November. Watkins averaged 24.6 points and 6.9 rebounds throughout her sophomore campaign.
The Bruins will open the tournament against either UC San Diego or Southern — who will compete in a First Four game — on Friday at home. They will lead the Spokane 1 region.
Here’s a look at the entire field in this year’s NCAA tournament.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16. UC San Diego/No. 16 Southern (Los Angeles, Friday)No. 8 Richmond vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech (Los Angeles, Friday)No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Ball State (Waco, Friday)No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon (Waco, Friday)No. 6 Florida State vs. No. 11 George Mason (Baton Rouge, Saturday)No. 3 LSU vs. No. 14 San Diego State (Baton Rouge, Saturday)No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Harvard (Raleigh, Saturday)
No. 2 NC State vs. No. 15 Vermont (Raleigh, Saturday)
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Tennessee Tech (Columbia, Friday)No. 8 Utah vs. No. 9 Indiana (Columbia, Friday)No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 12 Green Bay (College Park, Saturday)No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Norfolk State (College Park, Saturday)No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Columbia/No. 11 Washington (Chapel Hill, Saturday)No. 3 North Carolina vs. No. 14 Oregon State (Chapel Hill, Saturday)No. 7 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Oregon (Durham, Friday)
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Lehigh (Durham, Friday)
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 16 High Point/No. 16 William & Mary (Austin, Saturday)No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 9 Creighton (Austin, Saturday)No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 South Florida (Columbus, Friday)No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Montana State (Columbus, Friday)No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 11 Iowa State/No. 11 Princeton (South Bend, Friday)No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Stephen F. Austin (South Bend, Friday)No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 10 Nebraska (Fort Worth, Friday)
No. 2 TCU vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson (Fort Worth, Friday)
No. 1 USC vs. No. 16 UNC Greensboro (Los Angeles, Saturday)No. 8 Cal vs. No. 9 Mississippi State (Los Angeles, Saturday)No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 12 Fairfield (Lexington, Friday)No. 4 Kentucky vs. No. 13 Liberty (Lexington, Friday)No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Murray State (Norman, Saturday)No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast (Norman, Saturday)No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 South Dakota State (Storrs, Saturday)
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Arkansas State (Storrs, Saturday)
This post will be updated with more information shortly.