UConn edged UCLA to claim the No. 1 overall seed in the women’s NCAA tournament, it was announced Sunday night.
Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said that having the top spot doesn’t really matter. He looks to lead the team to another undefeated season with the school’s 13th national championship.
Top Seeds and Opening Matches
UConn (34-0) needs six more victories to complete the seventh undefeated season in school history. They are trying to become the first team to repeat as champion since the program won four in a row from 2013 to 2016.
UConn was joined by UCLA, Texas and South Carolina as No. 1 seeds.
UConn, which is led by stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, opens the tournament at home against 16th-seeded UTSA and will play in the Fort Worth Regional. If seeds hold, the Huskies could face No. 2 Vanderbilt, which is coached by former UConn great Shea Ralph. This is the 23rd time UConn has earned a No. 1 seed and first since 2021.
Auriemma said that you have to beat the best teams to win the tournament. He added that it doesn’t matter what seed you are.
UCLA’s Strong Season
UCLA (31-1) was just behind the Huskies as the second overall seed in the tournament. The Bruins have won 25 straight games in dominant fashion, with the lone loss this season coming against Texas on a neutral court.
NCAA selection committee chair Amanda Braun said that the debate was pretty close between UCLA and UConn. The committee felt the observable component gave UConn the edge.
UCLA reached the Final Four last year before losing to UConn. Cori Close’s team ran through the Big Ten and has an experienced group, led by center Lauren Betts, looking to win the school’s first NCAA championship.
The Bruins will try to win the first women’s national championship for the Big Ten since 1999. The Bruins are one of 12 Big Ten teams in the field. That matches the record the conference set last season for most teams in the tournament. The SEC has 10, the ACC nine and the Big 12 eight.
Auriemma’s Perspective
Auriemma stated that they have been in that situation before, not that much different than being a No. 2 seed or a No. 1 seed somewhere else. Auriemma said that it is important to recognise that there are a lot of good teams out there. He added that there are times he felt like they deserved a No. 1 seed based on their wins, their record and who they have beaten, but it didn’t pan out that way.
Auriemma said that everybody is going in front of the media and say our bracket is the toughest, what our matchups are and it is just pointless.
The Huskies need six more victories to complete the seventh undefeated season in school history.