Championship Week: Who’s Made the Most of it?

The NCAA Women’s Basketball Champ Week has gone underway as teams all over the country are trying to secure their spot in the Tournament before Selection Monday. There have been many highlights along the way, and some teams are making the most of the final push.

Let’s start with the most successful team in basketball history, the Uconn Huskies. Nothing shocking here as Uconn remains the No.1 seed (which they have been for 14 weeks) and won their 107th consecutive victory after their AAC championship. Also, not to mention Katie Lou Samuelson’s record breaking 10 for 10 performance behind the arc, and 40 points overall. No one in the NBA has ever had a perfect performance like that, but no big deal, right? UCONN continues to seem unstoppable, they are making the most out of everything; per usual.

Perhaps Uconn’s biggest competitors, Notre Dame has what it takes to go all the way, especially with their point guard Lindsay Allen. Allen has been putting on a show in the ACC tournament, averaging double digits in assists and leading her team to the ACC championship for the 4th time since leaving the Big East. She’s a contender for the ACC player of the year, and in my eyes if she keeps this up; it’s all hers. Keep an eye out for her as the NCAA Tournament starts.

One of the biggest upsets we’ve seen during the course of Champ Week is West Virginia’s victory over No. 2 Baylor for the Big 12 title. The Mountaineers of West Virginia were the No. 6 seed in the Big 12, and they were on the outskirts for making the NCAA tournament. But, beating all the top seeds in the Big 12 tournament changed everything for them, and has them skyrocketed all the way to a No. 7 seed so far in the NCAA tournament. And guess what? They even get to host a game! So yeah, I’d say that Champ Week has been in favor for the Mountaineers. Be on look out for them as their hot streak will continue throughout the NCAA tournament, I know I wouldn’t want to play them in the first round.

And then, there’s Stanford. They have climbed 4 spots to a No. 6 seed after their victory in the Pac 12 tournament. They won their 12th Pac 12 title, the most in conference history. And with their surprising upset over No. 6 Oregon, they have an automatic in for the NCAA tournament. Who knows, maybe they’ll shock us again. With their experience in gritty road victories and the heart of their team, we all know they’re capable.

The NCAA Tournament kicks off Monday with the selection process on ESPN at 7 pm. These teams have taken advantage of champ week, watch them continue their success throughout the tournament.

Written by Kristen Connors