Thirty-one automatic bids to the women’s NCAA tournament are on the line as Champ Week begins following the conclusion of the Power 4 regular season.
Conference tournament titles will be decided over the next fortnight as teams look to secure their place in March Madness.
Leagues will also be distributing individual awards during this crucial period of the basketball calendar.
While some races remain tight, certain accolades appear all but settled.
In the Big East, UConn’s Sarah Strong looks to be a lock for Player of the Year.
Similarly, Richmond’s Maggie Doogan has established herself as the clear frontrunner in the Atlantic 10.
Projections for the America East
Vermont Catamounts are the predicted champions for the America East conference.
The Burlington-based side pulled away from rivals Binghamton over the final two weeks of the season.
This run included a decisive victory over the Bearcats on 12 February.
Should the two sides meet again in the tournament title game, Vermont will host the rematch.
Maine forward Adrianna Smith is the standout choice for the conference’s Player of the Year.
The senior will leave the programme as one of its most productive players in history.
Smith achieved a rare statistical feat this campaign by topping the America East in scoring, rebounds and assists.
Rice rely on defence in the American
The Rice Owls are favoured to take the American Athletic Conference title despite lacking a top-10 scorer.
Their success has been built on a stifling defence that leads the nation in opponent three-point percentage.
Hailey Adams has proved to be one of the conference’s premier shot blockers.
East Carolina’s Kennedy Fauntleroy is the tip for Player of the Year honours.
The senior guard struggled during stints at Oklahoma State and Arizona State but has regained her best form with the Pirates.
Fauntleroy has reached career highs in points and assists while leading the American in steals.
Jacksonville holds home advantage in ASUN
The Jacksonville Dolphins are predicted to triumph in the ASUN Conference.
Although they trailed Eastern Kentucky earlier in the year, the Dolphins enter the post-season as the hotter team.
Crucially, they will enjoy home comforts with the tournament played at their local VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Priscilla Williams is expected to claim the Player of the Year award for Jacksonville.
The well-travelled senior found a home in Florida after previous spells at Syracuse, South Florida and Oregon.
In her final collegiate season, Williams led the ASUN in rebounding and ranked second in scoring.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have revitalized their championship hopes following the arrival of James Harden, with the 11-time All-Star sparking an immediate upturn in form alongside Donovan Mitchell.
Immediate impact against New York
The new-look Cavaliers secured a statement 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks, a team that had previously beaten them twice this season.
It marked the first meeting between the Eastern Conference rivals since Cleveland revamped their roster at the trade deadline.
While Donovan Mitchell struggled from the field, shooting just 5-for-18, the victory highlighted the reduced burden on the team’s primary scorer.
Mitchell noted the 14 free throws attempted in the game, jokingly claiming credit for his new team-mate’s usual statistical output.
“I’ll take your free throws since you can’t get any. I never get 14 of them.”
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Harden, who uncharacteristically finished without a free-throw attempt, took the banter in stride as the chemistry between the backcourt duo grows.
Roster overhaul pays dividends
The Cavaliers have won six of their first seven games since the front office executed an aggressive deadline strategy.
Management sent 26-year-old former All-Star Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire the 36-year-old former league MVP.
The trade was part of a wider shake-up that saw De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball depart, with Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis arriving to bolster depth.
Mitchell acknowledged the swap was an “all-in” move designed to capitalise on the franchise’s current championship window.
Chasing a maiden championship
Both superstars possess decorated individual resumes but are united by their search for elusive postseason success as leading men.
Harden has not reached the NBA Finals since 2012, while Mitchell has yet to advance to a conference finals series.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson believes this shared hunger has accelerated their on-court understanding.
“They are two guys that are hungry to take that next step. They’ve kind of hit it off. Been seamless, really.”
Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach
Atkinson added that he has seen no misunderstandings between the two “hoop junkies” as they attempt to elevate Cleveland into genuine title contenders.
No. 1 UConn have completed their 11th undefeated regular season in programme history with a commanding 85-49 victory over St John’s at Madison Square Garden.
Chasing history
The Huskies are now just nine wins away from retaining their national title after securing a flawless 31-0 record.
Sunday’s result marked the side’s 47th consecutive victory, a run stretching back to February 2025.
“When you are fortunate enough to go through 31 games and win them all, there is something to be proud of,” said head coach Geno Auriemma.
“There is something good about it, and they should feel really good about it.”
Garden party
A crowd of 9,612 watched the victory at the famous New York venue, which was hosting its first standalone women’s college basketball game.
The defending champions shot 57% from the field and forced 22 turnovers against the Red Storm.
It continues a trend of dominance for Auriemma’s side, who boast an average scoring margin of +37.8 points this campaign.
Six players finished with at least nine points, highlighting the depth of a squad that has navigated the pressure of the programme’s storied past.
Life after Bueckers
Despite the perfect record, Auriemma rejected suggestions that this squad is superior to last year’s title-winning team.
The veteran coach highlighted the absence of former talisman Paige Bueckers, the WNBA’s number one draft pick.
“I do think when the NCAA tournament begins, it certainly is not going to be as easy as we experienced it last season,” Auriemma added.
“We have enough good players to have as good a chance as anybody else out there to win a national championship.”
Focus turns to Big East
National player of the year candidate Sarah Strong urged the team to remain focused as they prepare for the postseason.
“Coach came in and said he was proud of us,” said Strong. “We also have a lot to work on to get ready for the Big East tournament.”
The top seeds will face either Georgetown or Butler in the Big East quarterfinals next Saturday.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss at least the next five games with a persistent right knee issue, the team has announced.
The franchise confirmed that the two-time MVP will be re-evaluated in 10 days.
He is set to miss upcoming fixtures against the LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls.
Curry has already been absent for the previous 10 matches, with the team winning just four times during that stretch.
‘Unpredictable’ healing process
“This is a weird one,” Curry told ESPN regarding the recovery process.
“It’s kind of unpredictable how it’ll heal.”
The injury is officially listed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, often referred to as “runner’s knee”, which causes swelling around the kneecap.
Golden State had initially hoped for a return following the All-Star break, but the point guard suffered a setback during a workout.
Consequently, the medical staff shut down his on-court activities for a 10-day period.
While he has been observed performing weight-bearing squats, the 35-year-old has not yet been cleared to return to full practice.
Play-in concerns for Golden State
“It’s going to be a little longer,” Curry admitted.
“Right now, with this one, it’s about each day, can you stack good days? I’ve done that.”
The Warriors currently sit eighth in the Western Conference with a 31-29 record following Saturday’s defeat.
They appear destined for the Play-In tournament, though their talisman remains eager to return for a post-season push.
“Once I get back on the court, it’s a little bit of a pain tolerance thing,” he added.
“But it’s just something you don’t want lingering because it can get worse.”
The roster issues are compounded by the absence of co-star Jimmy Butler, who has been ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL in January.
Recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis has also missed four straight games due to illness, playing only 17 minutes since his arrival.
Texas have replaced Vanderbilt as a projected number one seed alongside UConn, UCLA and South Carolina in the latest women’s NCAA tournament reveal.
The Longhorns moved up to the fourth overall spot in the rankings announced on Sunday, displacing the Commodores.
Defending national champions UConn remain the overall number one seed as the only unbeaten team in Division I women’s basketball.
Hawkeyes and Sooners on the rise
Iowa made the most significant leap among the top contenders, rising from 11th to the sixth overall seed.
The Hawkeyes enter the business end of the season in strong form having won five consecutive games.
Oklahoma also climbed four spots to 12th on the back of a matching five-game winning streak.
Conversely, Ohio State suffered the biggest slide in the projections, dropping from ninth to 16th.
Big Ten leads conference representation
Minnesota have entered the top 16, replacing Ole Miss as the only change to the projected field since the February reveal.
The Big Ten dominates the landscape with seven teams included in the rankings, while the SEC follows with five representatives.
The ACC has two teams featured, with the Big 12 and Big East contributing one apiece.
Unbeaten UConn eye history
Geno Auriemma’s Huskies sit at a flawless 30-0 record as they chase the program’s seventh perfect season.
The Big East powerhouse head the Fort Worth 1 regional projection alongside LSU, Louisville and Maryland.
UCLA, Vanderbilt, Duke and Ohio State populate the projected Sacramento 2 bracket.
South Carolina lead the Fort Worth 3 region, while Texas anchor the Sacramento 4 group joined by rising Iowa.
Road to Phoenix
The official top 16 seeds will be confirmed on 14 March, one day before the full tournament bracket is unveiled.
Tournament action begins with the First Four on 18 March.
The Final Four is scheduled to take place at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, with the national champion crowned on 5 April.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss at least three games after an MRI scan confirmed he has suffered a strained right oblique.
The team announced on Saturday that the 2023 MVP sustained the injury during their recent victory over the Miami Heat.
He was forced to leave the court during the 124-117 win on Thursday night.
An MRI examination subsequently revealed the extent of the damage to his right side.
Wait for medical re-evaluation
Embiid will definitely be absent for Sunday’s trip to face the Boston Celtics.
The seven-time All-Star will also sit out back-to-back home fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday before being reassessed.
His absence comes amid a rich vein of form, having posted 26 points and 11 rebounds against Miami before suffering the setback.
Dominant February form
The 29-year-old was the Eastern Conference’s leading scorer in February, averaging 29 points per game throughout the month.
Philadelphia must now navigate a challenging stretch of the schedule without their talismanic center as they look to secure their playoff positioning.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort was ejected for a flagrant foul on Nikola Jokic, who described the trip as “unnecessary” following Denver’s overtime defeat.
The incident occurred early in the fourth quarter at the Paycom Center when Dort appeared to stick his leg out to trip the three-time MVP.
Jokic reacted furiously to the contact, sparking a heated confrontation involving players from both sides.
‘A necessary reaction’
The Serbian superstar immediately pounced to his feet to confront the Canadian guard after tumbling to the court.
“It’s an unnecessary move and a necessary reaction,” Jokic said after the 127-121 loss.
“There is no such a thing — I think there’s not supposed to be those things on a basketball floor.”
Thunder centre Jaylin Williams rushed in to intervene, exchanging shoves with Jokic before officials separated the group.
“Just competing,” Williams said regarding the scrum. “Two teams competing, that’s it.”
Officials explain ejection
Referees upgraded the call to a Flagrant Foul 2 after a video review, resulting in an automatic ejection for Dort.
Crew chief James Williams stated the contact was deemed “unnecessary and excessive with a high potential for injury”.
He added that the subsequent altercation was a contributing factor in upgrading the ruling.
Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault accepted the decision but called for consistency in future officiating.
“If [Williams] is running up the floor and gets tripped, we expect a Flagrant 2 from this point forward,” Daigneault stated.
Tensions were already high between the Western Conference rivals following a gruelling seven-game series in last season’s play-offs.
Gilgeous-Alexander shines on return
The on-court drama overshadowed the return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander following a nine-game absence.
He scored 36 points and provided nine assists in 34 minutes to help the Thunder secure the victory.
However, the guard sat out the overtime period having reached his minutes limit following an abdominal strain.
The Boston Celtics recorded the most efficient shooting performance in NBA history as they dismantled the Brooklyn Nets 148-111 at TD Garden on Friday night.
Record-breaking efficiency
Joe Mazzulla’s side shot a season-high 66.7% from the floor, marking the franchise’s third-highest percentage in the shot clock era.
The hosts were particularly devastating from deep, converting 64.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
That accuracy resulted in an effective field goal percentage of 80.8%, establishing a new NBA record since statistics began tracking the metric in the 1954-55 season.
Effective field goal percentage adjusts shooting figures to account for the fact that three-point shots are worth more than two-pointers.
Vucevic and Brown dominance
Jaylen Brown led the charge for the Eastern Conference contenders, finishing with 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
He was ably supported by trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vucevic, who matched Brown’s 28-point tally.
The Montenegrin centre also secured 11 rebounds, registering his third double-double since arriving in Boston.
“I thought we just did a good job reading the game. I thought tonight Vooch [Vucevic] really looked comfortable in his offensive reads and his offensive screening. He unlocked a lot of stuff for us.”
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla
The dominance was a collective effort, with all 13 active players getting on the scoresheet.
Ball security was also paramount for the home side, who committed just three turnovers after halftime.
“We just try to read the game and take what’s there.”
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown
Tatum return on the horizon?
Attention now turns to Sunday’s clash with the Philadelphia 76ers, where star forward Jayson Tatum could make a long-awaited comeback.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined for 41 weeks after rupturing his right Achilles tendon during last season’s Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks.
Speculation regarding his return has intensified after the fixture was moved to a primetime television slot.
Boston are required to submit an initial injury report by 17:00 EST on Saturday.
The Celtics have been in formidable form even without their talisman, winning five of six games since the All-Star break to sit second in the East with a 39-20 record.