South Carolina’s women’s basketball team has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to clinch victory in the NCAA tournament, maintaining its formidable status as it enters the March Madness fray with a flawless record.
The Gamecocks, boasting an unblemished 32-0 record, have once again cemented their position as the frontrunners for the national title, reminiscent of their status in the previous season. Following a dominant run through conference play, punctuated by a dramatic buzzer-beater victory over Tennessee in the SEC tournament semifinals, and a hard-fought triumph over defending champion LSU in the title game, South Carolina stands as the -120 favorite to capture the tournament crown.
While last year’s tournament saw the Gamecocks falter in the Final Four against Iowa, this season presents a promising draw that places potential obstacles like Iowa and LSU on the opposite side of the bracket. South Carolina’s journey begins without star player Kamilla Cardoso, who was ejected in the victory over LSU, but their early matchups against Sacred Heart or Presbyterian should provide a comfortable start.
Iowa and LSU, the contenders for the national title in the previous season, follow as the next prominent favorites. Caitlin Clark’s Hawkeyes are priced at +400 to clinch the championship, closely trailed by LSU at +650. A potential showdown between these two powerhouses looms in the Elite Eight.
Meanwhile, Stanford emerges as the fourth favorite at +1500, occupying the No. 2 seed in the region led by Texas, who stand at +2500. UConn positions itself between Stanford and Texas at +2000, eyeing a matchup against USC phenom JuJu Watkins if they navigate past Ohio State in the Elite Eight.
As the Women’s NCAA tournament commences, South Carolina spearheads the list of favorites, poised to build upon its undefeated season and pursue collegiate basketball glory once more.
Women’s NCAA Tournament Favorites:
South Carolina (-120)
Iowa (+400)
LSU (+650)
Stanford (+1500)
UConn (+2000)
Texas (+2500)
Ohio State (+2500)
UCLA (+3000)
USC (+3000)
NC State (+4000)
Notre Dame (+5000)