Women Basketball

• Cheryl Miller, alongside Val Ackerman and Ann Meyers Drysdale, spoke on the evolution of women's hoops at the AP Top 25 Poll Experience on April 4. • The panel addressed key challenges and growth in college women's basketball. • Their insights matter as the sport sees record viewership and investments post-Caitlin Clark era.

• Top-seeded UCLA defeated second-seeded Iowa 96-45 to capture its second consecutive Big Ten Conference Tournament championship, marking the first time in program history the Bruins won back-to-back conference tournament titles. • The 51-point margin of victory set a new Big Ten Tournament Final record, surpassing Iowa's previous record of a 33-point victory over Ohio State in 2023. • UCLA finished the regular season with a perfect 18-0 conference record and undefeated home court record for the first time since 2016-17, becoming just the fourth team in Big Ten history to go undefeated in conference play.

• The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Elite Eight matchup between Michigan and Texas is scheduled for Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN from Fort Worth, Texas. • This Elite Eight game is one of four remaining contests determining which teams advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6. • The women's tournament began with selections on March 15 and features the most competitive field of elite teams competing for the national championship.

• Marian (Indiana) women's basketball defeated Dordt 73-61 to win the NAIA national championship on March 25, 2026. • The team dominated the second half with a decisive 27-point third quarter and controlled the glass with a 49-35 rebounding advantage; Madisyn Bailey led all scorers with 23 points while Abbey McNally added 17 points and 15 rebounds. • Dordt finished their season 34-3, falling short of a third consecutive national title after rallying to a 32-28 halftime lead before Marian's second-half surge.

The U.S. women's national basketball team plays Italy in FIBA World Cup Qualifying at 4:45 p.m. ET from San Juan, Puerto Rico, broadcast on TRUTV. This international matchup tests USA Basketball's depth ahead of future global competitions. It adds to Saturday's diverse sports slate including NWSL and NBA games. Qualifying success bolsters U.S. preparations for upcoming tournaments.