Basketball is basketball.
On Monday, March Madness was in full swing. No. 10-seed Virginia pulled off the biggest of the NCAA Tournament, beating No. 2-seed Iowa in a double-overtime thriller, while No. 3-seed Louisville avoided disaster, taking down No. 6-seed Alabama. Meanwhile, the top teams reminded us why they are No. 1 seeds. Virginia claims Cinderella status with […]
Eight more spots in the Sweet 16 await. Monday’s NCAA Tournament action tips off at high noon, with No. 6-seed Alabama challenging No. 3-seed Louisville (12 p.m. ET, ESPN). Here’s a closer look at some of the most intriguing matchups, storylines and more that could develop during Monday’s full day of action. Share your must-watch […]
Eight of 16 tickets to the second weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament were punched on Sunday. No. 1-seed Texas, No. 2-seed Michigan, No. 2-seed LSU, No. 3-seed Duke, No. 3-seed TCU, No. 4-seed North Carolina, No. 4-seed Minnesota and No. 4-seed Oklahoma are bound for the Sweet 16. Although winning a tournament game is […]
Things get more exciting on the third day of the NCAA Tournament, as we’re now down to 32 teams. Three of the No. 4-vs.-No. 5 matchups will take place on Sunday, and I’ve got my eye on two of them in particular. Plus, I’m curious to see just how far Olivia Miles can take No. […]
Saturday gave fans everything they could ask for from the NCAA Tournament. There were some minor upsets, big performances from star players, dominance from the top teams and one school got a good scare from a Cinderella candidate. Here are the most memorable moments of madness that occurred on the second full day of play. […]
After an opening day of straight chalk, we welcome Day 2 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The three other No. 1-seed are in action, as well as three of the four No. 8-vs.-No. 9 matchups, which are always expected to be the tightest contests. I’m particularly interested in two of those games, because they involve […]
If you wanted some surprise and drama to start the 2026 NCAA Tournament, there wasn’t much of any provided on Friday. All of the top seeds won their games, and only a few games were decided by single digits. While the results went as expected, that doesn’t mean the games weren’t worth watching or without […]
On Friday afternoon, the WNBA and WNPBA completed and signed the term sheet for the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The next step is ratification by the players and board of governors. As reported by Annie Costabile at Front Office Sports, the union held meetings on Friday where they educated players on all the dynamics […]
The 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament is here! The biggest women’s college basketball event of the year begins in earnest this Friday, March 20 and, as always, there will be no shortage of things to watch for. Sure, the opening round of the tournament can feel like a bit of a formality at times. The highest-seeded […]
Brackets are meant to be busted. While it’s fun to obsess over matchups, analyze paths and forecast upsets, the madness of March inevitably intervenes, disrupting the most diligently-completed brackets—and often by the end of the first two rounds of play. Here at Swish Appeal, we’re more than happy to be wrong, especially if the games […]
With 64 teams set to begin their quests for a national title, there will be plenty of storylines that will develop throughout the NCAA Tournament, from heroes who are born to villains who are made. So, let’s take a look at five players who are undoubtedly must-see TV. Their games should not be missed as […]
It goes without saying that the rise in popularity for women’s basketball is partly due to the frenzy surrounding Iowa. From 2022 to 2024, which included back-to-back national title game runs in 2023 and 2024, the Hawkeyes were caught in the glare of the national spotlight. It was during that stretch that Hannah Stuelke and […]
Although the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) around 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18, details about what was described as “a fair win-win deal for all” by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert were scarce. Since then, a steady stream of reporting has begun to fill the void. Per ESPN’s Shams […]
The 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament officially-but-unofficially tips off on Wednesday night, when the first two “First Four” games will be played. No. 11-seeds Richmond and Nebraska will meet at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC to earn an official bid to the Big Dance (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The winner will play No. 6-seed […]
For most WNBA Draft-eligible players, the NCAA Tournament is their final opportunity to make a strong impression on scouts. Not only are they playing in the last game(s) of their collegiate careers, but it’s in front of a national audience against the toughest competition in the country, so every play—good or bad—will be under the […]
After more than 100 hours of negotiations, the WNBA and WNBPA have verbally agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Both sides shared the news with reporters in the lobby of a Midtown Manhattan hotel just before 3 a.m. ET. No details about the agreement have yet to be divulged. After a formal term […]
Team USA completed the Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico an undefeated 5-0 after getting an 84-70 win over Spain. The final margin of 14 points indicates Spain’s status as a higher-quality opponent, but also a reflects of the understandable “get-this-over-and-get-home” mindset of Team USA. Returning to the starting lineup for […]
Last year, the UCLA Bruins reached the Final Four for the first time in program history. This season, expectations have risen as they are now a championship-or-bust team. So far, UCLA has lived up to the hype. Lauren Betts has been spectacular, averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds as she was named Player of the […]
Last year’s NCAA Tournament saw just four lower-seeded teams victorious in the round of 64: two No. 9-seeds, and two No. 10-seeds. While it’s safe to say that looking for upsets is often more of a Moby Dick situation than a trip to Sea World, we would be lying if we claimed to not be […]
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s second declared deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires Monday night. Will a new deal be done by then? After Sunday’s session, which began at noon, concluded around 3 a.m. ET, Engelbert told the on-scene reporter assemblage of ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile, the AP’s Doug […]
For the second time at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Team USA crossed the century mark, scoring over 100 points as they defeated New Zealand, 101-46, to advance to 4-0. Despite the lopsided outcomes, the New Zealanders mustered stretches of competitiveness. Team USA actually trailed well into the […]
It’s time to march through the madness. The field has been selected and the bracket is set for the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Undefeated UConn earned the No. 1 overall seed, with UCLA, Texas and South Carolina taking the other top spots. So, who is going to win it all? Who is going home […]
At the FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, USA Basketball’s team of Allisha Gray, Veronica Burton, Naz Hillmon and Shakira Austin scored the most total points, tied for highest winning percentage and defeated the eventual champions, the Netherlands. But because of an untimely loss, Team USA is returning home with bronze, not gold. In […]
It hasn’t consistently been the most beautiful basketball, but Team USA is 3-0 at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Italy failed to threaten Team USA, as the Americans’ defensive attentiveness and superior shotmaking steadily swelled their lead over the course of the contest, leading to a 93-59 win. […]
On Saturday, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee revealed the 16 host sites for the 2026 Big Dance in alphabetical order: ESPN Bracketologist Charlie Creme has the 16 teams seeded like this: Here are some more thoughts on how the seeds might actually shake out, but first, a dive into the No. 1 overall […]