The 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament is coming to Seattle March 24–27, and Climate Pledge Arena will host six Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games over four days.
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games were spread across four host locations in previous seasons. The NCAA opted for a two-site regional this year with the other six games being played in Greenville, South Carolina.
Two players who played prep basketball in Washington state are coming home — University of Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith and Colorado University center Quay Miller — and both are starters for their respective teams.
Van Lith, who hails from Cashmere High School near Wenatchee, is averaging 19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a junior for the Cardinals this season. The 5-foot-7 guard has scored more than 20 points (26, 21) in each of Louisville’s first two games of the tournament.
Miller, a senior for the Buffaloes, played her prep career at Kentridge High School in Renton before staying home to play for the University of Washington. The 6-foot-3 center played two seasons at Washington before transferring to Colorado alongside then-freshman teammate Tameiya Sadler. Miller is averaging 13.1 points and 8.7 rebounds this season for Colorado.
Other players to watch: Iowa junior G Caitlin Clark, (26.8 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 8.6 assists per game); Virginia Tech senior C Elizabeth Kitley (18.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.4 blocks per game); Tennessee senior F Rickea Jackson (19.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Ohio State senior G Taylor Mikesell (17.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg); Connecticut junior F Aaliyah Edwards (17 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.3 steals per game, 1.1 bpg).
Here’s a complete list of all the teams set to dance in Seattle and how they got here.
No. 1 Virginia Tech (28-4): Beat No. 16 Chattanooga 58-33; beat No. 9 South Dakota State 72-60.
No. 2 Connecticut (31-5): Beat No. 15 Vermont 95-52; beat No. 7 Baylor 77-58.
No. 2 Iowa (27-6): Beat No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana 95-43; beat No. 10 Georgia 74-66.
No. 3 Ohio State (27-7): Beat No. 14 James Madison 80-66; beat No. 6 North Carolina 71-69.
No. 4 Tennessee (25-11): Beat No. 13 Saint Louis 95-50; beat No. 12 Toledo 94-47.
No. 5 Louisville (25-11): Beat No. 12 Drake 83-81; upset No. 4 Texas 73-51.
No. 6 Colorado (25-8): Beat No. 11 Middle Tennessee 82-60; upset No. 3 Duke 61-53.
No. 8 Ole Miss (25-8): Beat No. 9 Gonzaga 71-48; upset No. 1 Stanford 54-49.
Here’s the full schedule of games being held at Climate Pledge Arena and where they are televised:
Friday, March 24: Sweet 16 (regional semifinals)
No. 2 Iowa (27-6) vs. No. 6 Colorado (25-8), 4:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 5 Louisville (25-11) vs. No. 8 Ole Miss (25-8), 7 p.m., ESPN
Saturday, March 25: Sweet 16 (regional semifinals)
No. 2 UConn (31-5) vs. No. 3 Ohio State (27-7), 1 p.m., ABC
No. 1 Virginia Tech (28-4) vs. No. 4 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
Sunday, March 26: Elite Eight (regional championships)
No. 2 Iowa/No. 6 Colorado vs. No. 5 Louisville/No. 8 Ole Miss, time TBD, ESPN/ABC/ESPN2 (winner to Final Four in Dallas, Texas)
Monday, March 27: Elite Eight (regional championships)
No. 2 UConn/No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Virginia Tech/No. 4 Tennessee, time TBD, ESPN/ABC/ESPN2 (winner to Final Four in Dallas, Texas)
The full NCAA women’s basketball tournament bracket is available here.
