USC’s JuJu Watkins injury puts her out for the remainder of tournament
USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall breaks down JuJu Watkins injury, and what this means for the Trojans and the National Title chances.
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The No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are battling the No. 2 TCU Horned Frogs in a tightly contested women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game.
Both teams posted impressive wins to get to this stage. Hailey Van Lith’s leadership and skill were on full display as she guided TCU to an 85-70 win against her former team, Louisville, in the second round. Hannah Hidalgo, meanwhile, put up 21 points as the Fighting Irish advanced with a 76-55 win over No. 6 Michigan.
Follow along live for updates, scores, highlights and more from Saturday’s game between Notre Dame and TCU:
It’s 46-39 Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish are starting to take over.
With how Notre Dame’s shooting and ability to generate transition moments improved at halftime, TCU slowed its last possession down. That might be a way forward, as it ends with a Hailey Van Lith bucket.
What time is TCU vs. Notre Dame basketball today?
March Madness continues Saturday with the Sweet 16 matchup between the No. 2 TCU Horned Frogs and the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The action tips off at 1 p.m. ET
Where to watch TCU vs. Notre Dame: TV, streaming coverage
- TV channels: ABC
- Live stream: ESPN+, Disney+ and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)
Watch Women’s March Madness with Fubo
We’re off and running in the second half, but it’s been a cold start for both teams: two missed shots for the Irish, and another turnover for TCU.
However, Sedona Prince finishes a play off, and we’re tied at 35.
After a slow start, Notre Dame has come back, holding a 35-33 lead over TCU at halftime. That’s great news for the Fighting Irish, who are 28-3 when leading at the halfway point this season.
TCU pair Sedona Prince and Madison Conner are the leading scorers in the game with nine points, while Liatu King’s eight lead Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are having an off night from three-point range, shooting just 2-of-11, but their work on defense has made up for it. TCU has eight turnovers, and Notre Dame has five steals and three blocks as a team.
The Horned Frogs are right in this game, trailing by one point, but long-term they have a worry on their hands. Agnes Emma-Nnopu and Sedona Prince both have two fouls with two-and-a-half quarters to play. Given that TCU doesn’t go deep down their bench, more foul trouble for either player could spell disaster.
Emma-Nnopu is currently on the bench, while Notre Dame might be a little more brave about driving at Prince to get that third foul.
The first quarter ends with TCU, who were up by seven at one point, ahead 20-19. That said, some data points show that TCU could have trouble down the road: Guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu already has two fouls, and the Horned Frogs have already committed five turnovers.
Notre Dame has three steals and three offensive rebounds, but they’ll need to lower TCU’s shooting percentage (64%) to make all of that matter.
We’re underway from Birmingham, Ala., as Notre Dame and TCU battle for a spot in the Elite 8.
Hannah Hidalgo hit a jumper to open the scoring, while Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince combined to respond for TCU.
We’re minutes away from this Sweet 16 game getting under way, and one minor question has already been answered.
Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles, a key starter for the Fighting Irish, is playing through an ankle injury. ABC’s pre-game show gave us a quick zoom on Miles’ left leg, showing an ankle brace, but the senior is set to play in this massive game.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are favorites to beat the TCU Horned Frogs, according to BetMGM. Odds as of Saturday, March 29.
- Spread: Notre Dame (-7.5)
- Moneyline: Notre Dame (-325); TCU (+260)
- O/U: 144.5
USA TODAY: TCU with the upset
Nancy Armour states, “Notre Dame won’t have an answer for TCU’s size, and Hailey Van Lith will make sure the Horned Frogs aren’t overwhelmed by the moment. She’s been here before, and having that voice on the floor is going to be an X factor for TCU.”
South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame 86, TCU 85
Tom Noie writes, “These teams know one another well having played in November in the Cayman Islands. There’s history there and there should be some lingering sting as well. Notre Dame led for 33:39 and by as many as 14 points before a fourth-quarter collapse that saw TCU go on a 31-12 run over the final 10 minutes and a 76-68 win.
“Notre Dame wants a second chance at a win; TCU wants a chance to prove that game was no fluke. We might be set up for a classic Sweet 16 showdown. March is overdue for one that leaves everyone dizzy. This game may deliver it with two teams who each believe that this is their time.”
Coverage for Saturday’s Sweet 16 action will be broadcast across ABC and ESPN. You can also watch select games via these streaming options: ESPN+, Disney+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and TCU Horned Frogs have faced each other three times since 2001. Notre Dame has a 2-1 advantage in the series.
The TCU Horned Frogs women’s basketball team has never won a national championship. This year’s Sweet 16 appearance marks the furthest the program has advanced in the tournament. The program also has had six second-round appearances, including this season (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2025).
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish boast two national championships, winning it all in 2001 and 2018. They have appeared in the finals five other times and the Final Four nine times.
Women’s March Madness odds
March Madness championship odds, according to BetMGM. Odds as of Saturday, March 29.
Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the women’s tournament: everyone who sits at better odds than +5500.
- UConn (+145)
- South Carolina (+175)
- UCLA (+600)
- Texas (+800)
- Notre Dame (+1200)
- LSU (+2200)
- Duke (+3500)
- USC (+4000)
- TCU (+5000)
USA TODAY experts set their picks ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked to win the national championship before the madness.
- Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UConn over Duke
- Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: USC over South Carolina
- Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: South Carolina over UCLA
- Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: South Carolina over UConn
- Lulu Kesin, Greenville News: South Carolina over UConn
- Meghan Hall, For The Win: South Carolina over USC
- Mike Sykes, For The Win: UConn over South Carolina
- Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: UConn over Notre Dame
- Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times: UConn over South Carolina
- Jenna Ortiz, Arizona Republic: UConn over South Carolina
The 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament is currently underway, and the No. 2 seed TCU Horned Frogs have advanced to the Sweet 16 after a convincing 85-70 victory over the No. 7 seed Louisville. Following the win, Hailey Van Lith openly discussed her struggles with mental health, which she has dealt with since a young age.
Van Lith shared her experience with media and social media exposure at a young age, revealing that it significantly impacted her mental health. “When I was younger and in college, I struggled with suicidal thoughts and was heavily medicated,” she said. “I felt trapped, and you would never have guessed it because I was thriving on the court. But internally, in my life overall, I was ready to give up.” — Elizabeth Flores
USA TODAY experts took a lay of the land and gave some predictions on who will be dancing after this weekend.
- Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UCLA, UConn, Texas, Duke
- Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: South Carolina, UConn, NC State, Notre Dame
- Meghan Hall, For The Win: UCLA, UConn, Notre Dame, South Carolina
- Mike Sykes, For The Win: NC State, UConn, South Carolina, Texas
- Lulu Kesin, Greenville News: South Carolina, UConn, LSU, Texas
- Jenna Ortiz, Arizona Republic: South Carolina, UConn, UCLA, TCU
- Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: UCLA, UConn, South Carolina, TCU
- Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: UCLA, USC, South Carolina, Notre Dame
- Cory Diaz, Lafayette Advertiser: UCLA, UConn, South Carolina, Notre Dame
- Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times: LSU, UConn, South Carolina, TCU
All times Eastern.
Wednesday, March 19 (First Four)
Thursday, March 20 (First Four)
Friday, March 21 (First Round/Round of 64)
Saturday, March 22 (First Round/Round of 64)
- No. 6 Iowa def. No. 11 Murray State, 92-57
- No. 2 UConn def. No. 15 Arkansas State, 103-34
- No. 5 Alabama def. No. 12 Green Bay, 81-67
- No. 2 NC State def. No. 15 Vermont, 75-55
- No. 6 West Virginia def. No. 11 Columbia, 78-59
- No. 3 Oklahoma def. No. 14 FGCU, 81-58
- No. 1 Southern California def. No. 16 UNC Greensboro, 71-25
- No. 10 South Dakota State def. No. 7 Oklahoma State, 74-68
- No. 4 Maryland def. No. 13 Norfolk State, 82-69
- No. 3 North Carolina def. No. 14 Oregon State, 70-49
- No. 7 Michigan State def. No. 10 Harvard, 64-50
- No. 9 Mississippi State def. No. 8 California, 59-46
- No. 8 Illinois def. No. 9 Creighton, 66-57
- No. 6 Florida State def. No. 11 George Mason, 94-59
- No. 1 Texas def. No. 16 William & Mary, 105-61
- No. 3 LSU def. No. 14 San Diego State, 103-48
Sunday, March 23 (Second Round/Round of 32)
Monday, March 24 (Second Round/Round of 32)
Friday, March 28 (Sweet 16)
Saturday, March 29 (Sweet 16)
Sunday, March 30 (Elite Eight)
Monday, March 31 (Elite Eight)
- TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 9 p.m. | ESPN
Friday, April 4 (Final Four)
- TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, April 6 (National Championship game)
- TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
The women’s NCAA Tournament’s Final Four starts on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The championship game will take place two days later on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.
On the men’s side, the Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The NCAA Championship Game will take place three days later on Tuesday, April 7. Starting at the Final Four, all games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
For the women, the Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The championship game will Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same venue.
2025 Men’s March Madness Printable Bracket
Here is your printable March Madness bracket.
