Pac-12 in Women's NCAA Tournament: Stanford Gets a No. 1 Seed

The selection committee for the women’s NCAA tournament showed its respect for the Pac-12 in two ways:

---Seven Pac-12 schools were selected to the 68-team tournament, tying a conference record, and all seven were seeded eighth or better.

---Stanford, despite losing its final regular-season game, sharing the Pac-12 regular-season title, and losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament, was still given a No. 1 seed.

On the other hand:

---Four of the Pac-12 representative were sent to the East Coast for their opening games, and cross-country travel is never an advantage.

Here’s a quick look at the seven Pac-12 representatives.

Stanford (28-5), No. 1 seed in Region 4 – The Cardinal lost two of its last three games, but it was unbeaten at home and will host first- and second round games. This is Stanford's 35th consecutive NCAA tournament bid, and the third straight year it is a No. 1 seed. Stanford will open with a game on Friday against the winner of the play-in game between Southern and Sacred Heart, then would play the winner of the Mississippi-Gonzaga game. Second-seeded Iowa is the toughest foe in this region.

Utah (25-4), No. 2 seed in Region 2 – The conference co-champion Utes were picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12, but they might have been a top seed if they had won the Pac-12 tournament. Nonetheless, they host the first two rounds, starting with Friday’s 4:30 p.m. game against Gardner Webb. A challenging game against LSU could await Utah in the Sweet 16.

UCLA (26-9), No. 4 seed in Region 1 – The Bruins beat Stanford in the Pac-12 tournament, and they will host the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, starting with Saturday’s 8:30 p.m. game against Sacramento State. UCLA is in a tough bracket, though, and would have to face No. 1 South Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen if it gets through the first weekend.

Washington State (23-10), No. 5 seed in Region 2 – The hottest team in the Pac-12, the Cougars won the Pac-12 tournament, but they have to travel across the country to play Florida Gulf Coast in its opener at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. If the Cougars win that game, they would be matched against host Villanova, a game that would feature two of the nation’s best offensive players – Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist (28.9 Points) and WSU’s Charlisse Leger-Walker (18.1 points).

Colorado (23-8), No. 6 seed in Region 2 – The Buffaloes also will have to travel across the country to play a 4 p.m. Saturday game against Middle Tennessee. A victory there would match Colorado against host Duke. Reaching the Sweet 16 would probably mean a game against Iowa and Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark (27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists).

Arizona (21-9), No. 7 seed in Region 1 – The Wildcats’ Esmery Martinez (10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds) played her first three college seasons at West Virginia, which happens to be Arizona first-round opponent on Friday in College Park, Md., as another Pac-12 team is sent back East. A win would put Arizona against second-seeded Maryland.

USC (21-9), No. 8 sed in Region 3 – Lindsay Gottlieb has taken the Trojans to the NCAA tournament for the first time in nine years in her second season as USC’s head coach. They are the fourth Pac-12 team sent all the way to the East Coast for its first-round game, which is against South Dakota State in Blacksburg, Va., at 5 p.m. on Friday. A second-round game against No. 1 Virginia Tech awaits the Trojans if they win the opener.

Cover photo of Stanford's Cameron Brink and Haley Jones is by John Hefti, USA TODAY Sports

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