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UConn, Stanford, South Carolina, Mississippi State in Women’s Final Four

Photo Credit: CW33 Dallas/Fort Worth

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has become well-accustomed to the hoops exploits of Odyssey Sims, Aerial Powers, and (of course) Skylar Diggins as of late. The four remaining teams in this year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament are about to descend on the D-F-Dub, standing two wins shy of a national championship.

Most probably expected the Huskies to claw through the Madness that is March and get to Dallas. Stanford was also a likely favorite, and South Carolina is another women’s basketball nucleus. Mississippi State, though, is the surprise, especially given the fact that they beat the Kim Mulkey-coached Baylor Bears to get to this point.

Photo Credit: Jessica Hill/AP

Connecticut sailed past the Oregon Ducks in its Elite Eight matchup to arrive at the Final Four once again in the Geno Auriemma era—its tenth consecutive. Oregon only trailed 6-4 before a 17-0 Huskies run. Three-pointers from Saniya Chong lit this candle and the Ducks could not douse the flames as UConn once again found itself two wins shy of bringing another national title to Storrs.

Napheesa Collier had 28 points and Gabby Williams added 25.

Photo Credit: Timothy D. Easley/AP

Put the Stanford Cardinal’s Elite Eight victory over Notre Dame in the “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” File. Stanford trailed by 14 points at the half against the Fighting Irish and at one point in the third quarter by 16 points. The Cardinal was having none of it as they rallied from the deficit and translated it into a 76-75 win.

Alanna Smith put the Cardinal in front with 23 seconds remaining, then Erica McCall blocked a game-winning attempt by Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale. Brittany McPhee finished with 27 points for the Cardinal.

Side note: without the comeback, three of this following Final Four bracket would have been correct.

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Oh, well at least he got UConn and South Carolina. Speaking of whom…

Photo Credit: Tracy Glantz/The State Newspaper (Columbia)

Columbia, South Carolina has owned March Madness this year. Between the women’s team reaching its respective Final Four and the men’s team dispatching foes such as Duke, Baylor, and Florida to reach its Final Four, the Gamecocks have been more than just “Famously” hot.

The Gamecocks defeated Florida State 71-64 en route to its second Final Four in its last three years. Kaela Davis recorded 23 points and A’ja Wilson added 16. South Carolina managed to reach the Final Four without their defensive specialist Alaina Coates.

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Photo Credit: Alonzo Adams/AP

The Mississippi State victory over Baylor took on a more emotional tone given the significance of the day it was done for one of its players. Morgan William tallied a career high of 41 points—doing so three years to the day her father passed away. The Bulldogs and Bears went to overtime, but in the end Mississippi State were nine better than Baylor in a 94-85 Elite Eight win.

The 41 points also were the most in SEC history in an NCAA women’s tournament game.

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The question that is again being asked as has been much the case lately—is UConn or the field?

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And for those that try to think of financial reasons why women’s sports do not matter—cue their Crying Jordan faces. According to this report from CW33 in Dallas/Fort Worth, the women’s Final Four is projected to add another $30 million to the local economy.

Thirty. Million. Dollars.

Exactly.

So for those that say “no one” watches women’s sports–numbers don’t lie.



By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)

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