There was plenty of drama during the major women’s basketball conference tournaments this week, highlighting crucial NCAA Tournament implications. Some teams rose to the occasion while others faltered.

Winners of Champ Week

Auto Bids: This week acknowledged the champions, including Duke and UCLA, who secured their titles in the ACC and Big Ten tournaments. Notably, minor upsets occurred, with Texas defeating South Carolina and West Virginia toppling TCU.

Many smaller conference tournaments are still ongoing, leading to the celebration of teams like Samford, Rhode Island, South Dakota State, and Western Illinois, who captured their championship titles.

Vic Schaefer, the Texas coach, celebrated his team’s first SEC Tournament win, solidifying their position in the NCAA Tournament.

Riley Nelson of Duke excelled, hitting crucial shots leading to their championship win.

Notable Losers

One-and-Done Bubble Teams: Numerous bubble teams struggled during the conference tournaments, with Stanford and Virginia among those failing to secure vital victories.

Additionally, Tennessee experienced a disappointing SEC Tournament, highlighted by a loss to Alabama, marking their first such loss since 2017.

Baylor’s Performance: Baylor demonstrated significant shortcomings, losing to Colorado in the Big 12 quarterfinals, raising questions about their readiness for the NCAA Tournament.

It’s clear that the momentum built in March is essential, and as teams prepare for the NCAA Tournament, these results will shape the landscape of women’s college basketball.