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By Megan Armstrong
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The UConn Huskies women's basketball team will try to become the first program to repeat as Division I NCAA champions since UConn mounted a dynasty and won four straight titles from 2013 to 2016. The women's NCAA Tournament doesn't tip off on March 18, but the full bracket was just revealed.
UConn went a perfect 34-0 in the regular season behind Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, but the UCLA Bruins stayed on the Huskies' tail. UCLA finished 31-1.
After the Lauren Betts-led Bruins cruised through the Big Ten Tournament and demolished Iowa 96-45 in the Big Ten Tournament title game, speculation strengthened that UCLA could swipe the No. 1 overall seed from UConn. The Huskies, for the record, also obliterated their competition in the Big East Tournament and won the title game 90-51 over Villanova.
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UConn was named the No. 1 overall seed, while UCLA earned the second No. 1 seed. The Huskies will face No. 16 UTSA in their first game on March 21, and UCLA will face No. 16 Cal Baptist in its tournament opener on March 21.
Texas (31-3) and South Carolina (31-3) are the third and fourth No. 1 seeds, respectively. They will each play winners from the First Four on March 21. The full women's NCAA Tournament bracket can be found here.
According to The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant, UConn can become the third-ever team to finish a season 40-0 if they become back-to-back champions. UCLA hasn't won a national title since 1978 and has never won the NCAA Tournament as it's known today (via ESPN).
Meanwhile, Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks have won three of the past eight championships (2017, '22, and '24), and Texas will be seeking its first title in 40 years (via The Austin American-Statesman).
But we all know a No. 1 seed guarantees next to nothing during the NCAA Tournament. Let the madness begin.
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