Best women's basketball games to watch: An angry Caitlin Clark? That's must-see TV.
Where did the month of February go? We’re as curious as you, but while we figure that out, let’s sit back and enjoy some of the last regular season conference games of the year.
March is just around the corner and with it, some intriguing conference tournaments where we hope to get the answers to questions like: What happens in the Big Ten if Caitlin Clark has an off night? Has anyone figured out yet who the best team in the ACC is? Is the Pac-12 going to give us an epic four days in Las Vegas and have the tournament championship game go into triple overtime because that’s the only way to send out the so-called Conference of Champions?
We don’t know. We do know that the women’s NCAA tournament is shaping up to be the best ever, and will likely be more interesting — and certainly full of more personalities — than the men’s tournament. We’re fine with that. Consider this weekend a preview of the chaos to come.
Here are the five best games to watch:
No. 11 Colorado at No. 7 USC
Friday at 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
This battle of ranked teams should be extra fun because Colorado veteran guards Jaylyn Sherrod and Kindyll Wetta love to play defense, and USC has the best offensive weapon in the Pac-12 in freshman JuJu Watkins (27.5 points). USC post player Rayah Marshall (9.8 points, 10.0 rebounds) might be the most underrated big in the country, and if she has a big day in the paint, this game could be over early. Keep an eye on how the game is called: Colorado prefers an aggressive style, and if officials let them be physical, it will give the Buffs an edge.
No. 24 Baylor at No. 22 West Virginia
Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Who belongs at the top of the Big 12? That’s a question that might not be resolved until the last day of the regular season, given that just one game separates first from second and second from third. Baylor, at 9-6 in Big 12 play, is far behind in the conference championship race but the Bears can still pose problems, with six players who average eight points or more. But WVU is one of the hardest places to win at in the Big 12, and the Mountaineers will be eager to prove that.
No. 23 Princeton at Columbia
Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+
NCAA Tournament viewers from 2023 will remember the name Kaitlyn Chen, the 5-foot-9 guard and reigning Ivy League Player of the Year who scored 22 and helped Princeton upset 7th-seeded NC State in the first round. Chen is still around, and her supporting cast isn’t bad either, with two teammates who average nine points or more. This isn’t a rivalry game so much as a matchup of the two best teams in the Ivy League. Princeton, a borderline Top 25 team all season, is considered all but a lock to win both the regular season and conference tournament — but can the Lions pull off an upset over the Tigers and make the Ivy League tournament that much more interesting in a couple weeks?
Illinois at No. 4 Iowa
Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, FS1
This was not supposed to be that intriguing of a matchup, given how far apart these teams are in the standings. But then Illinois went and smoked No. 16 Indiana on Monday, Indiana responded Thursday by holding Caitlin Clark to just four points in the second half as the Hoosiers upset Iowa in Bloomington, and here we are. Now you’ve got an angry Clark vs. a confident Fighting Illini. Sounds fun. Clark (32.4 points, 8.8 assists) continues her march toward the all-time NCAA scoring record — she needs just 75 points to pass Pete Maravich — but her teammates will have to step up and score, too, if the Hawkeyes are going to get back on the winning track.
North Carolina at No. 8 Virginia Tech
Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, ACC Network
Don’t be fooled by the fact that North Carolina isn’t ranked: The Tar Heels are dangerous and could make a run in March, especially if Deja Kelly (16.6 points) and Alyssa Ustby (12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds) both play like they’re capable. They’ll have to contend with two-time ACC player of the year Liz Kitley (22.9 points, 11.8 rebounds) and probable 2024 ACC player of the year Georgia Amoore (17.8 points, 7.5 assists) on their senior day, and that’s no picnic for any defense. The last game between these two went to overtime — will this one as well?
