In what should be an electric competition, the 2024 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament features the best in college basketball and a ton of awesome squads. Of course, the top team to beat in this field is Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks squad which won the SEC again and registered a perfect record of 32-0 as the No. 1 team in the country. The Gamecocks’ main competition will stem from a potential showdown later in the tournament against the fantastic Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes (29-4). Another SEC team to keep an eye on is the 2023 National Champion LSU. The Tigers have their own star in forward Angel Reese among other fantastic players. Finally, a mainstay in the tournament is Geno Auriemma’s UConn squad which notched another Big East crown this year but has had to deal with injuries.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these squads, a predicted winner for the national championship, and also some more notes about NCAAW wagering.
| Favorites to Win 2024 NCAAB Women's Division I National Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | -120 | -120 | -120 |
| Iowa | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| LSU | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| UConn | +1500 | +1500 | +1500 |
Staley has built a perennial in Columbia and the Gamecocks have been a juggernaut this season. During the course of the year, they knocked off six ranked teams, including two of the squads on this list (LSU and UConn). Moreover, they also were able to get past the Tigers again in the SEC Championship game, 79-72. However, South Carolina did have some close calls at times, winning by one point over Tennessee in the SEC Conference Tournament. In terms of players to keep an eye on, freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley has been fantastic this year for Staley’s crew, notching 24 points against the Tigers last week.
Iowa has been another fantastic team this season, buoyed by the scoring prowess of Clark. The Hawkeyes advanced to the championship game last season, which was the first in program history but lost to LSU 85-102. This year of course they are looking for redemption and have been the subject of another spectacular year thanks to their star guard. Clark has been nothing short of a must-watch this year as she became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer this season. In addition to this mark, she also broke the Division I single-season record in three-pointers and the all-time conference record (Big Ten) in assists. With a mark of 29-4 on the year, they actually finished second in the Big Ten to Ohio State but ended up winning the conference tournament anyway with a thrilling overtime win over Nebraska.
Led by veteran head coach Kim Mulkey, the Tigers are aiming for back-to-back NCAA Championships. An extremely accomplished coach, the former Louisiana Tech guard and Basketball Hall of Famer has won four national titles to date. Of course, like some of the other teams on this list, the Lady Tigers also have some fantastic star power in the form of Reese. Known as “Bayou Barbie,” the LSU forward was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player last year along with the honor of being a unanimous first-team All-American. Of course, the Tigers would have most likely won the SEC this year if South Carolina had not been in the conference, but alas this is not the case. Perhaps the tide can change in the NCAA Tournament.
Our last contender showcase, the Huskies are of course a staple when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Auriemma has won an astounding 11 NCAA Division I Tournaments and is perhaps the greatest college in women’s basketball history. Of course, he and the Huskies are seeking their first national championship since 2016. UConn has a great team, but the Huskies have been ravaged by injuries, with only seven players available at some points during the Big East tournament. Regardless, they still won their 11th straight conference tournament championship.
Prediction: This should be an amazing Final Four, but take the Gamecocks to continue their winning ways to the title game.
After you are all dialed in regarding all of the news and updates coming from the world of women’s college basketball, make sure to tap into the great resources for you only at SBS. Of course, as regular readers know, for even more great info on the women’s NCAA Tournament and beyond, our NCAAB betting sites guide is a must-bookmark page this March. Moreover, if you are interested in the latest betting markets on this year’s tournament, another great page to keep an eye on is the March Madness Odds breakdown where you can keep track of every game during this fantastic tournament. Finally, for those interested in maximizing your NCAA Tournament wagers, make sure to check out the best bonus betting sites rundown which contains a ton of great info like a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers available.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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