[ad_1]
The Candy 16 of the 2022 NCAA women’s basketball tournament is upon us, and to the shock of many, a few of the greatest names within the sport will not be a part of it.
Presumptive prime two 2022 WNBA draft picks NaLyssa Smith of the Baylor Bears and Rhyne Howard of the Kentucky Wildcats concluded their collegiate careers when each had been knocked out within the first two rounds. All-American Caitlin Clark additionally bowed out of the match when the Creighton Bluejays took down the Iowa Hawkeyes within the spherical of 32. Clark, Smith and Howard had been three of the highest 5 gamers in our prime 25 rankings launched earlier than the NCAA match tipped off.
With the sphere now at 16 groups, ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Mechelle Voepel revisit which gamers deserve a spot on the listing based mostly on their play via the primary two rounds. There are some additions, together with from Creighton and the South Dakota Coyotes, who each upset 2-seeds Sunday.
Clark (No. 2 on our last rankings), Smith (No. 3), Howard (No. 5), Ole Miss‘ Shakira Austin (No. 7), Virginia Tech‘s Elizabeth Kitley (No. 11), DePaul‘s Aneesah Morrow (No. 17) and Florida Gulf Coast‘s Kierstan Bell (No. 20) have since been eradicated from the match and thus opened up spots for brand spanking new gamers in our rankings, which embrace three gamers from the Stanford Cardinal and Maryland Terrapins.
Observe this hyperlink for a whole have a look at Friday’s schedule and Saturday’s games, that are all on the ESPN household of networks. Go to this hyperlink to examine your Women’s Tournament Challenge bracket.
Ahead | 6-foot-5 | junior
Earlier rating: 1
Boston hasn’t put up loopy numbers to this point within the match, however she’s nonetheless the perfect participant within the discipline till confirmed in any other case. Even when she had a poor capturing night time towards Miami (4-for-15), she outrebounded the Hurricanes’ starters by a 16-11 margin and anchors the Gamecocks’ stifling protection, which helped them draw back regardless of offensive woes. The nationwide participant of the yr favourite is 2 double-doubles shy of tying Courtney Paris for the fourth longest single-season double-double streak in ladies’s Division I basketball historical past at 28. — Philippou
Guard | 6-foot-1 | junior
Earlier rating: 4
Jones coming in at No. 2 on this listing is, frankly, a bit extra of a mirrored image of her bigger physique of labor than what she has achieved to this point within the match. Although she has managed to contribute in different methods, she has didn’t hit double figures in both of Stanford’s first two video games, and her foul hassle towards Kansas did not do the Cardinal any favors. Whereas the likes of Fran Belibi and Lexie Hull have stepped up within the meantime, Stanford will want extra from Jones if it needs to get by Maryland and, finally, attain Minneapolis. — Philippou
0:19
Diamond Miller denies Florida Gulf Coast Eagles with block
Guard | 6-foot-3 | junior
Earlier rating: NR
Diamond Miller, welcome to the rankings, and a top-Three spot no much less. It is effectively deserved for the guard, who has averaged 23.5 factors, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals per sport to begin the NCAA match. After lacking time this season attributable to a lingering knee damage and scuffling with consistency upon her return, Miller is again taking part in in prime type, permitting the Terps to seemingly peak on the proper time. With Miller and teammate Ashley Owusu (who additionally cracked our prime 25 listing) taking part in like this, the Terps have a legit shot at making it to Minneapolis. — Philippou
Ahead | 6-foot-1 | senior
Earlier rating: 9
With the Cyclones going through upset-minded UT Arlington within the first spherical, Joens had a season-high 36 factors plus 15 rebounds. She had 12 factors and 10 rebounds in a second-round win over Georgia, which earned the Cyclones their first Candy 16 since 2010. That was an enormous purpose for Joens, who’s Iowa State’s all-time main scorer. — Voepel
0:16
Naz Hillmon will not be denied as she fights off two defenders for the basket.
Ahead |6-foot-2 | senior
Earlier rating: 6
Together with her 27-point, 11-rebound efficiency on Monday towards Villanova, Hillmon notched her 50th profession double-double, the right send-off at Crisler Heart for a program that she and coach Kim Barnes Arico have remodeled. — Creme
Ahead | 6-foot-4 | sophomore
Earlier rating: 8
Brink has began the NCAA match together with her typical productiveness, stringing collectively a pair of double-doubles in Stanford’s wins over Montana State and Kansas whereas additionally averaging 3.5 assists and three.Zero blocks per sport. However what’s maybe probably the most encouraging signal is that the usually foul-prone ahead has recorded only one foul in 46 minutes of motion throughout the primary two rounds — which bodes effectively for the Cardinal if she will stick with it. — Philippou
Heart | 6-foot-5 | senior
Earlier rating: 13
The Wolfpack did not actually need her towards Kansas State. In reality, they did their greatest work — a 28-9 run within the first half — with Cunane on the bench in foul hassle. Nonetheless, she stays the centerpiece of the crew and probably the most essential piece to a nationwide championship run. — Creme
Ahead | 6-foot-3 | sophomore
Earlier rating: 12
Fortunately for Reese, with the likes of Miller and Owusu thriving, there’s much less strain on her to hold the Terps. Nonetheless, the ahead has continued to be the hallmark of consistency for surging Maryland. She’s a drive on the boards with 18 rebounds throughout her first two match video games, and Florida Gulf Coast had hassle containing her within the paint Sunday, which she capitalized on to attain 11 of her 21 factors from the free throw line. — Philippou
Guard | 5-foot-7 | sophomore
Earlier rating: 18
Van Lith earned her method onto the pre-NCAA match listing due to her standout play towards the tip of the common season, and he or she has carried that over to assist the Cardinals make the Candy 16. The guard registered a pair of 20-plus-point performances versus Albany and Gonzaga — each crew highs — on 50% capturing from 3, the kind of offensive productiveness Louisville will want if it needs to make its first Remaining 4 since 2018. — Philippou
0:23
Rori Harmon floats within the and-1 for Texas
Guard | 5-foot-6 | freshman
Earlier rating: 23
Harmon, the Massive 12 match MVP, continues to be the top of the Longhorns’ protection, which held NCAA match foes Fairfield and Utah to 52 and 56 factors. She additionally totaled 21 factors and 19 assists in these two video games. — Voepel
11. Lexie Hull, Stanford Cardinal
Guard | 6-foot-1 | senior
Earlier rating: NR
Tara VanDerveer declared that at halftime of Stanford’s round-of-32 sport towards Kansas, with the Jayhawks inside two, she wasn’t certain the Cardinal would make it to Spokane. Lexie Hull wasn’t about to let that occur. The guard rattled off 25 second-half factors (for a career-high 36 total, together with 6-for-11 capturing from 3) to propel the Cardinal to their 14th consecutive Candy 16 and remind the nation that Stanford is greater than Jones and Brink. Within the course of, the Spokane native ensured that she and twin Lacie Hull will get to play in entrance of a house crowd within the regional. — Philippou
2:24
Lexie Hull cannot be stopped as she places collectively a 36-point night time to assist Stanford get rid of Kansas.
Guard | 5-foot-11 | sophomore
Earlier rating: 10
Nonetheless not scoring at her typical charge earlier than the damage, Bueckers’ minutes do hold climbing, reaching 32 towards UCF on Monday. She additionally dedicated simply two turnovers towards the Knights’ bodily protection — the stingiest within the nation. — Creme
Guard | 6-foot-0 | junior
Earlier rating: NR
Like teammate Miller, Owusu has began to play a few of her most constant basketball at the perfect time for the Terps after coping with earlier season damage, sickness and inconsistency. The guard has recorded 22 factors per sport on an environment friendly 18 of 28 capturing, to go together with a mean of three.5 assists, within the NCAA match. She (alongside together with her teammates on this listing) is an enormous purpose Maryland has recorded 191 factors via its first two tournaments video games, the second-best whole via the primary two rounds in program historical past. — Philippou
Guard | 6-foot-0 | senior
Earlier rating: 19
No shot defines Berger’s profession higher than the spinning layup she hit because the winner towards Princeton within the second spherical. She took on a whole protection and received the battle, getting her veteran Hoosier crew to a second consecutive Candy 16. — Creme
Ahead | 6-foot-1 | senior
Earlier rating: 16
Her versatility is a key to Louisville’s success. Engstler’s capturing was off (3-of-13) in Sunday’s win over Gonzaga, however she nonetheless had a double-double (12 factors, 11 rebounds), plus 5 steals and two blocks. — Creme
0:16
South Dakota’s Chloe Lamb does it once more with a easy lay-in end.
Guard | 5-foot-10 | senior
Earlier rating: NR
Lamb, the Summit League Participant of the Yr, has elevated her sport of late, serving to the Coyotes grow to be simply the second crew from the Summit League to advance to the Candy 16 behind wins over Colorado and Baylor. Lamb’s scorching capturing from the arc (3-for-6 towards the Bears) helped South Dakota take down second-seeded Baylor on Sunday, however even past that, she has averaged 21.2 factors per sport on 53% capturing throughout the final 4 video games. If she continues to play (and shoot) at this degree, the Coyotes won’t be achieved simply but. — Philippou
Guard | 5-foot-10 | freshman
Earlier rating: NR
Miles (13.5 PPG) leads 5 Irish gamers who common in double-figures scoring, and he or she can also be the crew’s help chief (7.Four APG). In Notre Dame’s first-round victory over UMass, Miles had a triple-double (12 factors, 11 rebounds, 11 assists), and within the Irish’s win over Oklahoma to go to the Candy 16, she had 9 factors, 12 assists and 7 rebounds. — Voepel
0:44
Olivia Miles tallies 11 factors, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in Notre Dame’s 73-56 win over Valparaiso.
Guard | 5-foot-10 | junior
Earlier rating: 21
Sheldon has performed all 80 minutes within the match to this point and has scored 48 factors. She’s the most important purpose the Buckeyes have superior to their first Candy 16 since 2017. — Creme
0:19
Deja Kelly knocks down the large and-1 jumper
Guard | 5-foot-8 | sophomore
Earlier rating: NR
North Carolina is again within the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2015. Kelly is the crew’s main scorer at 16.Three PPG, and is second in assists (2.6 APG). She had 28 factors within the Heels’ opening victory towards Stephen F. Austin, and 15 factors in No. 5 seed UNC’s 63-45 upset at No. Four Arizona within the second spherical. — Voepel
Ahead | 6-foot-1 | sophomore
Earlier rating: NR
On a really balanced crew, we gave a slight nod to Ronsiek on her season-long physique of labor (team-best 14.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG), and her NCAA match mixed totals of 23 factors, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. We additionally might have gone with one other Bluejays sophomore, guard Lauren Jensen, whose 3-pointer sunk No. 2 seed Iowa within the second spherical Sunday and who has totaled 35 factors in Creighton’s two NCAA match wins. — Voepel
Guard | 5-foot-11 | sophomore
Earlier rating: NR
The Cyclones level guard has the ball in her palms a lot of the time, and coach Invoice Fennelly actually trusts her decision-making. She had a mixed 35 factors, 15 assists and 9 rebounds in Iowa State’s early-round victories. — Voepel
Ahead | 6-foot-0 | senior
Earlier rating: NR
Dye has been a much-needed switch for Tennessee as a “tremendous senior” this season after spending two years at Gulf Coast State junior school after which two at Troy. She is averaging 10.2 PPG and seven.7 RPG, and was essential in serving to the Woman Vols keep away from a second-round upset loss to Belmont with 20 factors and 11 rebounds. She had 18 and 11 within the first spherical towards Buffalo. — Voepel
Ahead | 6-foot-0 | freshman
Earlier rating: NR
Moore has been a revelation. Accidents slowed the beginning of her profession and he or she scored in double figures simply as soon as all season till doing it in every of Texas’ final three video games. She averaged 19.5 factors and seven.5 rebounds within the Longhorns’ dominating wins within the first two rounds. — Creme
Guard | 5-foot-4 | senior
Small however mighty, Perez has totaled 31 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists within the Wolfpack’s NCAA victories towards Longwood and Kansas State. For the season, she is averaging 8.9 factors and a pair of.9 assists. — Voepel
Heart | 6-foot-6 | junior
She is averaging 10.7 PPG and eight.1 RPG, plus has a Tennessee single-season file 118 blocks. Secret is a 63.6% free throw shooter, however she made 3-of-Four from the road within the closing seconds of Monday’s win over Belmont. Key has mixed for 34 factors and 15 rebounds within the Woman Vols’ two match wins. — Voepel
Additionally thought of: Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana; Diamond Johnson, NC State; Dara Mabrey, Notre Dame; Christyn Williams, UConn
Source link