Ready for more? We’re down to 32 teams in the 2025 women’s NCAA tournament as the second round tips off Sunday. March Madness has meant plenty of records so far: For the first time, six teams topped 100 points in the first round, and five teams won by more than 50 points.
All of it made for a chalky first round. The round of 32 includes just two double-digit seeds, and all 16 host teams advanced. Are upsets in store as the Sweet 16 starts to take shape?
We’re capturing all of Sunday’s action here, with reporters on site and analysis of every matchup. Find out what’s next for the winners or relive the day’s action. And be sure to check out ESPN’s ranking of the 32 teams remaining in the field.
Jump to: Live coverage | Full results and analysis
Sunday’s schedule (all tips ET):
(5) Tennessee Lady Volunteers vs. (4) Ohio State Buckeyes, 8 p.m., ESPN
(8) Richmond Spiders vs. (1) UCLA Bruins, 10 p.m., ESPN
Sunday’s full results and analysis
Final: Ole Miss 69, Baylor 63
What made the difference for Ole Miss? The second 4-5 matchup of this NCAA tournament was about as exciting as the first Sunday. Right after 5-seed Kansas State beat 4-seed Kentucky in overtime in Spokane 4, Ole Miss pulled a similar upset on Baylor’s home court in Spokane 1. The Rebels were one of the teams in the running for a top-16 seed and the chance to host but fell just short in the committee’s eyes. That was a rallying point for Ole Miss coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin and her team, which finished tied for sixth with Alabama in the SEC. McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels also made the Sweet 16 in 2023, when as a No. 8 seed they upset No. 1 Stanford on its home court in the second round. Sunday was the fourth time in program history that Ole Miss has won a true road game in the NCAA tournament.
The Rebels struggled in the second quarter, scoring just six points. But their defense was good enough that they trailed only 29-26 at halftime. Neither team got things going from behind the arc all game; Ole Miss and Baylor were a combined 4-of-25 there. However, the Rebels got to the free throw line a lot more, finishing 17-of-21 on foul shots to Baylor’s 7-of-11. Ole Miss forced 21 turnovers and also shot better in the second half. The Rebels were 5-of-14 on open looks in the first half, and 9-of-14 on those looks in the second half.
What it means for Ole Miss: The Rebels got big games from both their most experienced players — fifth-year seniors Madison Scott (14 points) and KK Deans (13 points) — and freshman Sira Thienou (16 points, 6 rebounds). Ole Miss fell to Louisville in its most recent Sweet 16 appearance in 2023 and now awaits the winner of Monday’s Florida State-LSU second-round game. In their SEC regular-season finale, the Rebels beat LSU 85-77 on March 2, although Tigers star guard Flau’Jae Johnson was out injured and didn’t play in that game. — Michael Voepel
Final: South Carolina 64, Indiana 53
How did South Carolina overcome a 26-25 halftime deficit? To put it simply, a huge third quarter. South Carolina scored 26 points in the period — more than it did in the entire first half. Chloe Kitts keyed the run, but getting good interior play from Sania Feagin was clutch, too. This was not the best game the Gamecocks have played this season. They looked disjointed at times on offense for large swaths of the game. Consider this: The third quarter was the only period in which the Gamecocks scored more than 17 points. That ended up being the biggest difference in the game. Outside that third quarter, their defensive performance helped, too. South Carolina forced 16 turnovers, outrebounded Indiana and had seven blocks and seven steals. Kitts ended up with a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).
What can South Carolina learn from Sunday headed into the Sweet 16? South Carolina has not relied on just one player to lead the way this season, but on its collective team to get the job done. If Sunday showed anything, it was that the Gamecocks could survive a down game from their bench and in particular their two leading scorers, freshman Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley. Edwards was uncharacteristically off her game, with only 5 points on 2-of-8 shooting with 5 turnovers. Fulwiley scored 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting. Without the bench delivering points by the bushel, others stepped up, including Bree Hall (3-of-4 from 3), Kitts and Feagin. — Andrea Adelson
1:35
Paopao says South Carolina keeping it simple was key to success
Te-Hina Paopao talks about how the Gamecocks were able to play their game and get a tough win over Indiana on their way to their 11th straight Sweet 16.
Final: Kansas State 80, Kentucky 79 (OT)
How did Kansas State pull it out? It looked like the 5-seed had blown a chance at the Sweet 16 when Kentucky took a 5-0 run late in the game. But back-to-back 3-pointers gave Kansas State the lead and set up a thrilling finish. Down the stretch, perimeter shooting enabled Kansas State to not only keep pace with Kentucky but ultimately advance to the school’s first Sweet 16 since 2002. Temira Poindexter started the game by missing her first five deep shots but more than made amends. She finished with a game-high 24 points. All of her makes were 3-pointers. And a potential game-winning Georgia Amoore floater bounced off the front and back of the rim to allow Kansas State to survive an absolute thriller.
What this means for Kansas State: Kansas State’s players stepped up in many spots over the course of the game. There are still questions about how well the Wildcats will match up against the next opponent, which could be 1-seed USC. But that is another problem for another day. — Ben Baby
MORE: Kansas State advances to first Sweet 16 in 23 years
Final: Notre Dame 76, Michigan 55
How did Notre Dame dominate Michigan? Michigan didn’t lead at any point in the Round of 32 because Notre Dame came at the Wolverines from all angles in yet another double-digit victory. Whether in transition, attacking the paint (36 points), some well-timed shots from deep and the contributions from its stars —Olivia Miles, Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo and Liatu King scored or assisted on all but six of Notre Dame’s points — the Fighting Irish were too much for Michigan to handle. This game was never close, but Notre Dame put its foot on the gas in the third quarter when it limited Michigan to eight points. Understandably gassed from a hard-fought battle with Iowa State in the first round, the Wolverines didn’t get the same contributions from Jordan Hobbs or Mila Holloway that they needed to go toe-to-toe with a team that has outscored its opponents by 73 in the first two rounds.
What it means for Notre Dame: No one in the field has had an easier time with their opponents during the opening weekend of the tournament. Notre Dame made light work of Stephen F. Austin (won by 54) and beat a tired Michigan team by 21. The Fighting Irish look like the version of themselves that were ranked No. 1 in the country for most of the season, and the results from the first two rounds are a sign that they can contend for a national championship. They’ll face either No. 7 seed Louisville (which they beat twice this season) or No. 2 seed TCU (which beat the Irish by eight on Nov. 29 in a tournament in the Cayman Islands) in the Sweet 16. in the Sweet 16. — Courtney Cronin
Final: Duke 59, Oregon 53
How did Duke avoid the upset? Duke, did just enough to squeak out this win. After building a 10-point lead, the Blue Devils missed seven shots through the closing minutes of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, opening the door for Oregon and Deja Kelly, who scored nine points in the third (she finished with 20). Ashlon Jackson kept the Blue Devils in it with her own 14 points in the third, plus a massive 3-pointer late in the fourth to put the Blue Devils up seven with under two minutes remaining — prompting her teammates to hit Stephen Curry’s famous “Night Night” celebration. All of her 20 points came in the second half. Despite a frantic finish, almost turning the ball over several times through the final 30 seconds of the game, the Blue Devils survived … and advanced.
What’s next for Duke? After escaping what would have tied the program’s largest seed upset loss in its tournament history, Duke returns to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year. Up next? The winner of No. 3 North Carolina-No. 6 West Virginia. The Tar Heels present a familiar foe for the Blue Devils, but the pair have never met in the NCAA tournament. This season, UNC earned an OT win in the teams’ first matchup back in January, and the Blue Devils took the Feb. 27 matchup handily. — Kendra Andrews
MORE: With Fournier sidelined, Duke reaches second consecutive Sweet 16
