In CBS Sports’ women’s NCAA Tournament bracketology, the Iowa Hawkeyes are ranked first.
Iowa hopes to go back to the NCAA Tournament and repeat as a deep run team, like they did the previous season. First, there is seeding. It should go without saying that the journey is easier the higher the seed.
As the anticipated No. 1 seed, the Hawkeyes are still leading the pack according to CBS Sports’ most recent women’s bracketology update.
Iowa (18-2, 7-1 Big Ten): NET 6, SOS 16
Iowa’s #22 Caitlin Clark turned 22 on Monday, and she hasn’t stopped sweeping throughout collegiate sports, including women’s basketball. Clark’s 31.7 points per game this season is the most since Andrea Congreaves’ 33.0 PPG for Mercer in the 1991–92 season.
Clark is now on track to break Kelsey Plum’s Division I women’s career scoring record in six games (which would be Feb. 15 vs. Michigan). Although they were not successful in winning the national title the previous year, the Hawkeyes have every right to do better this year.
As the club with the highest current NET ranking in the Big Ten, Iowa is also projected as an automatic bid, which at this time is all but certain.
Stanford, UCLA, and South Carolina are the other No. 1 seeds. The teams ranked No. 2 are North Carolina State, Colorado, Kansas State, and UConn.