Category: Sport

DERBY, England — England cruised to a cushty 3-0 win over Australia, compounding the Matildas’ ache from their 2023 World Cup semifinal defeat. But the victory was overshadowed when Euro 2025 hero Michelle Agyemang was stretchered off within the second half after collapsing and clutching her knee.

Up till that time, it had been a near-perfect night time in Derby for the Lionesses. Australian defender Alanna Kennedy was proven a crimson card within the Nineteenth minute for a juvenile problem, with Aggie Beever-Jones discovering the again the online in response. Lucy Bronze, England’s participant of the yr, added a second within the first half, earlier than Georgia Stanway sealed the end result from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time. The efficiency was an emphatic response to England’s 2-1 defeat to South American champions Brazil on Saturday. Supervisor Sarina Wiegman had described the Australia conflict as an opportunity to “proper the wrongs” from that loss and her facet delivered convincingly.

For Australia, nevertheless, the defeat laid naked quite a few acquainted frailties that new head coach Joe Montemurro should urgently handle. A passive, toothless assault failed to bother the European champions, highlighting simply how far the Matildas stay from their peak kind. — Emily Keogh

Simply after we thought this was going to be a near-perfect night for the Lionesses — an evening when Wiegman’s 5 adjustments paid off, and all was effectively once more for the Euro 2025 champions — the 73rd minute ticked round, and the occasion ambiance fell into hushed quiet as Agyemang fell to the bottom. The priority of her teammates round her was palpable, Agyemang in apparent agony and misery. A couple of minutes later, Beever-Jones left the pitch injured, making it 10 vs. 10. Immediately the adjustments, the objectives and the return to profitable methods have been overshadowed.

For the primary 73 minutes of this one-sided match, this was as Wiegman would have hoped, her testing England’s depth. Having mentioned all alongside Maya Le Tissier was a proper again, she began her at heart again. Debuts have been handed to Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds. Beever-Jones is normally a striker at Chelsea however was on the left wing Tuesday night time, and Hannah Hampton returned in objective. All of the adjustments labored, and all seemed to be effectively once more after the Brazil defeat on Saturday.

The reminders of Euro 2025 are nonetheless in every single place: the montage of the triumph, injured duo Lauren Hemp and Grace Clinton bringing out the trophy prematch. However the resolution to begin Le Tissier at heart again and hand Hinds and Kendall debuts was Wiegman taking England into the subsequent cycle, the main focus solely on the 2027 World Cup, fairly than on what’s already come earlier than.

Whereas England lacked fluidity and a leading edge in opposition to Brazil, they appeared way more pressing in entrance of objective this time round. However this comes with a caveat — the Nineteenth-minute crimson card to Australia’s Kennedy modified every part. After Kennedy’s lapse of judgement, Australia’s recreation plan was scattered into the chilly Derby sky, and their menace minimal.

It allowed Kendall time on the ball in midfield — an ideal possibility at No. 8 for Wiegman and somebody to throw into the combo alongside Clinton as competitors for Stanway. Hinds did effectively at left again — one notable contribution was monitoring again within the first half to stop Ellie Carpenter carving out area to search out Sam Kerr. Beever-Jones grabbed England’s first with a robust strike from the sting of the field, but in addition was splendidly elusive within the field. She steadily misplaced her marker on the far submit and located area, just for her ending to be a spark off. Hampton was assured in objective, however Le Tissier followers would’ve been delighted to see her again at her standard residence at heart again.

The noise over England’s positioning of Le Tissier has been a curious subplot to those pair of internationals — her membership facet Manchester United reacting to Wiegman’s assertion that she sees her without any consideration again by posting her membership stats, studying 103 video games at heart again out of 104 appearances. She appeared way more at residence in the course of protection alongside Esme Morgan — steadily an outlet on the again to restart play and reshape the main focus of England’s assault. Bronze — on her 142nd cap and birthday — acquired England’s second with a well-struck effort.

Two objectives to the nice at halftime, England rang the adjustments and Australia supplied a minimal menace in entrance of the sold-out crowd. Wiegman had additional possibilities to check new-look mixtures and it was all going so effectively. Agyemang was given her probability within the 62nd minute — her title receiving one of many loudest cheers of the night time, the savior of England’s Euro 2025 championship. She performed along with her standard boundless vitality till the 73rd minute struck. Minutes later Beever-Jones was walked off, unable to complete the match.

Now comes the nervous wait on their prognoses. Stanway slotted a late penalty, however nonetheless ideas have been with Agyemang. England had re-found their profitable contact, however probably at some value. — Tom Hamilton

England broke Matildas followers’ hearts as soon as once more, following up their 2023 World Cup semifinal triumph with one other victory — this time made simpler by Australia’s personal struggles. The Lionesses’ 3-1 win in Sydney ended the Matildas’ dream of reaching a World Cup ultimate on residence soil, and when the 2 sides met once more, feelings have been operating excessive. The Australians have been determined to avenge that heartbreak and show themselves in opposition to the reigning European champions, however the night time resulted in acquainted disappointment.

A crimson card for Kennedy and an ineffective, at instances invisible, assault led to the Matildas’ second straight defeat to England. It was a dismal exhibiting from Australia, who managed solely three makes an attempt on objective, and only one on track.

Even the return of prolific striker Kerr, who made her comeback to worldwide soccer after 725 days away in a 2-1 win over Wales on Saturday, couldn’t spark the facet. Kerr and the wingers have been left remoted because the Matildas accomplished simply 40 profitable passes into the ultimate third and recorded solely 14 touches inside England’s field. They have been referred to as in for defensive assist, leaving their counterattack non existent. Against this, England dominated with 250 passes and 47 touches in Australia’s space.

As soon as Australia did get the ball, they have been incompetent at preserving it, outplayed and outclassed by England’s suffocating press. They didn’t be taught sufficient after the primary half to appropriate their frailties within the second half. Their halftime preparation, firing photographs at goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, proved their focus was merely to restrict the drubbing — which it did — and never expose themselves pushing for a objective and worsening the scoreline. This passive method is uncommon, however hopefully extra time underneath the Australian coach will create a extra proactive recreation plan.

Montemurro, appointed in June after a season with Lyon, has now overseen six matches with a blended file of two wins, one draw and two losses. Whereas it’s nonetheless early days, the weaknesses on show — significantly in creativity and composure underneath stress — will want pressing consideration forward of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup on residence soil at the beginning of that yr.

Furthermore, whereas the match was formally labelled a pleasant, any conflict between England and Australia is something however. The rivalry stays fiery and filled with emotion, and after this newest defeat, the scars from final yr’s World Cup heartbreak will sting even deeper for the Matildas. — Keogh

The identical 12 months Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier was alleged to have manipulated his efficiency in an NBA sport as a part of playing schemes, he was going through an $8 million tax lien from the Inside Income Service, in line with county clerk data obtained by ESPN.

The IRS filed the $8,218,211 federal earnings tax lien in Broward County, Florida, the place Rozier has a residence, in November 2023. The lien would have been filed after overdue notices had been despatched to the taxpayer, in line with Florida tax legal professional Steven N. Klitzner.

“It shouldn’t be a shock to them,” he stated.

ESPN has contacted Rozier’s legal professional, Jim Trusty of Ifrah Regulation, for remark.

In accordance with a federal indictment unsealed final Thursday, Rozier is accused of offering nonpublic details about his plans to depart a March 2023 sport early to a pal, Deniro Laster, who then bought it to bettors for about $100,000. Rozier performed simply over 9 minutes earlier than leaving the sport, citing a foot damage.

Rozier paid for Laster to journey to Philadelphia to gather the proceeds from the scheme, in line with the indictment, after which drove to Rozier’s house to depend the cash with him.

Rozier and Laster had been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. They had been amongst 34 defendants arrested final week in two sweeping federal playing investigations.

Trusty stated in a press release on the time that his consumer is “not a gambler” and “seems to be ahead to profitable this battle.”

The NBA put Rozier on depart after the indictment turned public. The league investigated Rozier in 2023 after suspicious prop bets had been positioned on the unders on his statistics within the sport however discovered on the time that he had not violated league guidelines. Final week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated that Rozier had cooperated with the NBA’s investigation and the league “in the end concluded that there was inadequate proof, regardless of that aberrational conduct.”

The IRS has 30 days to file a lien launch after a debt has been paid. There isn’t a lien launch on file, in line with the county clerk’s workplace. Nobody from the IRS responded to emails from ESPN searching for additional info on whether or not one was pending.

The handle on the tax lien corresponds to an organization in California integrated in 2024 known as GMB Chronicles, which additionally lists Rozier as an officer and holds the trademark rights to his nickname, “Scary Terry.”

Information from Broward County additionally confirmed a development lien filed towards Rozier in August 2022 for about $271,000, of which $250,000 was paid by July 2023. The lien was for quite a lot of work being completed on his $5.3 million property on the western aspect of the county.

Rozier signed a four-year, $96.3 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets on Aug. 24, 2021, after which was traded to Miami on Jan. 23, 2024. Together with this season, Rozier has a profession $161.7 million in on-court earnings.

PITTSBURGH — After surrendering at the least 30 factors for the fourth time in seven video games, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin defended defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Tuesday.

“I’ve identified Teryl a very long time,” Tomlin stated. “He’s very succesful. He’s very thorough. I’ve largely been happy together with his work, however actually he and I are usually not happy with the place we’re proper now from a defensive unit perspective and so we’re simply going to maintain working.”

Tomlin additionally stated he’s not taking up sole defensive playcalling duties after the 35-25 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Sunday evening.

“That’s not on the desk as we sit right here at this time,” Tomlin stated. “We simply received to maintain doing what we’re doing and do it higher.”

Regardless of preseason declarations from Tomlin that the Steelers’ protection might do “historic issues,” the highest-paid unit within the league has repeatedly fallen in need of expectations.

Not solely did they permit a season-high 360 passing yards, three landing strikes and a streak of 20 consecutive completions from Packers quarterback Jordan Love on Sunday, however 4 consecutive quarterbacks — Love, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Carson Wentz — have produced season-high yardage totals in opposition to Pittsburgh’s protection.

Now the Steelers enter a Week 9 matchup in opposition to a 7-1 Indianapolis Colts workforce with the NFL’s most prolific offense, which is averaging a league-leading 33.8 factors and 385.3 yards per recreation. In the meantime, the Steelers rank thirty second in passing yards per recreation (273.3), thirtieth in complete yards allowed (386), twenty fourth in third-down conversion proportion (41.84%) and twenty second in factors per recreation (25.0).

“We make no excuses about how or why we fall quick,” Tomlin stated. “Our job is to carry out at a excessive degree, and we haven’t executed that. … Seven video games or no matter doesn’t make a season. We actually received extra in entrance of us and extra alternatives to jot down our story, whether or not it’s people, whether or not it’s a element of our workforce or whether or not it’s our workforce generally. I feel that’s our basic mindset.”

The Steelers can even be with out beginning robust security DeShon Elliott, who hyperextended his knee within the second half of Sunday’s loss and is “week-to-week.” To switch him, the Steelers are understanding a number of veteran safeties, Tomlin stated, together with Vonn Bell and Eddie Jackson. The workforce additionally signed hard-hitting security Jabrill Peppers earlier within the season when Elliott was sidelined with one other knee damage.

Tomlin additionally didn’t rule out exploring the commerce marketplace for choices.

“We’re at all times open for enterprise, notably as we get near the commerce deadline,” Tomlin stated. “We’re at all times consumers.”

The Steelers have been profitable in shutting down the Packers within the first half of Sunday evening’s loss, maintaining Love and the offense from changing any of their 4 third downs because the Steelers constructed a 16-7 halftime lead. Within the second half, nonetheless, the Packers transformed 5 of 8 alternatives, together with a 59-yard completion to tight finish Tucker Kraft and a 33-yard completion to Christian Watson — each within the third quarter.

“I didn’t assume we did a adequate job recovering from that and discovering our footing as a collective soccer group — offense, protection and particular groups — within the effort to make the mandatory performs over the course of the final quarter-hour to win the sport,” Tomlin stated.

Quite a few gamers stated the poor play within the second half snowballed and affected effort and attitudes late within the recreation.

“If I’m being fully sincere, I don’t really feel like the hassle was there,” security Juan Thornhill stated Monday, including that the defensive unit has been addressing that problem brazenly this week. “We received to have that dialog. We received to let all people know that effort shouldn’t be one thing that we needs to be taking note of. You at all times have to play laborious.”

Tomlin stated he didn’t see a “lack of combat” on the sport movie because it associated to effort.

“I’m speaking about combat when it comes to playmaking,” Tomlin stated. “You don’t get credit score for making an attempt laborious. We’re not within the ‘attempt laborious’ enterprise. Our combat is about manufacturing and producing and we actually didn’t produce sufficient performs over the past half-hour of the sport, notably in any of the phases to safe victory.”

Tomlin stated many of the points on protection can’t actually be resolved till the workforce takes the sector at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.

“You may spend quite a lot of time speaking about your ills, however the true fixes are available stadiums,” Tomlin stated. “… There’s actually procedurally issues that you just go about doing that fixes it, however the repair occurs in stadiums and the remainder of it’s simply discuss.”

EA Sports activities and the NFL have agreed on a multi-year extension of their partnership, securing the way forward for the Madden collection because the “unique motion simulation recreation for NFL soccer.”

This places any ambitions by rival builders to compete with EA for the official license to relaxation for the close to future. Most Soccer and different style representatives should proceed enjoying from a drawback with regard to authenticity.

The deal additionally covers assist for EA Sports activities School Soccer and different “solely new, large-scale interactive experiences,” leaving the door open for any new video games.

EA has been steadily growing its real-world connections with sports activities companions — by sponsoring Spanish soccer league La Liga, for instance. Related strikes are obvious regarding the NFL, with EA showing because the presenting sponsor of the 2025 NFL Dublin recreation and an official MCS — EA’s official Madden Championship Collection — match being hosted alongside the 2025 NFL Madrid recreation. Beneath the prolonged settlement, such events are anticipated to multiply.

When the UConn Huskies received their fourth consecutive NCAA ladies’s basketball title (eleventh general) in 2016, nobody would have guessed practically a decade would cross earlier than they celebrated a championship once more.

Final season, although, the Huskies dominated Last 4 foes UCLA and South Carolina, giving this system and coach Geno Auriemma a twelfth nationwide championship.

Can the Huskies win a thirteenth? UConn is ranked No. 1 within the preseason ballot regardless of dropping standout Paige Bueckers, the highest draft decide and Rookie of the Yr this previous WNBA season.

Many different prime contending groups from final season return robust, too, although USC famous person JuJu Watkins is sitting out 2025-2026 after tearing her proper ACL within the NCAA event in March.

Everybody needed to regulate to extra main shifts in convention realignment final season, however the mud has settled … for now. Earlier than we formally get began on the highway to Phoenix — a first-time host for the ladies’s Last 4 — ESPN’s Michael Voepel, Charlie Creme and Kendra Andrews ask and reply 10 burning questions for the 2025-26 faculty basketball season.

Not solely can the Huskies repeat, they need to be thought of the favorites to ship one other championship to Storrs. That stated, this isn’t the 2016 Huskies of Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson coming off three consecutive titles. UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and LSU are additionally viable candidates, and UConn does have to switch the most effective gamers within the storied historical past of this system in Bueckers.

However the Huskies are the preseason No. 1 crew within the nation for a motive. Just a few causes, actually.

Sarah Sturdy seems in line to affix the group of all-time UConn greats. The 6-foot-2 sophomore was quietly dominant a 12 months in the past (16.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 58.6% FG) and could be one of the best participant within the nation. Put extremely productive Wisconsin switch Serah Williams subsequent to Sturdy, plus the scale of 6-5 Jana El Alfy, 6-3 Ice Brady and the gifted 6-2 freshman Blanca Quiñonez, and Auriemma has as deep and versatile a frontcourt as he has had in current reminiscence. Now couple all that size with an array of shooters — led by All-American contender Azzi Fudd, who was lastly wholesome final season and shined within the Last 4 — and these Huskies have all the weather of being champions once more. — Creme

After averaging a Division I-leading 25.2 PPG final season for Florida State, Latson needed to be on a much bigger stage for her senior 12 months. South Carolina supplies that. In flip, she supplies the Gamecocks with confirmed high-level scoring.

Solely two of the Gamecocks’ prime eight scorers from final season’s nationwide runner-up crew — Joyce Edwards (12.7 PPG) and Tessa Johnson (8.4 PPG) — are on the roster this season. The others both graduated, transferred or are out with damage.

Coach Daybreak Staley nonetheless has many gifted gamers. Some, comparable to extremely touted freshmen guards Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, would possibly take a while to develop. However there shouldn’t be a lot of a studying curve for Latson, who might have been a excessive first-round decide in April had she determined to enter the WNBA draft (she was age-eligible). Raven Johnson is in her fifth 12 months (she redshirted her freshman season with a knee damage) and Tessa Johnson is in her third. Mixed with Latson, they make a really skilled backcourt trio.

The Gamecocks have received or tied for the SEC regular-season title 9 of the previous 12 years, and likewise received the league event title 9 occasions in that stretch. Anticipate Texas, LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee to be South Carolina’s prime challengers within the convention. The Longhorns and Sooners adjusted properly to the league of their first 12 months, and the Woman Vols had a stable exhibiting beneath first-year coach Kim Caldwell. All of them, together with LSU, are itching to totally knock the Gamecocks off their perch. However that can proceed to be an enormous problem. — Voepel

If nothing else, how final season ended must be gas for each groups.

“Disappointing” would possibly sound odd, contemplating the Bruins had by no means made the Last 4 within the NCAA period, and the Longhorns had not been that far since 2003. So attending to the nationwide semifinals was an enormous deal. Nevertheless, each misplaced large there: UCLA by 34 factors to UConn, and Texas by 17 to South Carolina.

This season, the Bruins’ roster appears to be like so much totally different after dropping most of their freshman class and key rotation gamers Londynn Jones and Janiah Barker to the switch portal. However they retained most of their core, together with main scorer Lauren Betts, the most effective gamers within the nation. UCLA can also be bringing again 69% of its scoring and 55% of its rebounding from final season. The Bruins add Betts’ sister, Sienna, the No. 2-ranked prospect within the nation for the 2025 class, and Lena Bilić, a prime abroad prospect.

The Bruins have a difficult nonconference schedule, with a number of video games in opposition to groups within the preseason prime 10 — together with Texas, which went 35-4 and earned a share of the SEC regular-season title in its first 12 months within the convention. Junior ahead Madison Booker (16.3 PPG, 6.6RPG, 46.6% FG) was SEC participant of the 12 months — an honor she’s picked to repeat this season.

Texas coach Vic Schaefer is difficult Booker to proceed to develop not simply on the court docket but additionally as a vocal chief because the crew brings in a number of new faces and leans extra closely on the sophomore class. — Andrews

The pendulum might swing in both course for the Trojans. The expertise continues to be plentiful even with out Watkins, however a lot of it’s younger. If Kennedy Smith (9.5 PPG) makes that large sophomore leap and if the nation’s top-rated recruit Jazzy Davidson performs as much as her standing, USC may very well be a top-15 crew and compete for a spot close to the highest of the Massive Ten. The manufacturing and management of transfers Kara Dunn (Georgia Tech) and Londynn Jones (UCLA) can even be key.

That is additionally a crew that might end outdoors the highest 5 within the Massive Ten and roll into the NCAA event as a No. 6 or 7 seed. The Trojans relied closely on Watkins the previous two seasons, in order that they might want to shift their strategy. Not solely was Watkins the centerpiece of the offense, taking strain off the remainder of the lineup, she was one of many premier defenders within the nation. These roles and manufacturing will now be unfold out throughout the roster and can instantly be examined by a nonconference schedule that features NC State, South Carolina, Notre Dame, UConn and UCLA earlier than Jan. 3. How the younger and new-look Trojans survive that stretch would possibly outline how a lot Watkins is missed. — Creme

Via her two faculty seasons at South Carolina, Fulwiley’s profession may very well be outlined as electrifying: She was known as a strolling spotlight reel. Her profession was additionally characterised by wild fluctuations in reliability and manufacturing. Her 11.7 factors and a couple of.0 assists per recreation final season have been accompanied by a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio and 25.8% 3-point taking pictures.

Now a possibility awaits in Baton Rouge to be a full-time level guard. If Fulwiley embraces the job, and the consistency it requires, she is going to flourish — particularly since she might be flanked by two different potential All-Individuals in Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams.

Fulwiley’s future as a professional is probably going taking part in the purpose. With Raven Johnson returning to South Carolina for yet another season, the prospect for Fulwiley to hone these expertise full-time wasn’t going to occur till 2026-27. So the transfer to LSU is smart. Though she’s leaving one of many all-time nice level guards in coach Daybreak Staley, she’ll now be mentored by one other Corridor of Famer who is aware of a good quantity concerning the place in Kim Mulkey. — Creme

Lawson took over within the 2020-21 season, which lasted simply 4 video games earlier than being cancelled as a consequence of COVID-19. But it surely has been a gentle construct since in Durham.

The Blue Devils missed the 2022 NCAA event, made the second spherical in 2023, the Candy 16 in 2024 and the Elite Eight final season with a 29-8 document. Now, what is probably essentially the most gifted Duke crew beneath Lawson might take the subsequent step to the Last 4. It is usually the favourite within the ACC.

Duke’s recruiting has additionally continued to enhance. In every of the previous two years Lawson has landed a top-10 highschool participant: Toby Fournier, the 2025 ACC rookie of the 12 months, and Emilee Skinner, who must be the Blue Devils’ place to begin guard after they open the season Nov. 3 in opposition to Baylor in Paris.

The Blue Devils’ protection has been this system’s calling card beneath Lawson. If veterans comparable to Ashlon Jackson (12.4 PPG), Delaney Thomas (7.1 PPG) and Taina Mair (3.6 APG) can produce sufficient offense, and the NCAA event matchups are extra favorable (South Carolina and UConn eradicated the Blue Devils the earlier two seasons), Duke might break via to its first Last 4 since 2006. — Creme

The Horned Frogs are coming off their best-ever season: They went 34-4, received the Massive 12 regular-season and event titles and made the Elite Eight, all program firsts. However TCU misplaced 4 senior starters, all of whom have been transfers — together with main scorers Hailey Van Lith (17.9 PPG) and Sedona Prince (17.2).

However, TCU is the Massive 12 preseason favourite, largely as a result of coach Mark Campbell has restocked from the portal. That expertise infusion is led by level guard Olivia Miles (Notre Dame), ahead Marta Suarez (Cal) and 6-7 facilities Clara Silva (Kentucky) and Kennedy Basham (Arizona State). Switch guard Maddie Scherr, who joined the crew final season however didn’t play due to an damage, is wholesome and also needs to considerably contribute.

Miles stated just lately that the group has bonded shortly, and that she is wanting ahead to having a number of large posts to work with within the pick-and-roll. TCU’s prime challengers within the Massive 12 must be much like final season: Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. — Voepel

Miles’ departure to TCU put the keys to the Irish offense again firmly within the fingers of Hidalgo, who was the lead level guard in 2023-24 when Miles was injured and sat out the season. Plus, three different Irish starters and a prime reserve from final season are not in South Bend.

So, that is the junior guard’s present much more than it has ever been. In her two seasons at Notre Dame, she averaged 23.1 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.2 steals. She received the ACC’s participant of the 12 months and defensive participant of the 12 months honors final season and is predicted to win them once more. Notre Dame is predicted to complete fifth within the ACC, so we’ll see if Hidalgo can cause them to a greater end than that. — Voepel

It’s possible no program felt the consequences of change greater than Stanford final season. Tara VanDerveer, the architect of Stanford as a powerhouse program going again to her arrival in 1985, retired. Her longtime assistant and former participant Kate Paye took over as coach, however needed to face a brand new convention, with each Stanford and Cal shifting to the ACC. That meant cross-country journey for convention play. The Cardinal completed 16-15 general and 8-10 within the ACC, lacking the NCAA event for the primary time since 1987.

They’ll look to reclaim their contender identification this season — or at the very least begin on the trail to that. Stanford is projected to complete sixth within the ACC behind Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Louisville and Notre Dame. Junior ahead Sunaja “Nunu” Agara was named to the preseason All-ACC crew, whereas guard Hailee Swain and ahead Lara Somfai have been named to the convention’s preseason All-Freshman crew. Stanford’s five-player recruiting class was ranked No. 3 by ESPN’s Shane Laflin, and this may very well be the group that helps outline the Cardinal’s subsequent period. — Voepel

Our preseason Bracketology has 13 Massive Ten groups within the NCAA event discipline, 11 ACC and 9 SEC. Heading into the brand new season, the Massive Ten appears to be like just like the deepest convention and must be ready to interrupt its personal mark of 12 event groups set final spring.

Seven of these 12 have been seeded No. 6 or decrease, and this season’s projection units that quantity at eight. However UCLA appears to be like like the one nationwide title contender from the convention. The SEC has 5 of its projected 9 groups within the prime 16, and produced two Last 4 groups final season. The center and backside of this league should not have as many good groups because the Massive Ten, however the SEC has extra groups who’re thought of elite and have produced extra in current NCAA tournaments.

Earlier than Iowa guard Caitlin Clark’s nationwide takeover in 2023, the Massive Ten hadn’t produced a Last 4 crew for the reason that 2015 Maryland Terrapins of their first season after leaving the ACC. The argument about which is the higher measuring stick of a convention’s energy will rage on, however count on the Massive Ten to supply essentially the most bids. — Creme