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<\/p>\nIf the Iowa Women\u2019s Basketball team is going to make their third Final Four in four seasons, they\u2019ll have to go through the Sacramento 4 Region to do it. The path isn\u2019t an easy one, but the Hawkeyes have proven to be one of the top teams in the country, entering the NCAA Tournament with a 26-6 overall record and a 15-6 mark against teams in the field of 68. Can South Carolina do what everyone expects and make their sixth consecutive Final Four? Can TCU or Oklahoma make some noise and knock off one of the top seeds to make the Elite Eight? Are there any other upsets in store?<\/p>\n
HawkeyeReport takes a closer look at the Sacramento 4 Region to see what this section of the bracket might have in store.<\/p>\n
The Sacramento 4 Region Bracket<\/p>\n
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Sacramento 4 Region Schedule<\/p>\n
THURSDAY<\/p>\n
Time (CT)GameTV6:00pm(16) Samford vs (16) SouthernESPN28:00pm(10) Arizona State vs (10) VirginiaESPN2<\/p>\n
FRIDAY<\/p>\n
Time (CT)GameTV11:00am(14) UC San Diego at (3) TCUESPN1:30pm(6) Washington vs (11) South Dakota StateESPNEWS6:30pm(5) Michigan State vs (12) Colorado StateESPNEWS9:00pm(13) Idaho at (4) OklahomaESPN<\/p>\n
SATURDAY<\/p>\n
Time (CT)GameTV12:00pm(16) TBD at (1) South CarolinaABC12:30pm(7) Georgia vs TBDESPN22:30pm(8) Clemson vs (9) USCESPN23:00pm(15) Fairleigh Dickinson at (2) IowaESPN<\/p>\n
Efficiency Rankings<\/p>\n
Using the pre-tournament numbers from Torvik<\/a>, here is how the Sacramento 4 Region ranks in adjusted overall, offensive and defensive efficiency<\/p>\n TeamOverallOffensiveDefensiveSouth Carolina (1)443Iowa (2)91710TCU (3)152013Oklahoma (4)142111Michigan State (5)221239Washington (6)192420Georgia (7)323628Clemson (8)495846USC (9)20399Arizona State (10)459015Virginia (10)402974South Dakota State (11)524282Colorado State (12)708360Idaho (13)8910375UC San Diego (14)112122117Fairleigh Dickinson (15)128126158Southern (16)231289122Samford (16)271225318<\/p>\n Sacramento 4 Region Shot Charts<\/p>\n Sacramento 4 Region Mini Previews<\/p>\n (1) South Carolina (31-3) \u2013 The Gamecocks, along with UConn, run women\u2019s basketball, having made the Final Four in five consecutive seasons, including two national titles. South Carolina is a heavy favorite to come out of this region and make it to another Final Four. They\u2019ve got scoring depth, with five players averaging 10.0+ points per game, while they rank fifth in points per possession allowed. After falling outside the top 60 in three-point percentage last year, they\u2019re back inside the top ten, which is where they were when they won the \u201924 championship.<\/p>\n (2) Iowa (26-6) \u2013 One of the biggest surprises of the season, Vanderbilt (19) and Iowa (21) are the only two in the top eight that ranked outside the preseason AP Top 15. As always, the Hawkeyes are one of the most efficient teams in the country, ranking 8th in effective field goal percentage, led by budding star center Ava Heiden<\/a>. After a three-game slide, Jan Jensen\u2019s squad enters the tournament having won eight of its last nine games. They have the wins to back up their seeding, with the second-best average NET ranking of opponents defeated.<\/p>\n (3) TCU (29-5) \u2013 Head coach Mark Campbell has been a portal wizard, quickly turning the Horned Frogs into a program to be reckoned with. TCU advanced to the second weekend for the first time in program history last season and are looking to get back there again. Their top six in minutes played are transfers, led by All-American guard Olivia Miles<\/a> (Notre Dame) and forward Marta Suarez<\/a> (California). They shoot it at a high level, ranking 5th in the country in two-point percentage and 23rd in three-point percentage, while their defense leads the country in effective field goal percentage.<\/p>\n (4) Oklahoma \u2013 Last season, head coach Jennie Baranczyk led the Sooners to their first Sweet 16 in four seasons but fell to eventual champ UConn. If they want to make it further, like last year, they\u2019ll have to go through a team that can win it all. The Sooners are a balanced scoring team, with five averaging in double figures, led by freshman Aaliyah Chavez<\/a> (18.4 ppg) and All-American center Raegan Beers<\/a> (15.7 ppg). They play at the fastest pace in the country, averaging a sizzling 81.4 possessions per 40, but they still are 11th nationally in defensive efficiency. Prior to their loss to LSU in the SEC quarterfinals, OU had won six in a row, and they have an OT win over South Carolina on their resume. Maybe we see a rematch in the Sweet 16.<\/p>\n (5) Michigan State \u2013 It was a promising start to the season for MSU, reaching as high as 12th in the AP Poll at 17-1, but they faded down the stretch, losing seven of their last 12 games. That cost them a chance to host. Their offense operates at a high-level, ranking top 20 in five different categories. However, the defense has been an issue, ranking 303rd in two-point percentage and 311th in three-point percentage. During that 5-7 finish, MSU ranks 360th in effective field goal percentage allowed. <\/p>\n (6) Washington \u2013 The Huskies have been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team this season. On some nights, they look like a Sweet 16 team and a few nights later they look a first round exit is possible. It\u2019s the three wins over top five seeds that catches your eye. They\u2019re top 25 in offensive and defensive efficiency, while they have three players, Sayvia Sellers<\/a>, Avery Howell<\/a> and Elle Ladine<\/a> that can go off on any night. They\u2019ve struggled to force turnovers (301st), which forces them to get straight up defensive stops.<\/p>\n (7) Georgia \u2013 Historically, Georgia has a strong program, with 36 NCAA Tournament appearances, but they haven\u2019t made the second weekend since 2013. Former Hawkeye Katie Abrahamson-Henderson nearly led the Bulldogs to an upset at Carver in \u201923 and they might just get another shot this time around. After a 14-0 start against a light non-conf slate, UGA went 8-9 in SEC play, but notched wins over Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Ole Miss. Georgia Tech transfer Dani Carnegie<\/a> leads her formal rival, averaging 18.1 points per game.<\/p>\n (8) Clemson \u2013 Another program trending in the right direction, head coach Shawn Poppie has the Tigers in the field in his second season. The Tigers previously had one March Madness trip since the \u201902 season (2019). They\u2019re decent on both ends of the floor, ranking top 60 in offense and top 50 in defense, including ranking 9th nationally in defensive rebounding. Georgia Tech transfer Rusne Augustinaite<\/a> is third in the ACC in made threes (80). The Tigers do have notable wins over Duke and Notre Dame.<\/p>\n (9) USC \u2013 The Trojans are a team that, talent wise, is much better than the seed that they received. They\u2019ve got a strong defense (9th nationally) and a solid offense (39th), is led by a mix of freshman and veterans. Jazzy Davidson<\/a> won Big Ten Freshman of the Year, which gives the Trojans a ton of excitement for next season with JuJu Watkins is healthy again. They enter the tournament trending the wrong way, on a four-game losing streak, giving up 80.5 per game. When they put it together they can be dangerous, including wins over Iowa, NC State, Illinois and some close losses.<\/p>\n (10) Arizona State \u2013 In her first season as head coach, Molly Miller is taking the Sun Devils to the NCAA Tournament for their first appearance since 2019. Their top five in minutes played and 83.5% of their scoring came from the transfer portal. Another example of how the portal can quickly change a program\u2019s outlook. The ASU defense ranks 15th in defensive efficiency, which is spearhead by chaos, ranking 38th in forced turnover rate. After a 15-0 start, the Sun Devils went 9-10 in the second half and have really struggled from three-point range, ranking 310th in three-point shooting since January 1st. <\/p>\n (10) Virginia \u2013 The Cavaliers got off to a 13-3 start, but went just 6-8 down the stretch, which made their Selection Sunday very nervy. They\u2019re offense runs completely through guard Kymora Johnson<\/a> who is the only double-digit scorer on the roster, averaging 19.0 points per game. During that poor closing stretch, the UVA defense really struggled, ranking outside the top 250 in effective field goal percentage, forced turnover rate and third-to-last in three-point defense. Still, they proved to be very dangerous, notching wins over Notre Dame and Louisville. <\/p>\n (11) South Dakota State \u2013 A powerhouse in the Summit League, the Jackrabbits are making their fifth NCAA Tournament in the last six seasons. For the majority of the year, NDSU looked like the favorite, but SDSU beat them in Fargo and then won by double-digits in the Summit League final. Forward Brooklyn Meyer<\/a> is one of the best mid-major players out there, putting up 20+ points in 20 games this season, including a 44-point game against Oral Roberts. They\u2019re top 5 in the country in two-point percentage and top 30 in three-point shooting.<\/p>\n (12) Colorado State \u2013 After four-straight 20+ win seasons without an NCAAT trip, head coach Ryun Williams has led the Rams to their first March Madness appearance since 2016. Indiana transfer Lexus Bargesser<\/a> won Mountain West Newcomer of the Year, averaging 15.2 points per game. They lead the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.6) and enter the tournament riding a nine-game winning streak. <\/p>\n (13) Idaho \u2013 Back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, the Vandals have won 21 of their last 22 games, including avenging their only loss during that stretch, defeating Montana State in the Big Sky Tournament championship. They rely on a balanced attack, with five players averaging 8.0+ points per game. Meanwhile, they\u2019re 75th in defensive efficiency, ranking 10th in two-point percentage and 11th in defensive rebounding. They do have 6\u20195 center Lorena Barbosa<\/a> to match up against OU\u2019s Raegan Beers.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Sacramento-4-Region-Shot-Charts.png\")
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