UConn and UCLA dominate early, but TCU's Olivia Miles steals spotlight with triple-double. ESPN's Charlie Creme breaks down the remaining 32 teams after a first round with minimal upsets. Only three lower seeds advanced, including 9-seeds Syracuse and USC. South Carolina's 103-point clinic against Southern cemented their No. 4 seed, while LSU's 116-point outburst tied a tournament scoring record.

Virginia's Cinderella run from First Four to second round continues as a rarity, mirroring 2023's Mississippi State. Michigan and Duke relied on inside dominance, with Mila Holloway and Taryn Barbot leading offensive charges. Vanderbilt silenced doubters with a program-high 102 points, extending their win streak to 12 games. Iowa's struggles and Oklahoma's resurgence reshaped the bracket's final rankings.