As the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament nears its end, the excitement and anticipation continue to build. The Final Four is set to bring together some of the most talented and dedicated student-athletes in the game.
With a mix of powerhouse programs like the University of Connecticut, future WNBA top prospects like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and the University of South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, Louisiana State University’s Angel Reese and up-and-coming stars like Southern California’s Juju Watkins, this year’s tournament has been nothing short of captivating. However, amidst all the buzz and fanfare, it is essential to remember the true essence of the student-athlete designation, emphasizing the importance of academic excellence and athletic prowess.
The NCAA Women’s Basketball Elite Eight matchups were a microcosm of the exceptional talent on display athletically and academically. The highly anticipated clash between UConn and USC witnessed a face-off between talents: Paige “Paige Buckets” Bueckers, the 2021 Naismith college player of the year, of UConn, and the electrifying record-breaking freshman Judea “Juju” Watkins, of USC.
Watkins, known for her volume shooting, is a stellar student-athlete majoring in communications. Watkins set the record for the first freshman in Division I history, scoring 920 points, not including tournament play. On April 1, she fell one point short against UConn for the most points scored by a freshman in an NCAA Tournament (110), a record held by Tamika Catchings (111 points, 1998). Watkins also led USC to the Elite Eight, which they had not done since 1994. Despite losing to UConn 80-73, the deep-shooting freshman continues to slam dunk her classes, maintaining a 3.72 GPA, with sights set on being a broadcaster.
“I think that coming up short adds a lot of fuel to the fire for the next couple of years,” Watkins said following the loss to UConn on April 1. “I am excited to go back home and get in the gym now, and I am really focused on learning from this season as a whole … I am grateful for this year, and I have learned a lot.”
Similarly, Bueckers, lauded for her leadership on the court, maintains a GPA of 3.78 while actively advocating for mental health awareness among athletes. Bueckers is also on the list with Watkins for the most points in a tourney by a freshman with 108 points (2021).
On the other side of the bracket that same night, another thrilling matchup unfolded between Iowa and LSU. Iowa’s sharpshooter is undoubtedly the best player in the history of college basketball, thanks to her countless accolades. Caitlin Clark also excels off the court, maintaining a solid 3.6 GPA and passion for social justice.
“You never get tired. Tired is what you tell yourself, and we just kept going, and kept pushing, and came up with big plays in the right moments,” Clark said in a postgame interview on April 1. “The job’s not done, we have two more [games].”
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Meanwhile, the “Bayou Barbie” Angel Reese, LSU’s dominant force in the paint, was not just a rebounding machine but also a dedicated student pursuing a degree in sports administration. Despite falling to Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes 94-87, Reese only wants to become a better student-athlete.
“We have been through so much adversity, and I am really proud of this team,” Angel Reese said. “We came up short, but we have to keep our heads up.”
Reese, who has been villainized by fair-weather fans and members of the media since winning the NCAA National Championship last year, defeating Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the process, had a message following one of the most anticipated matchups.
“I am unapologetically me, … hopefully the little girls look up to me, and, hopefully, I give them some type of inspiration,” Reese said. The college star also declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 3.
The Final Four tips off on April 5, just a day before National Student-Athlete Day April 6. UConn vs. Iowa and University of South Carolina vs. NC State promises an electrifying display of athleticism and strategic mastery.
However, the true victory lies in recognizing the exceptional student-athletes who dedicate themselves to both academic excellence and competitive glory.
Contact senior sports writer Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral.
