USC and UCLA advance; West teams eliminated

JuJu Watkins, a star player for USC, suffered a knee injury during the NCAA Tournament. USC was leading 13-2 against Mississippi State when Watkins fell and had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair. She is now undergoing tests to determine the severity of her injury. Despite Watkins' injury, USC won the game decisively, 96-59, and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. Watkins is a top candidate for National Player of the Year, competing with other outstanding players in the tournament. UCLA also advanced to the Sweet 16, marking their third consecutive year reaching this stage. Lauren Betts led the Bruins to victory with a standout performance, scoring 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Coach Cori Close praised Betts as a "generational player." Meanwhile, other teams from the Western region struggled. Only USC and UCLA made it to the Sweet 16, the fewest since 2015. Many other teams, including Oregon, Utah, and California, were eliminated in earlier rounds. In coaching news, Grand Canyon University's head coach Molly Miller has left for Arizona State after a successful tenure. Meanwhile, Loree Payne is moving from Northern Arizona to Santa Clara. Looking ahead, USC will play Kansas State, and UCLA will face Mississippi. The tournament continues to attract significant attention as teams push for a chance at the championship.