The women’s Final Four is set as Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles hits the transfer portal

The GIST: There’s a mid-week lull in the on-court action ahead of this weekend’s Final Four, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any hoops news to catch up on. Consider this a chance to catch your breath and prepare for one last weekend of Madness.

The women’s Final Four is set: As you read, fans sadly missed out on a Monday Elite Eight rematch between Player of the Year finalists USC’s Watkins and No. 2 UConn’s Paige Bueckers. Without Watkins on the floor, Bueckers shined in the spotlight, leading the Huskies past the Trojans and sealing the school’s 24th Final Four appearance under head coach (HC) Geno Auriemma.

• As for Monday’s other game, everything was bigger in Texas…except the scoreline. No. 1 Texas held No. 2 TCU center Sedona Prince to just four points and won the defensive battle 58–47, ending Prince’s marred collegiate career.

• The loss also put a bow on superstar point guard Hailey Van Lith’s NCAA career. TCU was her last stop on a sometimes tumultuous journey, but this final run ended things on a high note as she prepares for the WNBA Draft, where she’ll likely be a first-rounder.

Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles hits transfer portal: There was debate as to whether Miles would enter the W’s draft (she was the expected No. 2 overall pick behind Bueckers) or use her last remaining year of NCAA eligibility to rack up more NIL money and compete for a title with the Irish. But yesterday, she blindsided everyone by opting to seek a change of scenery with a new program.

• The second-team All-American teamed up with Player of the Year finalist Hannah Hidalgo to make up the country’s fiercest backcourt this season — and now, she’s the most desirable player in the transfer portal. Can’t wait to see where she ends up.