By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
Four new champions were crowned in their respective power 4 conferences Sunday, March 9, 2025. South Carolina took home the SEC title, TCU won the Big 12 championship, UCLA claimed the Big Ten championship, and Duke won the ACC. Championship Week always serves as an exciting prelude to the NCAA tournament and Sunday’s slate of games gave fans a glimpse of what’s to come during March Madness.
What exactly did we learn about some of the top teams during Championship Week?
Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks stood on business and kept receipts. South Carolina played with a take no prisoners mentality against the University of Texas in a dominating 64-45 victory.
“It was personal and we knew that we wanted to get our lick back,” Te-Hina Paopao said per The State’s Michael Sauls. “We knew that we didn’t win against Texas at Texas and that we just came up short. We knew that we wanted to get our win tonight.”
With the loss back in February at the hands of the University of Texas still in their minds, South Carolina made known that they will be a force to be reckoned with in March.
TCU beat Baylor 64-59 to win their first Big 12 tournament title. Hailey Van Lith took home tournament MVP and is now four assists shy of breaking TCU’s single-season record.
“We’re just so willing to play with each other. The chemistry we have wins games in these tight moments. I couldn’t be more proud,” Van Lith said.
The Horned Frogs have secured their spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament—their last appearance came during the 2009-10 season. Currently projected as a No. 2 seed, TCU will look to continue to ride their momentum with hopes of adding more hardware.
The Battle of Los Angeles took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday as UCLA bested USC and star JuJu Watkins 72-67 to win their first Big Ten championship in their first season after joining from the Pac-12. USC won both regular season matchups, but the Bruins would not be denied under the brightest lights. A potential fourth matchup could be on the horizon if both teams make it to the final four.
“I think it would mean a lot for us both to be No. 1 seeds. I think you have to prove yourself. Your play has to back that up. And I hope we do get the chance to do it in Tampa [in the Final Four] a fourth time,” UCLA head coach Cori Close said.
Head coach Kara Lawson and the Duke Blue Devils defeated NC State 76-62 to claim their first ACC championship since 2013. Duke put together impressive wins against formidable opponents like Notre Dame and Louisville en route to the ACC title.
“We faced some of the best teams in the country three days in a row,” Lawson said. “We were able to put it all together in a weekend. And that’s what you want to be as a team in March that can put it all together.”
Ladies and Gentlemen March Madness has arrived, strap in and enjoy the ride these “Queens of the Court” are about to take us on.
