NCAAW: South Carolina again will reign supreme

It’s our favorite time of the year as March Madness is set to begin. It’s time to fire off some hot takes and finally concoct that perfect bracket. Here at Swish Appeal, we’re sharing some of our brackets, along with the most interesting choices we’ve made. Here is my bracket breakdown.

Click here to see Edwin’s bracket

South Carolina wins again!

With South Carolina losing three games this season, they haven’t looked as untouchable as before. This March will be a reminder that things aren’t always as they seem. Sure, they could lose, but good luck defeating Dawn Staley’s squad when everything is on the line.

Joyce Edwards is primed for a breakout tourney, and MiLaysia Fulwiley will take care of things in the backcourt. The Cinderellas will be fun, and upsets are bound to happen, but I expect the Gamecocks to win it all yet again.

JuJu shines but falls short

The entire nation is waiting to see if USC is ready to win it all this year. As a top seed and the regular-season Big Ten champions, they certainly have the pedigree, and with JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, they have the personnel to get it done.

In basketball, success has steps, and part of the process is failure.

I think the Trojans have one more heartbreak before they become champions. USC will make the title game, but Watkins will be physically neutralized and lose a tough one to South Carolina. It will be painful, but it will make winning it all in 2026 that much sweeter.

Florida State will surprise

I was relatively conservative with my bracket, but I did pick Florida State to make a deep run. Once they defeat George Mason, they’ll upset LSU in the second round and make the Sweet 16. Then they’ll take down NC State to make the Elite Eight. I have their run stopping there as they’ll lose to No. 1-seed UCLA.

Ta’Niya Latson will be crucial to the Seminoles’ hopes of making it this far. If she can not only remain the team’s top scorer but also see an uptick in production, Latson could be one of the best players in the tournament and help Florida State make its first Elite Eight appearance since 2017.

TCU makes the Final Four

The Horned Frogs have surprised all season long and they’ll prove to be a tough out in the tournament. With Hailey Van Lith rolling and TCU believing in one another, they’ll take that camaraderie and convert it into wins.

I do predict they will lose to South Carolina, but it will be a fun run to the Final Four.