March Madness: Here’s the bracket for the women’s NCAA Tournament

• March 16, 2025

Women’s basketball has not slowed down at all this season as March Madness arrives.

A year ago, the women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark. The question was whether some fans would step away as Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and other standouts headed to the WNBA.

Instead, the women’s game has featured a compelling bunch of stars all over again, from Paige Bueckers at UConn to JuJu Watkins at USC, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame and Madison Booker of Texas.

The season has been must-watch viewing for another reason, too: Parity. So far, four teams have held the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25, tying the mark for the most ever. That makes the tournament winner anyone’s guess after some terrific league title games shoved some teams onto the bubble.

Here’s the bracket for the women’s NCAA tournament:

How can I watch the tournament?

Every game of the women’s tournament will be aired — here is a schedule that will be updated with matchups — on ESPN’s networks and streaming services with select games on ABC.

Who are the favorites?

The top four betting favorites as the tournament approaches are (in order): defending champion South Carolina, UConn and crosstown rivals USC and UCLA, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Who is playing?

There are 31 automatic bids that go to conference champions and they are combined with 37 at-large picks by the NCAA selection committee. Bracket matchups are unveiled on Selection Sunday, March 16

When are the games?

The First Four matchups (March 19-20) and first- and second-round games (March 21-24) are on campus, with sites announced March 16.

Sweet 16 weekend (March 28-31) will see games in two sites once again: Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington.

The Final Four is in Tampa, Florida, on Friday, April 4, with the championship game on Sunday, April 6.

Contributing: Associated Press

​ Orange County Register 

March Madness: Here’s the bracket for the men’s NCAA Tournament

• March 16, 2025

The beloved annual tradition that is the NCAA Tournament begins this week. Tens of thousands will fill out brackets in hopes of winning the office poll or at least a bit of respect with the matchups set on Selection Sunday.

Who will win it all? The tournament tips off with the First Four on March 18 and the first round begins March 20.

Here’s the bracket for the men’s NCAA Tournament:

How can I watch?

Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired — here is a schedule that will be updated with matchups — either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms, including Paramount+. CBS will handle the Final Four and national title game this year.

The NCAA will also stream games via its March Madness Live option.

Who are the favorites?

The top three betting favorites as championship week arrives are (in order) Auburn, Duke and Florida, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Who is playing?

There are 31 automatic bids that will be filled via league tournaments and they will be combined with 37 at-large picks by the NCAA selection committee. We all find out on Selection Sunday, March 16, when bracket matchups are unveiled.

When are the games?

The First Four is in Dayton, Ohio, on March 18-19 and first- and second-round games from March 20-23 stretch from Providence, Rhode Island, to Seattle.

The Sweet 16 weekend will see games March 27-30 in Newark, New Jersey (East Regional), Atlanta (South), Indianapolis (Midwest) and San Francisco (West).

The Final Four is in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, with the championship game the night of Monday, April 7.

Contributing: Associated Press

​ Orange County Register 

Attention on Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani ‘different than any one of our other players’

• March 16, 2025

TOKYO — The atmosphere inside the Tokyo Dome for the exhibition games this weekend was electric – chants and cheering, bambam sticks and music, cheerleaders on the field and beer girls in the stands.

Until Shohei Ohtani comes up to bat.

“When he was at-bat, it was complete silence,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the rapt attention with which Japanese fans are treating Ohtani’s every at-bat. “Every time he did something – take a swing, foul a ball off – there was just a gasp. I think that it was a great welcome, but I think there was just so much anticipation to see anything he did, which was different than any one of our other players.”

The attention focused on Ohtani is indeed different than any other player and might be matched by only a handful of athletes in any sport. But Ohtani – who hit a two-run homer in their first exhibition game this week – seems largely unaffected by it.

“I think it’s the Japanese culture. I really believe that,” Roberts said. “I think that with Shohei, with Yoshinobu (Yamamoto), with Roki (Sasaki), Japanese players I’ve played with, there’s just humility and gratitude, respect. That’s just who these men are. They just have a great way of balancing that while being fierce competitors.”

Ohtani returned to Tokyo this week a more mature version than the one who left Japan for the major leagues seven seasons ago. Just in the past year or so, he got married, is expecting his first child soon and emerged from the gambling scandal involving his former interpreter.

Veteran teammate Miguel Rojas said Ohtani has begun to emerge as a team leader on the Dodgers as well.

“I can’t tell you how much more respect I’ve got for him,” Rojas said this spring. “Not just for the 50/50 (season) and the MVPs and all of that but the way that he’s becoming a leader in this clubhouse, bringing people into this organization (by being a part of the recruiting pitch to Yamamoto and Sasaki), helping others even though he’s got his hands full with trying to come back to pitching, coming back from surgery.

“But he still takes time to hit with (Korean rookie Hyeseong) Kim in the cage. He’s taking time to go to the wings eating contest (during spring training). That’s leadership.”

Ohtani also took “the main role” in arranging a players-only team dinner for Sunday night in Tokyo, according to Yamamoto.

“I can’t give you any details. That’s a secret,” Yamamoto said. “But it’s going to be sushi and yakitori. It should be good.”

BETTER BETTS

Mookie Betts went through a pregame workout Sunday and came out of it feeling better than he has all week. He has been able to eat solid foods and regain some of the weight he lost while fighting a virus over the past week.

But Roberts sounded pessimistic about Betts being ready to play in the regular-season games against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Betts “really showed some fatigue – understandably so,” Roberts said, and could be seen with his hands on his knees at times.

Roberts said Betts will be at the Tokyo Dome for Monday’s optional workout (Sunday PT) and “try to do a little bit more.” But the Dodgers will not push Betts just to be ready for the two games in Tokyo, he said.

“I think that we’re really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day but not putting him in harm’s way,” Roberts said. “He hasn’t taken live at-bats or played in any games and not to put him in a position where he potentially could get hurt.

“I think No. 1, tomorrow coming in, (we need to see) that he doesn’t feel signs of being overly taxed today, (that he is) feeling strong tomorrow. And then … to be able to go through an entire workout and not feel that same fatigue would give us a chance. But anything outside of that, I just don’t think the training staff would feel good about (him playing against the Cubs).”

RESPECTED ELDER

Before Saturday’s game at the Tokyo Dome, Yamamoto was playing catch with pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the outfield. He was asked about being a teammate with a future Hall of Famer like Kershaw.

“First of all, I respect him – baseball-wise, of course, but also his humanity,” Yamamoto said. “I admire him very much in every way. He’s an example. Just being in the same space as him, I feel as if I’ll become better at baseball.”

​ Orange County Register 

No. 4 UCLA gymnastics falls to No. 5 Utah, ending 9-meet win streak

• March 16, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — UCLA’s nine-meet winning streak ended on the road as the No. 4 Bruins fell to No. 5 Utah, 198.100-197.425 on Saturday.

The Bruins opened with a 49.425 on uneven bars, matching Utah’s score on vault. Frida Esparza led the way with a 9.950, while Jordan Chiles scored 9.925 and Macy McGowan added a 9.900.

In the second rotation, Utah pulled ahead with a 49.525 on uneven bars, while UCLA posted a 49.175 on vault. Chae Campbell led the Bruins with a 9.900, receiving a 9.95 from one judge.

UCLA moved to floor exercise in the third rotation, scoring 49.375, while Utah extended its lead with a 49.600 on balance beam, led by Grace McCallum.

In the final rotation, UCLA recorded a 49.450 on balance beam. Emily Lee led off with a 9.900, and Mika Webster-Longin made her competitive debut. Campbell earned a career-high 9.950, while Ciena Alipio and Emma Malabuyo each posted 9.900s to close the meet.

UCLA will compete next at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday, March 22, as the No. 1 seed.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks for Sunday, March 16, 2025

• March 16, 2025

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

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​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers held to 3 hits, shut out by Hanshin Tigers

• March 16, 2025

THE GAME: The Hanshin Tigers held the Dodgers to just three hits and beat the reigning World Series champions, 3-0, in an exhibition game on Sunday afternoon (Saturday night PT) at the Tokyo Dome.

HITTING REPORT: The Tigers also shut out the Chicago Cubs and held them to three hits in an exhibition game on Saturday. … Right-hander Hiroto Saiki pitched the first five scoreless innings against the Dodgers, striking out seven. … Shohei Ohtani took just two at-bats in Sunday’s game, striking out the first time up on a pitch in the dirt and flying out to center field in his second at-bat. … Max Muncy, Austin Barnes and Andy Pages had the Dodgers’ only hits, all singles.

PITCHING REPORT: Neither team had a hit through the first three innings with Dodgers starter Blake Snell retiring the first nine batters he faced, five on strikeouts. In the fourth inning, though, Snell put runners on with a walk and a single then gave up a three-run home run to Teruaki Sato. Snell allowed one more hit and struck out seven in 4⅓ innings. … Tyler Glasnow pitched four scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out six. The game was played for a full nine innings despite the Tigers being the home team.

UP NEXT: Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto) vs. Chicago Cubs (LHP Shota Imanaga), Tuesday, 3:10 a.m. PT, at Tokyo Dome, FOX (Ch. 11), SportsNet LA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Brayden Burries’ record-setting night leads Roosevelt boys basketball to state Open Division championship

• March 16, 2025

SACRAMENTO – Brayden Burries can do it all.

And he did Saturday in a record-setting performance.

Burries scored 44 points for Roosevelt as the Mustangs defeated Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco 80-60 in the CIF State Open Division boys basketball championship game at Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

Burries set the state Open Division boys basketball single-game scoring record. His 44 points also set the state championship record for most points by a player on a winning team in the finals across all divisions, a mark previously held by Santa Margarita’s Klay Thompson since 2008.

The single-game record for most points in a state final is 64 set by Tracy Murray of Glendora in 1989; Glendora lost to Menlo-Atherton in that state Division II final.

It is Roosevelt’s second CIF State boys basketball championship. The Mustangs won a CIF State title in 2017. Mustangs coach Stephen Singleton coached that team, and coached Dominguez of Compton to a CIF State championship in 2001 when future NBA player Tyson Chandler was Dominguez’s star player.

RELATED: Etiwanda girls win their third straight Open Division state title

Roosevelt finished the season 35-2 and won its final 12 games, including a 74-67 win over Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in the CIF Southern Section Open Division championship game. Burries scored 37 when the Mustangs beat Notre Dame again, in the CIF Southern California Regional Open Division final, a win that sent them to Sacramento for the state finals. He scored 29 in a regional first-round win over Harvard-Westlake.

Singleton was asked to describe this season’s Mustangs.

“Toughness,” he said. “Competitors and winners, and not afraid of the big moments. They love each other and they’re a tight-knit group.”

Riordan concluded at 29-2. Senior guard Jasir Rencher led the Crusaders with 22 points.

Burries had 27 points in the first half when he made 10 of his 13 shots. He scored in multiple ways – three 3-point baskets, pull-up jumpers from the 10-17 feet range, and two back-to-back, coast-to-coast layups that left the crowd breathless.

Burries, a 6-5 senior guard who is a McDonald’s All-American, finished the game 15 of 22 on all shots and 4 of 6 on 3-point attempts. He was 10 of 12 at the free-throw line and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and had a game-high three blocked shots.

He said he sensed before the game that he was going to have a special night.

“I felt like in the beginning of the day, going to shootaround with my teammates, that my shot was on,” he said. “My teammates were making me feel great. I was just loving the vibe.”

Burries’ first basket was a 3-pointer that tied the game 7-7. He followed with another 3 to put the Mustangs on top 10-7. Riordan had a brief lead, at 14-12, but that would be the last time the Crusaders had it.

Roosevelt was ahead 23-19 at the end of the first quarter and a flurry of Burries baskets in the second quarter, including one of his long-stride driving layups in the closing seconds gave the Mustangs a 44-33 lead at halftime.

The Mustangs were up 63-46 at the end of the third quarter, with the state championship pretty much secured.

Mustangs senior point guard Myles Walker scored 15 points with four assists and three steals. Junior guard Jackson Haggins scored 12 points and was 6 of 6 at the free-throw line. Roosevelt as a team was 21 of 23 at the line.

Burries, who went into Saturday averaging 29 points a game, has offers from many colleges, including Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Michigan, UCLA and USC among others. It is unusual that a high school senior of his skills and stature has not committed, but Burries it seems is an unusual player in more ways than one.

He said his plan all along was to wait until his final high school game before choosing his college destination. That is a decision he will make with plenty of input from his father.

“I wanted to wait until after the playoffs,” Burries said. “Now that we just won, I’m going to try to figure it out with him.”

Coach Stephen Singleton has the Roosevelt boys basketball team back in the CIF State final

Roosevelt boys basketball team outlasts Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, advances to CIF State Open Division final

Roosevelt boys basketball team beats Harvard-Westlake to reach CIF State Open Division regional final

​ Orange County Register 

Fullerton College men’s basketball team holds off San Bernardino Valley College to reach CCCAA championship game

• March 16, 2025

WALNUT — The San Bernardino Valley College men’s basketball team was moving full speed ahead late in the second half.

Fullerton College sophomore forward Darvelle Wyatt threw up a roadblock and halted all of the momentum the Wolverines had gained.

Wyatt scored 10 consecutive points over a span of 2 1/2 minutes and finished with 22 points in the game, as the Hornets held on for an 83-76 victory over San Bernardino Valley College in a CCCAA semifinal contest Saturday afternoon at Mt. San Antonio College.

Fullerton (30-3) squares off against City College of San Francisco (31-1) for the state championship Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mt. SAC. It will be a showdown between the teams that were seeded No. 1 in Southern California and No. 1 in Northern California, respectively, for the state championship tournament.

The Hornets had a seemingly comfortable 15-point lead with 7 minutes remaining in the game, but San Bernardino Valley College rattled off eight straight points to trim the deficit to 66-59 with 5 minutes left to play. And that’s when Wyatt made his biggest mark of the afternoon. The Etiwanda High School product hit two free throws then scored baskets on four straight possessions to get the lead up to 17.

“My brothers put me in great positions during this game and I went to finish,” said Wyatt, who made 8 of 11 shots from the field during the game.

Fullerton coach Perry Webster said no lead can be considered safe against SBVC, especially when the Wolverines start applying full-court pressure.

“Our team has great culture and toughness and togetherness,” Webster said. “So when the game starts to get a little crazy like it was there for a while, they don’t splinter. They just come back stronger. They did what I expected them to do, and that’s respond.”

Wyatt’s scoring streak wasn’t the first time Fullerton had an answer for a run by SBVC (27-6, No. 3 seed in Southern California) in Saturday’s game.

The Wolverines knocked down their first four shots of the contest and jumped out to a 9-0 lead less than 2 minutes in the game.

“We predicted that actually,” Webster said. “We told our guys that they’re probably going to come out hot, but to remember it’s a 40-minute game. We wanted to make them play 40 minutes of possession-to-possession basketball, and we started to do that.”

Fullerton answered with a 10-0 run, and another run of 12-0 midway through the first half gave the Hornets a 28-16 advantage. Leading the way for Fullerton in the first half was 6-foot-10 freshman center Joe Grahovac, who scored 12 of his 14 points before halftime.

“That was our game plan, keep pounding the ball down low,” said Grahovac, who also finished with eight boards and five assists.

SBVC did take some momentum into intermission, as an 8-1 run over the final 67 seconds of the half cut the deficit to 38-30.

But the Wolverines were unable to sustain that coming out of the locker room, as Fullerton opened up the second half with a 12-3 run to extend its lead to 15.

Shadale Knight scored 15 of his team-high 22 points in the second half, while Jason Hillard scored 10 of his 15 after the break. The duo kept alive SBVC’s chances for a comeback, but the closest the Wolverines got was 81-76 with 2 seconds remaining (on a 3-ponter by Knight).

Darius Carr finished with 14 points for SBVC, and Khemanni Davis registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Lee added seven points and 12 rebounds for the Wolverines.

Addy G’Bye sank three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for Fullerton. Kairi Shepherd added 10 points for the Hornets.

​ Orange County Register