Champ Week Begins! The Madness Starts Now 🏆

March 5: March Madness is here—conference tournaments tip off today, Sabrina Ionescu invests in women’s soccer, and a new docuseries follows college basketball’s rising stars.

March 05, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

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What To Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Champ Week Begins: The Road to March Madness Starts Now 🏆

Let the madness begin! Conference tournaments tip off today, with teams across the country battling for automatic bids to the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament. Over the next two weeks, 31 champions will punch their ticket to March Madness. The full national tournament bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 16. (CBS Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: Every game from now on carries major stakes. For mid-majors, winning their conference tournament is often the only path to the Big Dance, making this their national championship. Meanwhile, power conference teams are jockeying for seeding, knowing a deep tournament run could mean an easier road in March Madness. Buckle up—things are about to get wild.

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2. Sabrina Ionescu Joins Bay FC Ownership Group ⚽️

WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu is expanding her influence in women’s sports, joining the ownership group of NWSL team Bay FC. The New York Liberty guard, who played at Oregon, has deep ties to the Bay Area—she grew up in Walnut Creek. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: Ionescu is investing in the bigger picture of women’s sports. She’s been vocal about wanting to grow the game beyond basketball, aligning with brands that champion female athletes. This move follows a rising trend of athletes investing in women’s leagues, from Serena Williams joining the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo ownership to Patrick Mahomes backing the NWSL’s Kansas City Current. And with her deep Bay Area roots, her involvement with Bay FC feels like a full-circle moment.

3. ‘Next Generation’ Series Spotlights Sensational Sophomores 🎥

A new documentary series, Next Generation, premieres today, March 5, giving fans an exclusive look at some of the most electrifying young stars in college basketball. The series follows JuJu Watkins (USC), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Madison Booker (Texas), and Audi Crooks (Iowa State) as they shine in their sophomore seasons. (NCAA March Madness)

WHY IT MATTERS: The future of women’s basketball is brighter than ever. While this series highlights four must-watch sophomores, they’re part of a larger wave of young stars taking over the game. With elite talent, big personalities, and undeniable star power, the next generation is already making its mark. Want a preview? Check out the Next Generation trailer 👉 Next Generation

OVERTIME ⏱️

Iowa State sophomore Audi Crooks is the latest SLAMU cover star, a major moment in her rising career. The 6’3” center has been a dominant force in the Big 12, and the feature dives into both her powerful play and fun-loving personality.

📖 Check out the cover story 👉 SLAMU

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