Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers and the No. 2 UConn women’s basketball team host No. 10 South Dakota State in the second round of Women’s March Madness tonight with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
Auriemma and UConn are looking to get back to the Sweet 16 for the fifth consecutive season and 32nd time overall. Bueckers, who is averaging 18.7 points per game, has powered the Huskies to the Final Four three times: 2021, 2022, 2024.
Meanwhile, Jackrabbits head coach Aaron Johnston is vying to get the program back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019 and the second time ever. South Dakota State is riding the longest active winning streak in the country at 20 games, led by Brooklyn Meyer (17.4 ppg) and Paige Meyer (12.2 ppg).
USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Follow along.
Watch UConn vs. South Dakota State on Fubo (free trial)
What time is UConn women’s basketball game today?
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Where to watch UConn women’s basketball
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo
Jana El Alfy is fasting during Ramadan, and Paige Bueckers is cooking her breakfast
It turns out the saying, ‘Let Paige Bueckers cook,’ has an entirely different meaning during March Madness. The UConn women’s basketball star has taken a significant responsibility to assist a teammate off the court during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Bueckers cooks breakfast for teammate Jana El Alfy in the mornings while El Alfy, who is from Cairo, Egypt, fasts during the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament. — Ehsan Kassim
UConn women’s basketball stats
The Huskies are the ninth-highest scoring offense in the country at 81.5 points per game. They shoot 51.09% from the floor, best in the country, and 38% from 3, fifth-best in the country.
Paige Bueckers stats
Bueckers, one of the top candidates for national player of the year this season, is averaging a team-leading 18.7 points with 4.8 assists per game this season. She is shooting 53.6% from the floor and 40.4% from 3. She wasn’t needed much in the Huskies’ 103-34 win over Arkansas State in the first round, scoring 11 points. Instead, it was Azzi Fudd who dropped 27 points for UConn in the blowout win. Bueckers will look to have a bigger impact against the Jackrabbits in this women’s NCAA Tournament game. — Austin Curtright
UConn women’s basketball score prediction
South Dakota State hasn’t lost a game in three months, but that changes when it faces the Huskies, who take care of business and head to the Sweet 16. UConn 80, South Dakota State 56. — Austin Curtright
South Dakota State women’s basketball roster
The Jackrabbits are led by head coach Aaron Johnston, junior forward Brooklyn Meyer and senior point guard Paige Meyer. Johnston has been at the helm since 1999. Here is the full Jackrabbits’ roster.
UConn vs South Dakota State odds
Odds from BetMGM as of Sunday, March 23
Spread: UConn (-26.5)
Over/under: 136.5
When does Paige Bueckers play next?
Paige Bueckers and UConn women’s basketball look to reach the Sweet 16 with a second-round matchup against South Dakota State in the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday.
