Holy basketball, Batman. What happened in Vegas did NOT stay in Vegas.
The 2023-2024 college basketball season just started, and it’s already threatening to bust season-long predictions. If you thought you had the women’s college basketball landscape figured out, think again. March Madness has officially moved to November. Adjust your calendars accordingly.
From a jaw-dropping game in Paris to not one but TWO top-ranked upsets, the opening day of college basketball was a wild ride. In case you missed any of the action, we’ve got you covered, including some things you may have missed.
WHAT AN OPENING TO THIS WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Great games. Upsets. SportsCenter Top Ten plays. WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR?!
— Janae Sims (@auntienae95) November 7, 2023
These are the five best moments from women’s college basketball opening day:
1
Notre Dame and South Carolina make history with "Oui Play" matchup
Dawn Staley was already one of the GOATs in my eyes. Not only is she a phenomenal person and former player, but she also grabbed fellow head coach Niele Ivey from Notre Dame and said, “Let’s take our teams to Paris.” What an incredible experience for the coaches and the players. That’s the stuff dreams are made of.
Then, she proceeded to haul off and beat Notre Dame after losing all five starters from last season to the WNBA. EXCUSE ME, DAWN STALEY?!
This is your world, and we are just living in it.
Hang it in the Louvre 🖼️ @GamecockWBB | @dawnstaley pic.twitter.com/V9TQzwdWtF
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 6, 2023
2
The freshmen shine under the bright lights
As if watching South Carolina and Notre Dame play the first game ever on Parisian soil wasn’t enough, fans were treated to a stellar, mind-boggling, “what did I just see?” performance from Notre Dame freshman Hannah Hildalgo and South Carolina’s Milaysia Fulwiley.
Hidalgo and Fulwiley deserve a ton of credit for coming out and just straight hooping like this wasn’t their first rodeo.
Fulwiley’s performance was so good that it caught the attention of several celebrities, including Magic Johnson.
I haven’t already watched this hightlight 50 times or anything.
"THE EIFFEL TOWER IS SHAKING"!! OH MY GOODNESS 😱 pic.twitter.com/mpxRrCrS7y
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) November 6, 2023
Can't watch this from enough angles… 😱 @milaysiaf pic.twitter.com/GIqdbSmexm
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) November 6, 2023
3
No. 21 USC sends a massive notice to No. 7 Ohio State
Speaking of first-year students who don’t care about the bright lights, USC’s JuJu Watkins showed no fear about facing a seventh-ranked Ohio State team.
Despite a valiant 28-point effort from Ohio State’s seasoned veteran, Jacy Sheldon, it was not enough to stop Watkins and USC from imposing their will. Watkins casually cruised to 32 points, six rebounds and six assists. No big deal.
Watkins’ performance was the best debut by a USC freshman since Lisa Leslie. When asked what it meant to accomplish something like that, Watkins said, “I just come out here and play.”
Lisa Leslie had 30 points in her USC freshman debut. Today, Juju Watkins dropped 32 in hers. 🔥
Postgame interview with the hoops phenom: pic.twitter.com/cPegLBefp0— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) November 6, 2023
4
Caitlin Clark is still Caitlin Clark
Another player who is super casual about shooting the lights out of the gym is Caitlin Clark. She and several other college basketball stars have had America in the trenches since the NCAA tournament last March. (More than 55,000 people packed an arena in October to see an Iowa-DePaul exhibition game. AN EXHIBITION GAME.)
Caitlin Clark knows she’s good, and so do other teams, but they can’t do anything about it. Clark and Iowa had no problem steamrolling Farleigh Dickinson, 102-46, as she dropped 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Just another day at the office.
◾️ 28 points
◾️ 7 rebounds
◾️ 10 assistsNo surprise here: Caitlin Clark flirted with a triple-double in Iowa's season-opening win. 💥@CaitlinClark22 x @IowaWBB pic.twitter.com/14pj9TK8hZ
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) November 7, 2023
5
No. 20 Colorado delivers a shocking, historic upset over defending-champion No. 1 LSU
The Colorado Buffaloes are masters at pulling off upsets in their first game of the season. If the football team can do it, why not women’s basketball, too?
Back from their Sweet-16 loss to Iowa earlier this year, the Buffs were on a mission from the opening tipoff. They didn’t care that LSU is the defending national champion or that the Tigers had improved on paper by adding transfer Hailey Van Lith.
None of it mattered as they dismantled LSU’s lineup, one play at a time. Their sticky coverage on one end of the floor turned into explosive offense on the other end.
LSU has no answer for Aaronette Vonleh, Frida Formann or Jaylyn Sherrod. Vonleh did crazy work in the paint, Formann was on fire from deep with seven 3-point shots and Sherrod unraveled whatever was left of LSU’s defense.
Colorado put on a masterclass in not paying attention to rankings and just going out and playing its game. LSU has time to find what works for its new-look offense, but it won’t be as easy as last season. Teams have adjusted.
LS-Who?#GeauxBuffs pic.twitter.com/sLfQuNQKv1
— Colorado Women's Basketball 🦬 (@CUBuffsWBB) November 7, 2023
