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Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flau'jae Johnson says she'll return to LSU for senior season
LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson (4) stands on the court towards the end of the game against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson closes her eyes while stretching before a game against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson shoots during the first half against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson shoots during the first half against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson (4) stands on the court towards the end of the game against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson closes her eyes while stretching before a game against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) LSU guard Flau'Jae Johnson shoots during the first half against UCLA in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Flau'jae Johnson will return to LSU for her senior season, she told Front Office Sports on Wednesday, putting to rest any doubts about her future. There had been some speculation that Johnson would enter the transfer portal after she passed on the WNBA draft. Advertisement She even teased the possibility earlier this month on social media, instead announcing she would join rapper BossMan Dlow for four shows on his spring tour — an extension of her off-the-court career as a musical artist. 'I definitely want to win, but I want to make sure I'm being developed to be the player that I want to be in the WNBA,' she told FOS. 'Trying to find out how I can make that happen this year. I want to be as prepared as possible.' Johnson, named a third-team All-American by The Associated Press, averaged a career-high 18.6 points last season for the Tigers, who advanced to the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA Tournament before falling to UCLA. She was a freshman starter for coach Kim Mulkey two years earlier when LSU won the national title. Advertisement In addition to her rap career, Johnson also hosts a podcast. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women's college basketball: and
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NCAA championship: UConn's Azzi Fudd named Final Four MOP over Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong
UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) controls the ball during the first half against Southern California in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) In a Final Four that featured dominant efforts from Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd was named the Most Outstanding Player on Sunday following UConn's 82-59 win over South Carolina in the NCAA championship game. Fudd finished with 24 points, five rebounds and and three steals as the Huskies overwhelmed the Gamecocks for the program's 12th national championship.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC heads home from March Madness looking at an offseason of change
Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) reacts after scoring a basket during the first half against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) secures a rebound next to Southern California center Rayah Marshall (13) during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California guard Talia von Oelhoffen (55) shoots while pressured by UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) shoots while pressured by UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California guard Talia von Oelhoffen (55) celebrates her 3-point basket during the second half against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Players on the Southern California bench watch towards the end of a game against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Players on the Southern California bench watch towards the end of a game against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California forward Kiki Iriafen (44) reacts after scoring a basket during the first half against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) secures a rebound next to Southern California center Rayah Marshall (13) during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California guard Talia von Oelhoffen (55) shoots while pressured by UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California guard Kennedy Smith (11) shoots while pressured by UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Southern California guard Talia von Oelhoffen (55) celebrates her 3-point basket during the second half against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Players on the Southern California bench watch towards the end of a game against UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — For the second straight year, USC's season ended against UConn in the Elite Eight. And this time around, the Trojans didn't have Juju Watkins to help them fight back. Watkins, the Big Ten Player of the Year, was back home in Los Angeles watching the No. 2 seed Huskies roll past the top-seeded Trojans 78-64 in the women's NCAA Tournament after sustaining season-ending ACL tear in the second round. Advertisement Without Watkins, USC managed to grind out a 67-61 win over No. 5 Kansas Stat e in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, but a battle-tested UConn team proved too much to handle. Paige Bueckers, who had 28 points in last year's Elite Eight victory over the Trojans, took it a step further in this year's tournament meeting, scoring 31 points to send the Huskies to a second straight Final Four. 'UConn did a really good job defensively, and obviously we're still getting used to not having someone on the floor who can just draw three (defenders) all of a sudden,' USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said of Watkins' absence. Facing UConn in the tournament has been in the back of Gottlieb's mind since the teams met for a regular-season matchup in December. Shortly after Watkins scored 25 to lead the Trojans to a 72-70 win in that game, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma texted Gottlieb and said he hoped the teams would face off in the Final Four. Advertisement 'I was at a Christmas party or something, and I got a text from Geno two days after we had just beaten them, and he said, 'Hey, I was just thinking about what a great win that was for you and your program, and I love your team, and hopefully we meet up in Tampa.'' While the matchup arrived before the Final Four, and didn't go USC's way, Gottlieb had a lot of praise for her players. From the moment last year's tournament run ended in the same round, Gottlieb had made one thing clear: The standard for USC women's basketball had changed. 'From the second we lost at this round last year, I said, 'The bar has been raised, the standards have been raised, the expectations have been raised,'' Gottlieb said she told her team. 'And even though we've lost at the same point and stage, I think our team 100% delivered on raising that bar and raising that standard.' Gottlieb and her staff will spend the offseason rebuilding a roster that is set to lose several players, some of whom are projected to get selected in the WNBA Draft on April 14. Advertisement Kiki Iriafen, a 6-foot-3 forward, was projected to go within the top five after averaging 18.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, while earning All-Big Ten First Team recognition. The Los Angeles native transferred to USC this summer after three years at Stanford. 'Kiki coming here this year changed our program,' Gottlieb said. 'It kind of put us in a different echelon, and I think everyone feels it.' Talia von Oelhoffen and Rayah Marshall, two other seniors with draft potential, are also expected to depart from the program. Von Oelhoffen transferred this summer from Oregon State, while Marshall is a four-year Trojan. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UCLA shines in critical moments to defeat LSU and reach Final Four for first time
UCLA shines in critical moments to defeat LSU and reach Final Four for first time UCLA players and coaches celebrate after defeating LSU 72-65 in the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA tournament on Sunday. (Young Kwak / Associated Press) This time, everything came together when it mattered most. Lauren Betts made sure of it, following one powerful move with another. This time, the last seconds were full of joyous anticipation. Kiki Rice made the most of them, sinking two late free throws inside Spokane Arena. Advertisement This time, there was reason to celebrate the meaning of it all. Gabriela Jaquez made sure to marinate in this moment, bouncing gleefully toward half-court while her teammates formed a joyous mob. Read more: Lauren Betts dominates again as UCLA advances to Elite Eight showdown with LSU A year after Louisiana State ended UCLA's season in the NCAA women's basketball tournament, the Bruins returned the favor. Making the critical plays it needed in the final minutes, top-seeded UCLA pulled away for a 72-65 victory over the third-seeded Tigers on Sunday in a Spokane Regional final, propelling the Bruins to their first Final Four in school history. Advertisement Hello, Tampa! UCLA (34-2) will face either top-seeded USC or second-seeded Connecticut in a national semifinal on Friday at Amalie Arena. It took some late fortitude to set the stage for the cross-country trip. With LSU having closed to within 59-53, Jaquez followed two free throws with a three-pointer that she celebrated by raising her arms in triumph. UCLA held a 62-53 lead and just needed to play a clean final 90 seconds. The Bruins got the job done. UCLA players celebrate after defeating LSU in the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA tournament on Sunday. (Young Kwak / Associated Press) This was the long-awaited breakthrough UCLA had been seeking under coach Cori Close, who has taken her teams to the second weekend of this tournament seven times. The Bruins had reached a regional final only once previously under their current coach, losing to Mississippi State in 2018. Advertisement Now they're two victories away from the school's first NCAA title in the sport after winning the 1978 AIAW championship behind the dynamic play of Ann Meyers and Denise Curry. Joining them in school lore will be Betts, who continued her dominant run in this tournament with 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. The 6-foot-7 center has now tallied 78 points, 31 rebounds and 11 blocks over her last three games. Jaquez added 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals and Timea Gardiner made five of eight three-pointers on the way to 15 points. The Bruins celebrated by dumping a cooler of confetti on Close. Beating LSU (31-6) necessitated a better finish than a year ago, when the Bruins missed their final eight shots while being outscored 14-2 on the way to a 78-69 loss. Showing the poise their coach had referenced her players having on the eve of the rematch, UCLA did not wilt this time. Advertisement Returning from foul trouble to start the second half, Betts quickly reasserted herself. She stepped out to contest an Aneesah Morrow three-pointer that was airballed, made a layup and snagged a defensive rebound. Londynn Jones added a three-pointer to push the Bruins' lead into double digits for the first time, forcing LSU to call a timeout. UCLA was just getting started. After Jones followed a steal in the backcourt with a jumper and Jaquez added a three-pointer, the Bruins' cushion was up to 43-29 and the Tigers needed another timeout. UCLA players celebrate after defeating LSU on Sunday to reach the Final Four. (Young Kwak / Associated Press) LSU surged to get within 46-41 before Morrow, the Tigers' leading scorer to that point with 13 points, went down with an injury and briefly had to go to the locker room before returning for the fourth quarter. Guard Flau'Jae Johnson led LSU with 28 points. Advertisement After getting played closely in the first half of its most recent tournament victories over Richmond and Mississippi, UCLA's 31-25 halftime lead over the Tigers felt like a massive edge. It largely came courtesy of Gardiner's making all three three-pointers she took in the second quarter, helping the Bruins withstand playing the entire quarter without Betts because of foul trouble. Earlier this week, Close had said she wanted her team to be able to push through chaos and have the flexibility to play the game 'like an art project, not a scientific formula.' That chaos came in the form of playing so many minutes without the team's best player. Betts had asserted herself in the early going, blocking two shots in the first 10 seconds and making three of five shots before exiting the game. But despite a prolonged shooting slump by the Tigers, who missed 14 of their first 16 shots, UCLA could not build more than a five-point lead. Two missed layups and three missed free throws were largely to blame. Read more: UCLA finds its Dylan Andrews replacement in former New Mexico standout Donovan Dent Advertisement Things deteriorated further for the Bruins late in the first quarter when Betts was called for her second foul, sending her to the bench for the rest of the first half. But then something encouraging happened: UCLA went on a run. Back-to-back three-pointers from Jaquez and Gardiner capped a 12-2 push that gave the Bruins a 23-17 advantage and swung the momentum hugely in their favor. They would not let up, this time different from so many others. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Betts, top overall seed UCLA look for March Madness success in Elite Eight meeting with LSU
Betts, top overall seed UCLA look for March Madness success in Elite Eight meeting with LSU LSU head coach Kim Mulkey, left, speaks with guards Flau'Jae Johnson, center, and Shayeann Day-Wilson during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against North Carolina State, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU forward Sa'Myah Smith (5) and forward Aneesah Morrow (24) celebrate after their win over North Carolina State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU forward Aneesah Morrow (24) reacts after getting a rebound during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against North Carolina State, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) UCLA center Lauren Betts reacts during the second half of a game against Richmond in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) celebrates with forward Kendall Dudley (22) during the second half of a game against Richmond in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) controls the ball while pressured by Mississippi forward Starr Jacobs during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) controls the ball while pressured by Mississippi forward Starr Jacobs during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU head coach Kim Mulkey, left, speaks with guards Flau'Jae Johnson, center, and Shayeann Day-Wilson during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against North Carolina State, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU forward Sa'Myah Smith (5) and forward Aneesah Morrow (24) celebrate after their win over North Carolina State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) LSU forward Aneesah Morrow (24) reacts after getting a rebound during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against North Carolina State, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) UCLA center Lauren Betts reacts during the second half of a game against Richmond in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) celebrates with forward Kendall Dudley (22) during the second half of a game against Richmond in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) controls the ball while pressured by Mississippi forward Starr Jacobs during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) With back-to-back games of at least 30 points and 10 or more rebounds, UCLA center Lauren Betts certainly appears unstoppable. But, LSU has thwarted the Bruins before — in the Sweet 16 of last years women's NCAA Tournament. They'll get a rematch on Sunday, this time in the Elite Eight. Advertisement UCLA (33-2), the overall No. 1 seed, advanced with a 76-62 victory over Mississippi on Friday night, the Bruins' first trip to the regional finals since 2018. Betts scored 31 points on efficient 15-of-16 shooting and added 10 rebounds and three blocks. The 6-foot-7 All-America similarly had 30 points and 14 rebounds in the Bruins' second-round 84-67 victory over Richmond. She's one of just three players to have multiple games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in the tournament in the last 25 seasons. 'She is so talented,' LSU coach Kim Mulkey said of Betts. 'Just watching her from high school to today, it's amazing how good she is. Certainly her height is an advantage and we're not going to grow that tall overnight.' Advertisement The third-seeded Tigers (31-4) defeated N.C. State 80-73 in Friday's other regional semifinal. Aneesah Morrow had 30 points and 19 rebounds, for her 30th double-double this season and the 104th of her career. The 6-foot-1 forward is one of two women in NCAA history with more than 100 double-doubles. She's also the only player in the country with more than 600 points and 450 rebounds this season. 'The way in which she exerts her dominance on the offensive glass and then really being crafty around the rim or attacking from the high post off the dribble,' UCLA coach Cori Close said about Morrow. 'That's going to be our challenge, to try to mitigate that and to get them out of rhythm.' LSU, which won the national title two years ago under Mulkey, reached the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season. Mulkey also led Baylor to three national titles. Advertisement 'They're a really physical, really aggressive team,' Betts said. 'Obviously matching up against Morrow, she's going to be super physical and want to get every single rebound. So just making sure that we come out with that mentality that we're just not going to let that happen and we're going attack from the very beginning." In last year's Sweet 16, Flau'jae Johnson had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Angel Reese had her 26th double-double of the season before fouling out to give LSU a 78-69 win over the Bruins. Betts had 14 points and 17 rebounds in that game. Afterward, Reese — who has since moved on to the WNBA — called the brash and confident Tigers the 'good villains.' LSU went on to lose to Caitlin Clark and Iowa 94-87 in the Elite Eight. Advertisement Betts has improved since last year, when she `almost got too good too quick," Close said. 'I knew last year she could become that, but now she's equipped from the inside out to sustain that,' Close said. 'She's just an amazing player on both sides of the ball and she makes everybody else around her better.' Johnson's Status In Friday night's game, Johnson finished with a season-low three points on 1-of-8 shooting and sat for final five minutes after falling hard in a sprint for a loose ball with an N.C. State player. She was escorted to the sideline and given eye drops by LSU's trainers. Advertisement Mulkey said Johnson was 'good to go' for Sunday's game. 'I feel good,' Johnson said on Saturday. 'I think her elbow just hit me in my eye, and I couldn't really focus my eyes. I was seeing double. I was trying to get back in the game, and then I was like, `I can't see,' so I just sat down. But I'm good." ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
