The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is underway, and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is already dreaming of a blockbuster Elite Eight matchup between USC’s JuJu Watkins and UConn’s Paige Bueckers in the Spokane Region. On Friday’s episode of First Take, Smith, joined by co-hosts Monica McNutt and Andraya Carter, didn’t hold back his excitement for the potential clash, while making his rooting interest clear. “Paige gon’ show up, she’s no joke… I want to see JuJu win,” Smith said, praising Watkins for picking up where Caitlin Clark left off as a transformative figure in women’s hoops. Carter echoed Smith’s hope for a USC-UConn showdown, though McNutt threw in her own wish for a South Carolina-UCLA battle. As the tournament tips off, let’s break down the paths for Watkins and Bueckers—and whether this hyped-up matchup can actually happen.
Watkins, a sophomore guard, is leading the No. 1 seeded USC Trojans into their first-round game against No. 16 UNC Greensboro on Saturday. She’s been a sensation, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while adding 2.2 steals and 1.9 blocks on defense. Her 26 games with 20-plus points this season lead the nation, and she’s a front-runner for National Player of the Year. USC’s path in the Spokane Region is no cakewalk, though—they face a tougher road than other No. 1 seeds like South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA, largely because they couldn’t sweep their rival UCLA in the regular season, despite beating them for the Big Ten title. A potential second-round matchup with No. 8 Michigan State or No. 9 Iowa State looms, and No. 4 LSU, despite injuries to Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow, could be a Sweet 16 threat with their top-10 NET ranking.
Bueckers, a senior guard and the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is gunning for her own Player of the Year honors with the No. 2 seeded UConn Huskies, who face No. 15 Arkansas State on Saturday. She’s averaging 19.0 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, and her efficiency—shooting 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the line—makes her a nightmare for opponents. UConn’s used to deep runs, reaching the Final Four last year before falling to Iowa. They’ve got a balanced squad, with freshman Sarah Strong leading in rebounds (8.4), steals (2.4), and blocks (1.6) per game. The Huskies’ path looks slightly easier than USC’s, with potential early tests from No. 7 Ohio State or No. 10 West Virginia, but their experience—11 national titles and 23 Final Four appearances under Geno Auriemma—makes them a safe bet to advance deep.
A Watkins-Bueckers showdown would happen in the Elite Eight on March 31, but both teams need to navigate three games to get there. They’ve already met twice recently, splitting the matchups. In last year’s Elite Eight, UConn edged USC 80-73, with Bueckers and Watkins combining for 57 points and 20 rebounds. But on December 21, 2024, No. 7 USC got revenge, upsetting No. 4 UConn 72-70 in Hartford in front of 16,000 fans. Watkins dropped 25 points, while Bueckers had 22, as the Trojans held off a late 18-point comeback attempt by the Huskies. That game drew 2.23 million viewers on Fox Sports, the most-watched women’s college basketball game this season, and Watkins later told Fox News, “For that to not even be a March Madness matchup… I can only imagine what it will be like in March.”
But the bracket’s set, and the Spokane Region is a gauntlet. USC’s tougher draw—potentially facing LSU, Notre Dame (with Hannah Hidalgo averaging 24.2 points and 3.7 steals), or even No. 3 Kansas State—means Watkins will need to be at her best. UConn’s path isn’t easy either, with Ohio State’s press and freshman Jaloni Cambridge (15.4 points, 3.9 assists) posing a threat, and a possible Sweet 16 clash with No. 3 Gonzaga. Still, both teams are loaded—USC with transfers Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen easing Watkins’ load, and UConn with Strong and a healthy roster for the first time in years.
Smith’s vision of a Watkins-Bueckers showdown is tantalizing, and the odds are decent—ESPN’s Charlie Creme projects both teams as favorites to reach the Elite Eight. But March Madness is unpredictable, and with other stars like Hidalgo, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, and South Carolina’s depth in the mix, nothing’s guaranteed. If it happens, expect a ratings explosion and a game for the ages—Watkins’ scoring flair against Bueckers’ efficiency could be the defining moment of this tournament. For now, both stars have to take it one game at a time, starting Saturday. Buckle up—this could be a wild ride.
