Who’s hot: The Zags lead the nation in 3-point accuracy at 41.9 percent, with Kaylynne Truong and Brynna Maxwell combining for 170 made 3’s, including 56 over the past seven games. And senior guard Kayleigh Truong, an 2022 All-WCC selection, is back after missing 23 games with a foot injury. The skinny: The Zags have won four of the past six WCC Tournament titles and a total of 10 crowns since 2007. Our preview of the WCC women’s field, ranked in order of tournament seeding: 82 in the NET rankings, so Portland would need a couple wins in Vegas.

That Portland team earned its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1994, only to have it yanked away when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted its cancellation.Īs good as the Pilots have been, they’re No. They have overcome a season-ending injury to All-WCC point guard Haylee Andrews for the second straight year and they still have players - including star forward Alex Fowler - who were part of the 2020 squad that knocked off the top-seeded Zags in Las Vegas. Without much question, the Zags are the deepest, most versatile team and best defensive squad in the WCC, all of which makes them a big favorite this weekend.īut Portland has delivered a marvelous season, winning a program-record 15 conference games and losing just once in conference play, other than against Gonzaga. 9 seed in the Big Dance a year ago with a similar NET ranking as its No. 8 seed into the NCAAs.Ī nice resume, for sure. 15 in the AP Top-25 and are projected by ESPN’s Charlie Creme as a No. The Zags are 27-3, won the WCC regular season with a 17-1 record, have climbed to No. Head Coach Lisa Fortier’s team has lost just one game in nearly three months, since back on Dec. Story Links How clear-cut is the path to the NCAA Tournament for Gonzaga? The Zags should be in good shape but they understand the only way to guarantee a berth is by winning the Tuesday afternoon championship game in the University Credit Union West Coast Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

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