There is one last spot in the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament up for grabs and it will be decided Thursday, March 20 when the William & Mary Tribe take on the High Point Panthers at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas in the First Four.
The game is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on ESPN2. Fans looking to watch this college basketball game can do so by using FuboTV, which offers a free trial and up to $25 off your first month, or DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial. SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but does have other promotional offers available. ESPN+ plans are currently at $11.99 a month or $16.99 a month if you bundle with Hulu and Disney+.
William & Mary is 15-18 on the season but earned this spot thanks to a Cinderella run though the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament that included beating three of the top four teams in the conference.
High Point was at the top of the Big South going into its tournament and only needed two wins to capture the crown, secure a tournament bid and improve to 21-11.
The winner of this matchup will be the 16 seed in Regional 3 in Birmingham and will face the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, March 22.
Who: William & Mary Tribe vs. High Point Panthers
When: Thursday, March 20 at 9 p.m. EDT
Where: Moody Center in Austin, Texas
Stream: FuboTV; Sling; DirecTV Stream; ESPN+
Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and up to $25 off the first month for new customers.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.
What is SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.
What is ESPN+?
ESPN+ is a one-stop shop for content from almost every single sport. In addition to on-demand replays of games across all sports shown on the ESPN and Disney family of networks, there is also exclusive access to select college football games, NHL games, soccer matches, UFC programs and the entire 30 for 30 catalogue. Additionally, there is ESPN+ exclusive original programing like NFL Primetime, Dana White’s Contender Series and The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick. You can stream ESPN+ on your phone, tablet, smart TV or gaming console for $11.99/month or bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for just $16.99 per month.
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Betting on women’s college basketball rides post-Caitlin Clark wave as NCAA Tournament begins
By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Caitlin Clark not only drew lots of eyes to women’s basketball when she led Iowa to consecutive national-championship games, she also attracted a lot of bettors who otherwise might have put their money elsewhere.
Even with Clark starring for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever her impact is still being felt in women’s college basketball.
BetMGM Sportsbook said it received 35% more money being bet on the sport this season, 39% more female bettors and 32% more customers regardless of gender. Since the 2022-23 season, when Clark first hit the national stage, BetMGM has seen an increase of 587% of money wagered on women’s college hoops.
BetMGM sports trader Hannah Luther said Clark to adding fuel to what already was growing betting interest.
“We have offered more markets and more games than ever before, which could explain some of our continuing success,” Luther said. “Another factor has been the increased visibility of the sport through TV and media coverage and more players with major endorsement deals.”
Now with the NCAA Tournament field set, Luther said she expected the betting momentum to continue and prop bets involving stars like Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins to be popular.
Gators getting love
No. 1 seed Florida is a slight favorite (+350) to win the men’s national championship, with another No. 1, Duke. right behind (+360). Fellow top seeds Auburn (+400) and Houston (+600) aren’t far behind.
CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall is a big believer in the Gators, who come off winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship.
“Sometimes this doesn’t carry through from the conference tournament into the (Big) Dance, but I’ve been seeing this team for the last two months just really look like they’re playing at a different level,” Marshall said. “They kind of look like UConn did last year.”
A Florida national championship would be bad news for BetMGM Sportsbook. The Gators opened the season at +4000 and one bettor put $100,000 on them at +900.
Flagging concerns at Duke
BetMGM also is on the hook should Duke or No. 2 seed Michigan State go all the way. Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, has been out with an ankle injury but is expected to play in the NCAA Tournament.
“Cooper Flagg’s health is a question mark, but we expect action to pour in on Duke if Flagg can play,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. “BetMGM projects this to be the most bet tournament in our history with the sportsbook offering more markets than ever before.”
Marshall said he didn’t think Duke would be cutting down the nets in San Antonio.
“The ACC was well down this year,” Marshall said. “I know they killed Illinois (110-67) in that game at Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago, but I can’t see any ACC team winning the whole thing this year.”
Longshot lookouts
Marshall said in the men’s field double-digit seeds UC San Diego, Akron, High Point, Grand Canyon and Colorado State are worth considering picking for first-round victories when filling out a bracket.
The tightest point spreads at BetMGM among those teams is a pair of 5-12 matchups.
Colorado State is actually a 2 1/2-point favorite over Memphis, even though the Rams are the lower seed. UC San Diego is just a 2 1/2-point underdog against Michigan, and Marshall compared the Tritons’ style of basketball to a style of soccer commonly known as total football.
“All these guys can shoot,” Marshall said. “It’s just so interchangeable. They play defense.”
Gamecocks repeat?
Defending champion and top-seeded South Carolina is a +270 favorite to repeat as women’s champion, according to BetMGM, followed closely by No. 2 seed UConn at +275. Four other teams — UCLA, Southern California, Texas and Notre Dame — are close behind at at least +500 apiece.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
