Mar 28, 2024 - Sports

CU Buffs face Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Sweet 16

Esteban L. Hernandez

Four women basketball players during a college game, with one woman in a white jersey holding the ball in the foreground and three players in black jerseys in the background look on. — Caitlin Clark passes the ball against the Buffs during a Sweet 16 game in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in 2023. Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team will have 40 minutes to shock the world on Saturday when they face college basketball's most exciting player: Iowa's Caitlin Clark.

State of play: The 5th seeded Buffs play the No.1-seed Iowa Hawkeyes at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, in a Sweet 16 matchup in the NCAA women's tournament.

It's the second-consecutive Sweet 16 appearance for the Buffaloes.

Zoom in: For CU, winning will mean doing everything possible to minimize Clark's impact. She's the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women's basketball history and the primary catalyst behind Iowa's bid for a national championship.

The projected first overall pick in the WNBA draft leads the Hawkeyes in scoring (31.8), rebounding (7.3) and assists (8.8) this season.

What to watch: While Buffs center Aaronette Vonleh is the team's leading scorer (14 ppg), guard Jaylyn Sherrod is the team's most important player, with her teammate calling her the "spark" behind each win.

Forward Quay Miller is another player that could have a big game. She will look to build on her double-double in the team's 63-50 win over Kansas State on Sunday.

Flashback: The game is a rematch of last year's Sweet 16 which Colorado lost 87-77 after Clark dropped 31 points

The bottom line: The Buffs are in the thick of March Madness and a win Saturday would mean the end of Clark's collegiate career.

How to watch: The game tips-off at 1:30pm and will air on ABC.

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CU Buffs face Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Sweet 16

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