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Axios Des Moines Deep Dive

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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta.

Axios Des Moines Thought Bubble

Axios Des Moines

The NCAA Women's Basketball Committee released its second and final March Madness preview last week, revealing who would get the top 16 seeds if the season ended today.

Why it matters: Landing these seeds is a huge advantage, as the top 16 women's teams host first- and second-round games, Axios Sports' Jeff Tracy reports.

That means Iowa, currently projected as a No. 3 seed, would host two games in March if the committee's projections hold through Selection Sunday on March 12.

1 seeds: South Carolina (No. 1 overall), Indiana, Stanford, Utah

2 seeds: Louisiana State, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia Tech

3 seeds: Iowa, Notre Dame, Duke, Ohio State

4 seeds: Texas, Villanova, Arizona, Michigan

Between the lines: Hosting early-round games has been a mixed bag for Iowa. The Hawkeyes lost to Creighton in the second round last year as the No. 2 seed, but made the Sweet Sixteen in 2015 and the Elite 8 in 2019 after winning their early-round home games.

Projected top 16 women's teams revealed, includes Iowa as No. 3 seed

Projected No. 3 seed Iowa would host two games in March if the projections hold.

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Sydney Affolter (3) defends against Maryland last week. Photo: Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Iowa

The NCAA Women&#x27;s Basketball Committee released its second and final March Madness preview last week, revealing who would get the top 16 seeds if the season ended today.Why it matters: Landing these seeds is a huge advantage, as the top 16 women&#x27;s teams host first- and second-round games, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Sports&#x27; Jeff Tracy reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/24/ncaa-womens-basketball-projected-seeds-revealed" data-vars-content-id="904b155a-1cf6-43e7-a214-b417fca0b752" data-vars-headline="Projected top 16 women&#x27;s teams revealed, includes Iowa as No. 3 seed" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/24/ncaa-womens-basketball-projected-seeds-revealed" target="_self">Axios Sports&#x27; Jeff Tracy reports</a>.

Sports

Axios Des Moines, anchored by Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

As the nation turns its eyes to Caitlin Clark, Des Moines begins to hold its breath.

Why it matters: The first round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend could be something of a basketball nirvana for Iowans.

Clark and the rest of the No. 2 seed Hawkeyes take on Southeastern Louisiana at home at 3pm Friday.

Next up is Drake, whose men's and women's teams both made the tournament as No. 12 seeds. The men take on Miami Friday at 6:25pm and the women play Saturday at 6:30pm against Lousiville.

Of note: The Iowa men lost against Auburn last night — 83-75.

Driving the news: Eye-popping stats and national commercials have become normal for Clark.

That said, she had an excellent individual year last season and the Hawkeyes still lost in the second round.

And they haven't made the Final Four since 1993, roughly nine years before Clark was born.

State of play: This year could be different.

Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin and McKenna Warnock have started 86 career games together, per ESPN.

The Hawkeyes lead the country in scoring by a comfortable margin.

Iowa wouldn't have to play South Carolina — the most dominant team in college basketball this season — until the semifinals.

And while this team can shoot well enough to cover up most mistakes, the defense has also improved from last year.

Iowa's Caitlin Clark takes March Madness center stage

The Hawkeyes face Southeastern Louisiana Friday on ESPN.

Caitlin Clark during a moment of celebration earlier this month against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Minneapolis. Photo: Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As the nation turns its eyes to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Caitlin Clark" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/caitlin-clark-show-triple-double-stats" data-vars-content-id="a15fdb2e-9870-4570-9d34-2b059ed7563d" data-vars-headline="Iowa&#x27;s Caitlin Clark takes March Madness center stage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/caitlin-clark-show-triple-double-stats" target="_self">Caitlin Clark</a>, Des Moines begins to hold its breath.Why it matters: The first round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend could be something of a basketball nirvana for Iowans.

Everett Cook

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Iowa's Caitlin Clark takes March Madness center stage

Projected top 16 women's teams revealed, includes Iowa as No. 3 seed