Stanford is vying to become the fourth program in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to win consecutive national championships. And it's fitting the last team to accomplish such a feat is Friday's opponent, Connecticut, which did it during a four-peat from 2013-16.
The top-seeded and defending champion Cardinal (32-3) hasn't played the second-seeded Huskies (29-5) in the NCAA tournament since losing in a 2014 Final Four semifinal in Nashville.
BIG STORY LINE FOR STANFORD
Frontcourt foul trouble: The Cardinal is a different team when center Cameron Brink can stay on the court. The 6-4 sophomore had at least four fouls in four of the past seven games, including fouling out in a 72-66 Sweet 16 victory vs. Maryland. Brink sat with foul trouble in the first half last Sunday, but she still finished with 10 points, six rebounds and six blocks in 22 minutes to help Stanford defeat Texas 59-50 in the Elite Eight.
BIG STORY LINE FOR UCONN
Playing for Dorka: Fans and audiences on national TV cringed when senior Dorka Juhasz suffered a gruesome wrist injury early in the second quarter of UConn's 91-87 double-overtime win Sunday against North Carolina State. The 6-5 former Ohio State center was among three post players in the rotation, but Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said, "she will be missed." Auriemma told his players to win the game for Juhasz, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the second round vs. Mercer.
COACHING CORNER
Geno Auriemma vs. Tara VanDerveer: No coaches in women's basketball have won more games than VanDerveer (1,157) and Auriemma (1,148). Hall of Famers. Legends. Champions. Whatever you want to call them, it's arguably the best coaching rivalry in the sport. Auriemma has the edge in the series 11-7, including 4-2 in the NCAA tournament.
