UConn is riding an unprecedented winning streak into the 2017 NCAA Women’s Tournament. Here are 5 teams that might be able to beat them.
Let’s face it: UConn is an unstoppable force in the 2017 NCAA Women’s Tournament and they aren’t showing any signs of stopping. Riding a 107-game winning streak that includes two national championship titles, they’re primed and ready to claim their fifth straight.
The thing about the NCAA Tournament is that odds go out the window. Cinderella teams make runs, brackets are busted. That means that though it’s incredibly unlikely, it’s also a good time to start thinking about teams that might be able to take down the juggernauts that are the UConn Huskies.
Related: 2017 NCAA Tournament Bracket
That’s why they call it March Madness, right?
5. Syracuse
Since the Syracuse men are NIT bound, all eyes are on the Cuse women to make another run this year. Though Syracuse finished the season 21-10 and landed a No. 8 seed, they have a lot to prove after losing to UConn in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
This year’s Syracuse team wasn’t the force they were last year, but they had some key wins that got them a ticket to the Big Dance. Some of those notable wins include Michigan State, NC State, Virginia Tech, and an 81-48 rout of No. 14 Miami. UConn held Miami to 9 points in the third quarter and had 28 points in the paint. They lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
Syracuse is a No. 8 seed in the same Bridgeport division as UConn, so their opportunity to take down the Huskies comes in the Second Round. Syracuse might have a chance of taking down the reigning champions by taking advantage of any fatigue the team might have after having some time off. It’s a long shot, for sure, but Syracuse could pull it off.