UNDATED (AP) — Women's college athletes across the United States no longer have to count on a professional contract to earn real money. Basketball players like Caitlin Clark of Iowa and Angel Reese of LSU having some of the top endorsement valuations in college. Both expect their sponsors to stay with them when they turn pro.  The perennially popular U.S. women’s soccer team, the growth of women’s professional soccer and hockey, the wild popularity of volleyball and college softball — and simply more exposure on TV — have all laid a foundation for fans to find what they want to see.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA Tournament could be heading toward expansion. The tournament field is currently set at 68. That number could bump up to 72 or 76 schools in the coming years. There are several factors at play, including how to divide up the increased number of at-large bids in an expanded field. There's a concern that expansion would lean heavily toward awarding teams from power conferences and not deserving schools from mid-major conferences. Oakland coach Greg Kampe says he's OK with the tournament growing provided it doesn't turn its back on small schools that he believes help make the tournament special.
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — The job of coaching in college sports has drastically changed. Switching schools is easier than ever via the transfer portal and the lure of better compensation deals can now be a factor for athletes looking to cash in on their celebrity. That has left many coaches frustrated and some even contemplating leaving the profession. Before the NCAA Tournament began last week, the portal opened up and the floodgate was open: Some 748 Division I men and 594  Division I women entered in just the first week, even while many teams were still playing games.
UNDATED (AP) — Reigning national champion Connecticut has rolled through the regular season, the Big East Tournament and now two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies entered March Madness with top-tier efficiency ratings on both sides of the ball from KenPom. Those figures align with profiles of past champions and Final Four teams. The Huskies are one of seven teams in the top 25 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. That applies to 15 of the last 22 NCAA champions going back to 2001. The list includes fellow No. 1 seeds Houston, Purdue and North Carolina. There's also a strong candidate in second-seeded Arizona.
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