defense

Texas head coach Vic Schaefer wears a gray Longhorns sweatsuit and holds a piece of paper in his left hand during practice.

Three keys for Texas to beat South Carolina in the Final Four

By Jenn Hatfield / April 4, 2025

The Longhorns need to be aggressive on both ends and run offense through Madison Booker

Duke guard Oluchi Okananwa smiles as she is interviewed by ESPN after a win in the NCAA Tournament.

Takeaways: How Duke knocked off North Carolina to advance to its first Elite Eight since 2013

By Hunter Cruse / March 29, 2025

Oluchi Okananwa: ‘Playing under Coach Lawson, she’s created this culture where we want to play defense’

Several Harvard players stand at halfcourt and wave with both hands toward their supporters section after a game.

After joyful NCAA Tournament, Harvard believes it can raise the bar even higher

By Jenn Hatfield / March 24, 2025

Carrie Moore: ‘This experience hopefully fuels us to do everything that we need to do to get back’

Harvard guard Harmoni Turner sits on the court with her fists clenched and the ball near her feet. Guards Saniyah Glenn-Bello and Karlee White stand in front of her, leaning down toward her and yelling in celebration.

What winning the Ivy League Tournament means to Harvard — and shows about the league overall

By Jenn Hatfield / March 16, 2025

Columbia’s Megan Griffith: ‘We’ve never seen Ivy League women’s basketball look like this’

JuJu Watkins blocks the shot of Indiana's Yarden Garzen in a game during the Big Ten tournament.

JuJu Watkins’ defense makes USC so hard to beat 

By Cameron Ruby / March 14, 2025

Watkins: ‘Anything I can do to contribute I’m going to do’

TCU center Sedona Prince and guard Hailey Van Lith high-five while walking down the court.

What making the Big 12 Tournament semifinals means for TCU and West Virginia

By Tia Reid / March 8, 2025

A revamped Horned Frogs team takes on the defensive-minded Mountaineers

Princeton players on the bench rise to their feet and several clap their hands in response to a play during a game against Harvard. Head coach Carla Berube walks down the sideline, looking over her shoulder at the action on the court.

‘This felt entirely complete’: How a young Princeton team has become elite again

By Jenn Hatfield / March 2, 2025

Princeton won’t be the No. 1 seed in the Ivy League Tournament, but the Tigers remain a postseason threat

Harvard players smile and cheer on the sidelines after a big play during a game against rival Columbia. One player puts her fist in the air, and another leans forward and claps.

‘You got to play fearless’: How Harvard became the first Ivy League team to solve Columbia this season

By Jenn Hatfield / February 17, 2025

It had a lot to do with mentality for the Crimson, who’d been ‘exposed’ in the teams’ first meeting

Two action shots are displayed side-by-side. At left, Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams dribbles the ball with her left hand. At right, Las Vegas Aces forward Alysha Clark points to her right to acknowledge a teammate.

With Gabby Williams and Alysha Clark, the Seattle Storm defense just got even tougher

By Bella Munson / February 9, 2025

But Storm still have several roster spots to fill, especially after an injury to Jordan Horston

Stanford guard Tess Heal dribbles the basketball with her right hand in the open court.

Stanford is ‘optimistic’ the NCAA Tournament is still in sight

By Michelle Smith / January 30, 2025

The Cardinal are 10-9, a far cry from their usual standard, but head coach Kate Paye lauds her team’s positivity