It’s conference tournament time in women’s college basketball, which means it’s the last chance to impress the selection committee.

The No. 1 seeds are still up for grabs. As many as eight teams can claim those coveted spots.

The Big Ten can become the biggest beneficiary and could see 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament, which would break an all-time record. Meanwhile, in the ACC, a No. 1 seed is virtually Notre Dame’s to lose if it can win the conference tournament.

After the trophies are hoisted, teams will have a week to rest before the Women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show on March 16.

Here are five games to watch this weekend, each a rematch of a regular-season meeting:

No. 2 USC vs. Michigan, Big Ten semifinals

Time/TV: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

JuJu Watkins, the front-runner for Player of the Year, continued her assault on the scoreboard, tallying 31 points and 10 rebounds as the Trojans held off Indiana in the conference quarterfinals. The Wolverines were impressive in their stomping of Maryland in their quarterfinal matchup.

Michigan is a different team than the one that lost by 20 to the Trojans in late December. To neutralize Watkins and keep the game close, Michigan must hit 3-point shots and get the Trojans in foul trouble.

No. 14 North Carolina vs. No. 8 North Carolina State, ACC semifinals

Time/TV: Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2

The Wolfpack know what’s at stake. The tournament’s No. 1 seed also has a chance to break its way into a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if it can run the table this weekend.

North Carolina beat NC State 66-65 in Chapel Hill three weeks ago, handing State one of its two ACC losses. The Tar Heels’ balance on offense is enhanced with the return of Reniya Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, two of their four double-digit scorers, from injuries.

No. 5 South Carolina vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, SEC semifinals

Time/TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

The last time these two teams played, in Columbia on Jan. 19, Oklahoma found itself down 19 after one quarter and ended up losing by 41. The things that get the Sooners beat showed up in that game as they turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 32 South Carolina points.

South Carolina, looking for its third straight SEC tournament title, got by Vanderbilt, nearly blowing a 25-point halftime lead. Chloe Kitts had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the balanced Gamecocks also got 15 points from MiLaysia Fulwiley and 13 from Sania Feagin.

No. 7 TCU vs. No. 16 West Virginia, Big 12 semifinals

Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+

The Horned Frogs, the regular season conference champions, got a scare from Colorado in the quarterfinals, but Hailey Van Lith’s five 3-pointers and 24 points were enough to advance. Sedona Prince added 18 points.

TCU awaits the fourth-seeded Mountaineers, who dispatched Kansas State in their quarterfinal matchup.

In their first matchup, a 71-50 TCU victory, West Virginia couldn’t get anything going offensively and shot 31%. The Mountaineers were dominated in the paint and on the boards and their two leading scorers, JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison, combined to score only 24 points. They must put up big numbers this time to advance.

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 9 LSU, SEC semifinals

Time/TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Tigers had lost two of three coming into the tournament but got right with a dominant win over Florida, while Texas and SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker needed every one of her 19 points and seven rebounds to squeak by Ole Miss.

The Longhorns are riding a 14-game winning streak and have probably locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens. LSU is not out of the running for one of those slots but would need some help. The Tigers need to beat the nation’s top team first to get any consideration.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued a formal warning to officials in Michigan, New York, and Minnesota regarding a potential 25% surcharge on electricity exports from Canada.

This measure is a direct response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canadian goods.

Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, addressed concerns about the potential ramifications of this surcharge on Michigan.

According to Scripps, the impact is expected to be minimal.

“Even though there’s a fair amount of electricity that moves through Michigan originating in Canada, very little of it is actually purchased by Michigan,” said Scripps.

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which oversees electricity management for 45 million Americans across 15 states, including Michigan, reported that in 2024, less than 1% of its energy was sourced from Canada, with less than half of that originating from Ontario.

This is equivalent to the output of just one power plant. DTE Energy has indicated that it generates the majority of its electricity domestically and only procures a small portion from within the United States.

The company also sources its natural gas domestically. Consumers Energy said it does not import electricity from Canada.

The company connects with Ontario for natural gas only when it is economically advantageous and emphasizes that it is not reliant on Canadian supply.

However, Consumers Energy is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that costs remain low for customers.

Scripps also noted that if Ford proceeds with shutting down electricity to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota, the electrical grid could become more vulnerable.

“It removes one layer of resilience from the system as a whole, and that can have really significant impacts. We saw what happens when those flows get disrupted, and then other things go wrong, back in 2003 with the blackout that covered New York City and all the way into Detroit and Ann Arbor,” Scripps said.

A spokesperson with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office has confirmed receiving Ford’s letter.

However, as of late Friday (March 7) afternoon, the governor’s office has not yet responded to Local 4’s request for a response to the letter.

The next six weeks are a key part of the recruiting calendar, with the Michigan Wolverines hosting several top recruits ahead of the spring game on April 19. Let’s dive into a few of those upcoming visits and more news on this edition of the Recruiting Roundup, kicking things off with a five-star quarterback.

Five-star QB set to visit Michigan next month

Michigan’s already got one five-star quarterback in Bryce Underwood, and the Wolverines are hoping to add another one. The mother of 2026 five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons told On3’s Ethan McDowell ($) they will be at Michigan on April 12-13.

While he’s technically a 2026 recruit, it’s important to note that Lyons — a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — will be taking a year-long mission trip after high school. Meaning, he should be viewed as a 2027 recruit.

Lyons was named 2024-25 Gatorade California Football Player of the Year after throwing for 3,011 yards as a junior. He also had an impressive completion percentage (68.1 percent) while throwing for 46 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 585 yards and 14 more scores.

Michigan is pursuing Lyons aggressively, with head coach Sherrone Moore, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, general manager Sean Magee and tight ends coach Steve Casula all stopping by his school in January. Additionally, Lindsey made an additional trip to watch him throw.

It’s safe to say Lyons is among Michigan’s top targets at the quarterback position in this cycle, even with him technically being a 2027 recruit. We should know a lot more about where Michigan sits in his recruitment following his trip next month.

Four-star QB visiting Michigan later this month

Lyons isn’t the only passer visiting Michigan this spring, with 2027 four-star quarterback Trent Seaborn telling The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($) he will be visiting Ann Arbor from March 28-30. It will be his first time in Ann Arbor.

The 6-foot-1 Alabaster, Alabama native is ranked 78th overall and ninth among quarterbacks composite. He’s got offers from pretty much every SEC school, plus Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.

It sounds like Michigan’s biggest advantage in this recruitment is Seaborn’s connection with Lindsey.

“(Lindsey) offered me at North Carolina and has been recruiting me since seventh grade. We’ve built a good relationship. I think he’s a great coach,” Seaborn said. “We’ve talked a lot of ball and his style of offense is very similar to what we run at Thompson and being that he has deep roots in Alabama, college and high school, he knows Thompson and coach Freeman, my head coach, very well. He knows our style of offense and he’s seen a ton of my game film over the years and since we’ve had this long of a relationship he’s been able to see my growth.”

Surprisingly, Seaborn does not hold an offer from Michigan up to this point. With the Wolverines wanting to host him for a visit, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see him walk away from Ann Arbor with an offer.

2026 three-star TE discusses receiving Michigan offer

2026 three-star tight end Luke Sorensen picked up several offers last month, including one from the Wolverines.

In a recent interview with TMI’s Marich ($), Sorensen said Casula called him to give him the good news. Notably, Sorensen plays at Servite in California, the same school that soon-to-be first-round pick Mason Graham played at.

“I’m pretty interested,” Sorensen said. “They have one of the best tight ends in the game, so that speaks to the level of development they have. Definitely a big school, what they have done with Colston Loveland is awesome and I’ll try and get down to Ann Arbor.”

Nothing is officially in his calendar in terms of a visit, but that could change soon.

“Maybe,” Sorensen said. “It depends on my spring schedule, but I’ll make time for National Champs (laughter).”

Quick Hitters

• 2026 three-star wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford, who decommited from Penn State last week, picked up a Michigan offer.