Women's Final Four X-factors: Four players who can be key to national title

The month of March might have come to a close, but the madness of the2026 Women's NCAA Tournamentis marching into April with theFinal Fourin Phoenix rapidly approaching.

The remaining four teams —No. 1 UConn,No. 1 UCLA,No. 1 TexasandNo. 1 South Carolina— have been powered to the Final Four by superstar talent. We're talking about UConn'sSarah Strong, UCLA'sLauren Betts, Texas'Madison Bookerand South Carolina'sRaven Johnson.

But the national title might come down to an unsung hero that steps up when the lights are the brightest. Here's a look at a player from each team that must make an impact when it matters most for their team to hoist a trophy:

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

Agot Makeer, South Carolina

South Carolina is back in the Final Four for the sixth consecutive year, but the key to defeating the reigning champion UConn Huskies might come down to an 18-year-old freshman coming off the bench. Agot Makeer, a 6-foot guard from Canada, was limited to 5.8 points across 26 games this season after dealing with various injuries. But Makeer has made an impact during March Madness and quickly became "a vital piece to our success," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said.

Makeer scored double-digit points off the bench in four consecutive tournament games, including a career-high 18 points in No. 1 South Carolina's Elite 8 rout of No. 3 TCU. She's averaging 14.8 points in the tournament, nearly tripling her scoring average, while shooting an efficient 55.6% from the field. "I'm in a flow right now," said Makeer, who only had three double-digit games all season heading into the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

It's more than just her offense. Makeer uses her length and size to be a disruptive defender and is averaging nearly three steals in March Madness.

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Blanca Quiñonez, UConn

UConn's depth has been its strength all season long, with Sarah Strong confidently stating, "No other team has a bench like us." Freshman Blanca Quiñonez has been the biggest X-factor coming off the bench. Quiñonez scored 20 points in UConn's Elite 8 win over No. 6 Notre Dame, where she knocked down a career-high four 3-pointers in the win. The 6-foot-2 guard from Ecuador has reached double-digit scoring in four consecutive March Madness games and is shooting 9-of-19 (47.4%) from deep.

Quiñonez also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds, highlighting her ability to impact the game in many different ways. UConn has won 54 games in a row and will be pivotal to extend the win streak as defenses zero in on Sarah Stong and Azzi Fudd.

Angela Dugalić, UCLA

Angela Dugalić opted to come off the bench and the decision has paid dividends for both the Bruins and the Big Ten Women's Basketball Sixth Player of the Year. Dugalić is a 6-foot-4 forward, but has the skillset of a guard. She creates instant mismatches, spreads the floor and brings a different level of intensity that "our team was really feeding off of," head coach Cori Close said after UCLA's Elite 8 comeback win over No. 3 Duke. Dugalić finished with 15 points and six rebounds in the win, making her third double-digit game in March Madness. She's also posted two double-doubles in the Round of 64 and Sweet 16. UCLA is one win away from its first national championship appearance in program history.

Kyla Oldacre, Texas

"You win with guard play, but you win championships with guard play and size," Texas head coach Vic Schaefer. That statement is especially true heading into the Final Four. Schaefer will deploy Kyla Oldacre to contain UCLA's 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts in the paint. Oldacre has come off the bench for Texas, but has averaged over twenty minutes through the tournament. The 6-foot-6 center is coming off a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in Texas' Elite 8 blowout of No. 2 Michigan, her sixth double-double of the season.

Reach USA TODAY National Women's Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Women's Final Four X-factors: Who will be key to national title?

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April 01, 2026

Women's Final Four X-factors: Four players who can be key to national title

The month of March might have come to a close, but the madness of the2026 Women's NCAA Tournamentis marching into Apr...

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UCLA women enjoy 'home-court advantage' during Final Four run

SACRAMENTO, CA ―UCLAhas felt right at home during its second consecutiveWomen's NCAA Tournamentrun to a Final Four.

The Bruins lucked out, being the only team in the Final Four that hasn't had to change time zones throughout March Madness.

UCLA has played every round in the Pacific time zone, beginning with the first and second rounds on their home court at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight were played in Sacramento, California, which is a little more than an hour flight or a five- to six-hour drive. Again, Bruins fans, students and alumni traveled to pack the Golden 1 Center. They "showed up and showed out."

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

In their Elite Eight game against Duke, there were 9,627 people in attendance, nearly half the max capacity of Golden 1 Center. Still, it sounded as if it were jam-packed for a Sacramento Kings game the way fans cheered for their SoCal squad.

It served the Bruins well on the court. They were down in the contest against Duke but fed off the energy of the friendly fans to stage a comeback and ultimately take a lead in the second half which they never relinquished.

"Just tremendous," UCLA forward Angela Dugalic told USA TODAY Sports about the crowd presence. "I'm so happy that we got an opportunity to play. It just felt like a home-court advantage. Honestly. In fact, we were able to play in California. I know it's a little bit away from LA, but it just still felt like a homecoming advantage."

Dugalic scored 15 points against Duke. She was able to channel to energy of UCLA fans and apply it to the court. She had a determined look all game and was dialed in, shooting 7-of-13, 53% from the field.

"Thank you for everyone who came in and showed up and showed out for us. And I know some people obviously couldn't make it. It's a long Friday flight for some people," Dugalic said. "... but it just really is such a blessing the fact that we were able to play in front of our fans and our crowd."

But UCLA isn't new to playing in Sacramento or Golden 1 Center. They had a trial run during a non-conference Nov. 10 game against Oklahoma, holding it in California's capital city.

For what it's worth, the Bruins won 73-59. And yes, UCLA fans were rambunctiously loud in rooting for their team.

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UCLA head coach Cori Close believes being so close helped the team with preparation and being familiar with their surroundings.

"It was palpable, right? When we walked out, the energy in the building, and we're really thankful to Sacramento for being great hosts," Close told USA TODAY following their win against Duke. "But also what they did with us, we had a game fall through with Oklahoma that was supposed to be played in New York, and we decided we were going to bring it here, and that they got behind that game in November.

"There was a familiarity. We stayed at the same hotel. We had the same rhythms, you know, and ... we were really planning intentionally for what it was going to be like here."

This isn't your ordinary college basketball team. They get support from all over, because their players are from all over. Dugalic, for example, is Serbian but grew up in northwest Chicago. Her brother, Milos Dugalic, texted her she said, as he tuned in with his pro team in Bristol, England. Her teammate Lena Bilić is Croatian.

"I can proudly say that we're international or worldwide," Dugalic said.

And that worldwide support should give them a leg up during the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 3.

Los Angeles is literally a hop, skip and a jump away from Phoenix. Pick your mode of transportation. It takes about 90 minutes to fly and driving can be around six hours, maybe less if you do it right.

UCLA anticipates using their proximity will be an advantage and looks forward to their crowd arriving in bunches during the Final Four, and potentially, a national championship.

"It was really fun to just have the energy and the people behind us," Close said following their Elite Eight win against Duke on March 29. "I got to share a moment with Denise Curry and Debbie Halliday, and who are part of the '78 and '79 teams that also went to back to back Final Four's when it was AIAW, and want to give them their flowers.

"It's really only meaningful if you get to share it with genuine people. And I thought that having it here in Sacramento brought a different meaning, because we were able to share it with people that we really care about, and we know that people that helped us get here."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UCLA enjoys home-court advantage during Women's NCAA Tournament

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April 01, 2026

UCLA women enjoy 'home-court advantage' during Final Four run

SACRAMENTO, CA ―UCLAhas felt right at home during its second consecutiveWomen's NCAA Tournamentrun to a Final Four. ...

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Severe Thunderstorms, Including Tornadoes, Are Likely In The Plains, Midwest, East Through Saturday

Severe thunderstorms are once again forecast in parts of the Plains, Midwest and East through Saturday, capping off an active March and kicking off the typically dangerous month of April.

Happening Now

The map below shows where rain and thunderstorms are right now, along with any active watches or warnings.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible from the Southern Great Lakes into the Central and Southern Plains with hail and strong wind gusts through the overnight hours.

Forecast

This could be a more active day of severe weather during this week's stretch.

-Main area of concern: Parts of the central, southern Plains from north Texas to western Missouri

- Main threats: Tornadoes (some strong), large hail possibly larger than golf balls, destructive wind gusts possibly up to 75 mph

- When: Late afternoon through the night

Semi-discrete thunderstorms are expected to blossom by late afternoon before growing into a line of thunderstorms through the evening and overnight hours. Early thunderstorms could have significant hailstones before the threat turns to tornadoes and damaging wind gusts. Storms will reach the Interstate-35 corridor during the late evening and overnight hours.

More isolated severe storms are possible in parts of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, with hail or strong wind gusts.

-Main area of concern: Parts of the Midwest from Illinois to Michigan and northwest Ohio

- Main threats: Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes

- When: Afternoon and evening

-Main area of concern: The southern and central Plains, possibly as far north as the Great Lakes and as far east as the mid-Mississippi Valley

- Main threats: Damaging wind gusts, tornadoes, large hail

- When: Afternoon through the night

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The map below shows the area where this is most possible several days away.

But, Friday could be a more widespread threat of numerous severe thunderstorms, both as discretesupercellsand also aslines of storms.

A threat of at least a few severe thunderstorms could extend into theEaster holiday weekendahead of the cold front from the Midwest, Northeast and Tennessee Valley Saturday to parts of the East Coast on Easter Sunday.

(MAPS:7-Day US Rain/Snow Forecast)

Flash Flood Threat, Too

While swaths of the Plains and Midwest are currently indrought, these repeated rounds of thunderstorms could also trigger areas of flash flooding, particularly in areas that have been soaked repeatedly this month.

That includes parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Plains.

Be Prepared

There are steps you can take to stay safe in severe weather:

1. Know where to seek safe shelter when severe weather strikesbeforethe storm. If you live in a manufactured home, the safest place is probably either a designated community shelter or the closest building such as a church, industrial building or any building with reinforced concrete.

2. Have multiple ways of receiving official National Weather Service watches and warnings, including from yourphoneandNOAA weather radio. Make sure your devices are full charged in case you lose power and alerts are turned on to wake you up at night.

3. Seek safe shelterimmediatelywhen you receive a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning for your area.

4.Never drive into flood waters. You could be carried away and the road underneath could have been washed away.

(MORE:14 Severe Weather Tips That Can Save Your Life)

Storm Fatigue

It has been yet another active March for severe weather in the U.S., including parts of the Midwest.

On March 6, four tornadoes struck southern Michigan, including an EF3 in Branch County killing three, an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF1 tornado that claimed a life in Cass County.

Four days later, a lone supercell spawned 12 tornadoes across northeast Illinois into northwest Indiana, including the EF3 Kankakee, Illinois, tornado, which killed three.

Then on March 15, another 17 tornadoes were confirmed across central and southern Illinois.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has received 196 reports of and confirmed tornadoes in March, almost double the 20-year average of March twisters (104).

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

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Severe Thunderstorms, Including Tornadoes, Are Likely In The Plains, Midwest, East Through Saturday

Severe thunderstorms are once again forecast in parts of the Plains, Midwest and East through Saturday, capping off an...

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Chinese chipmakers claim nearly half of of local market as Nvidia's lead shrinks, IDC says

By Che Pan and Laurie Chen

BEIJING, April 1 (Rtrs) - Chinese GPU and AI chip makers captured nearly 41% of China's AI accelerator server ‌market last year, erodingNvidia's once-dominant position in one of its ‌most important overseas markets, according to data from an IDC report reviewed by Reuters.

The gains ​come as Beijing grows increasingly cautious about dependence on foreign chips, pushing government agencies and companies to adopt domestic alternatives after successive waves of U.S. export controls cut China off from Nvidia's most advanced products.

Total shipments of AI accelerator cards ‌by Nvidia, AMD, and ⁠Chinese chipmakers reached approximately 4 million units in China in 2025, the data showed.

Nvidia remained the market leader, shipping around ⁠2.2 million cards and holding a 55% share. But that figure marks a significant retreat for the U.S. chipmaker, which held a dominant market share in China's ​AI chip ​market. AMD carved out a modest ​presence, shipping roughly 160,000 cards for ‌a 4% share, the IDC data showed.

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Chinese vendors collectively shipped 1.65 million cards, accounting for 41% of the total market — a milestone that underscores how aggressively domestic players have moved to fill the void left by tightening U.S. export controls.

Huawei Technologies emerged as the runaway leader among Chinese vendors, shipping ‌around 812,000 AI chips, roughly half of all ​domestically branded shipments. Alibaba's chip design unit ​T-Head claimed second place, shipping ​approximately 265,000 cards.

Baidu's Kunlunxin and Cambricon each shipped around 116,000 ‌cards, ranking them jointly third among ​Chinese vendors.

Hygon, GPU startups ​MetaX and Iluvatar CoreX accounted for 5%, 4% and 3% of total Chinese vendor shipments, respectively.

In 2025, the central government launched a new ​wave of AI infrastructure ‌spending, with local governments accelerating intelligent computing centers across provinces, many ​of which carried implicit directives to "buy Chinese."

(Reporting by Che Pan and ​Laurie Chen, Editing by Louise Heavens)

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Chinese chipmakers claim nearly half of of local market as Nvidia's lead shrinks, IDC says

By Che Pan and Laurie Chen BEIJING, April 1 (Rtrs) - Chinese GPU and AI chip makers captured nearly 41% of Chi...

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South Korea and Indonesia expand cooperation on defense and energy as Mideast war disrupts markets

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea and Indonesia agreed Wednesday to expand cooperation in defense industries, technology and supply chains as their leaders pledged to upgrade their strategic partnership in face of uncertainties stemming from the war in the Middle East, Seoul's presidential office said.

South Korea Indonesia

After a summit in Seoul between PresidentLee Jae Myungand Indonesian PresidentPrabowo Subianto,the two governments issued a joint statement pledging deeper economic ties and continued cooperation on joint defense projects, including fighter jets, trainer aircraft and anti-tank missile systems.

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The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation on supply chains for energy, critical minerals and other resources. Lee described Indonesia as a vital source of natural gas and coal amid global energy disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.

According to Lee's government, South Korean companies will receive about 820,000 tons of liquefied natural gas from Indonesia this year, enough to power all of the country's gas-fired plants for about 12 days.

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the two countries' cooperation in developing South Korea's homegrown KF-21 supersonic fighter, a program launched in 2015 with Indonesia as a partner. The first of these planes were rolled out last week and South Korea reportedly plans to export 16 of them to Indonesia.

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April 01, 2026

South Korea and Indonesia expand cooperation on defense and energy as Mideast war disrupts markets

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea and Indonesia agreed Wednesday to expand cooperation in defense industries, technol...

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Is China positioning itself to become a US-Iran peace broker?

As thewar in the Gulfcareens into its second month, dragging down theglobal economywith no off-ramp in sight, questions are deepening around what role China – a global heavyweight and diplomatic partner to Iran – is willing to play.

China'spotential role was in the spotlight this week after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing Tuesday for talks with its top diplomat Wang Yi – a meeting that comes as Islamabad has stepped up to position itself as a peace broker in the conflict.

In a statement on "restoring peace" released Tuesday, both countries called for an "immediate ceasefire," peace talks "as soon as possible," and a lasting, UN-backed peace.

"China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks," the two sides said in their five-point initiative released after what Islamabad described as "hours of engagement" between Dar and Wang.

The initiative is Beijing's most thoroughly articulated view to date on how the conflict should be resolved. It also calls for the securing of shipping lanes; an end to attacks on civilians and non-military targets; and safeguarding the sovereignty and security of both Iran and the Gulf states.

But that position, expressed in broad strokes, also raises questions about what concrete steps Beijing would take in a future peace process. How deeply it is willing to get involved in a conflict playing out in a volatile region where it's balancing relationships with partners on both sides?

Official Pakistani sources have told CNN that one of the things that Dar was likely to discuss while in China was the possibility that Beijing works as a guarantor to ensure a peace agreement.

Two Pakistani sources also confirmed that while a four-way meeting between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan was underway in Islamabad earlier this week, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari held meetings at the Chinese embassy to discuss the ongoing regional situation.

The spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to respond to queries on Tuesday regarding discussions with China, stating that these talks are too "sensitive and nuanced" for MOFA to make any statements on assumptions. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN.

Iran has given mixed signals. President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said that the country was ready to stop fighting under certain conditions, "especially the necessary guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression," according to Iranian state media. At the same time, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is prepared for "at least six months" of war.

Pakistan hasoffered to hold talksbetween its neighbor Iran and the US, leveraging its position as a power with stable ties to both. Dar's trip to China on Tuesday was at Wang's invitation, according to statements from both foreign ministries.

A guarantor?

Even as Beijing positions itself as a voice for peace and a responsible player in a conflict that's roiling the global economy, it's likely to tread carefully.

"China has every incentive to showcase its diplomatic mediation," said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "It wants the world to see a contrast: while the United States generates turmoil and chaos, China positions itself as a force for de-escalation, stability, and peace."

"What Beijing is actually willing to contribute materially, however, is another matter," he added.

This isn't China's first effort at casting itself as a peacemaker in international conflicts.

Beijing hosted talks following border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia last year. It has also offered multi-point proposals on ending the war in Ukraine – though to limited effect, with critics saying those efforts were more an exercise in polishing China's image than sincere attempts at conciliation.

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When it comes to the current conflict, Chinese strategists may see upsides to a preoccupied US that is damaging its global credibility with an economically disastrous war, even as Beijing is concerned about the ramifications for its export-driven economy.

Beijing is also highly unlikely to accept any kind of guarantor role that would require it to contribute military assets or assurances to back peace. Added to that, it is widely seen as having limited sway on security matters in the Middle East.

It's not clear what such an arrangement would entail. A diplomatic source privy to the four-way talks in Islamabad told CNN it was raised as the four countries involved were exploring different ways "to bridge the gaps between the different stakeholders in a creative way."

Such an arrangement would fall out of step with China's wariness towards military tie-ups. Beijing would also be acutely wary of any agreement that would require it to monitor and punish ceasefire violations – especially one that could potentially pull it into conflict with the US.

While China maintains a decades-old mutual defense treaty with North Korea, it has traditionally eschewed alliances and called for a revamp of the US-led model of international security.

"To be sure, as China's hard and soft power grow, there is increasing internal debate about whether Beijing should deploy its capabilities more proactively to expand global influence and consolidate its status as a leading power. Even so, Iran is an unlikely arena for such an investment," said Zhao.

Peace broker?

China has walked a careful diplomatic line over the more than four weeks of war in the Gulf, calling for a ceasefire and conducting a raft of meetings and talks on the issue. But it has also been clear about where it thinks the impetus to end the conflict – and its global economic ramifications – should lie.

"The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it," China's Middle East envoy Zhai Jun said last week, in a clear reference to the US and Israel, when asked about the circumstances under which a ceasefire could be reached.

Chinese analysts also reflect an acute awareness from Beijing of the entrenched challenges in resolving a conflict where the two sides have little trust and much animosity.

"China has asked the two sides for immediate ceasefire, but I doubt any side would actually listen to such kind of advice at this stage. For the United States, it is already caught in the dilemma that it has to muddle through, and for Iran, they need a revenge that at least could save some face," said Senior Col. (ret) Zhou Bo, senior fellow at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy in Beijing.

China may now not take a role in peace talks since Pakistan has already taken up that position, he added.

Beijing did play a key part in brokering a rapprochement between Iran and longtime rival Saudi Arabia in 2023. And Chinese leader Xi Jinping's alternative vision for international security includes Beijing as a mediator.

China's relationships with the key players in this conflict, including both Iran and the US, as well as Pakistan, could help it with access to all sides in peace talks, according Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University in Beijing.

But China is also weighing up the implications of its diplomacy for its own priorities, in particular US President Donald Trump's expected visit to China this May and other upcoming diplomacy expected between the two leaders this year.

China could look to play a role as part of a goodwill gesture to the US, but it's also been wary of the war straining that relationship.

"We don't want to have Iran or any other phenomenon to damage this trust," said Renmin University's Wang, referring to the upcoming diplomatic exchanges.

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April 01, 2026

Is China positioning itself to become a US-Iran peace broker?

As thewar in the Gulfcareens into its second month, dragging down theglobal economywith no off-ramp in sight, questions a...

Read More