Michigan State Women’s basketball earns 9-seed in NCAA Tournament

The Michigan State women’s basketball team joined the men as a 9-seed in the upcoming 2024 NCAA Tournament.

I think we all know that the NCAA Tournament is about to begin for the men’s team, but what isn’t getting talked about enough is the Michigan State women’s basketball team. The women also qualified for the NCAA Tournament, making MSU just one of two Big Ten teams to qualify for both the men’s and women’s tournament.

MSU earns a spot in the NCAA Tournament

For the first time in three years, the Michigan State women’s basketball team is back in the NCAA Tournament. Similarly to the men’s team, the Spartans also earned a 9-seed. This was after a very solid 22-8 season under first year head coach Robyn Fralick.

The Spartans also finished 12-6 in conference play, earning them the 4-seed and double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. Unfortunately for MSU, they lost their opening quarterfinals matchup to Nebraska 73-61.

Michigan State will play 8-seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Coincidentally, this would likely be the men’s second round matchup if they win their first game on Thursday. The Spartans’ game against North Carolina is Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET in Columbia, S.C. This is a short drive from Charlotte, N.C., where the man play, so it is possible to support both teams if you plan on heading to the men’s game Thursday.

If the women beat North Carolina, that would set them up with a second-round matchup against undefeated South Carolina. Obviously that would not be an easy game to win, but the women are No. 6 in the country averaging 83.7 points per game. So maybe they’ll be able to keep up with the Gamecocks. The Spartans also nearly beat Iowa this season on the road, who is another 1-seed in this tournament. So they’ve already proven they can hang with the best teams in the country.

MSU’s game is on ESPN2, so be sure to tune in to watch the women take on the Tar Heels.