Michigan women's basketball earns NCAA tournament berth as No. 9 seed

Michigan basketball fans had something to cheer about on Selection Sunday, at least if they follow the Michigan women's basketball team which earned yet another berth into the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

The Wolverines have won a game in each of the past three NCAA tournaments with a total of six wins overall culminating with an Elite 8 appearance in the 2022 tournament. Michigan women's basketball made the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022 tournaments), while also notching a win last season before getting knocked out by LSU in the second round last season.

Throughout the weekend, it seemed like there could be some suspense for Michigan women's basketball, which was still listed as "on the bubble" going into the weekend. But after their run to the Big Ten semifinals, which included a win over Indiana, the Wolverines weren't in jeopardy, at least according to their No. 9 seed.

Michigan women's basketball has now made six straight appearances in the NCAA tournament under Kim Barnes Arico. The only miss happened back in 2020 due to COVID-19.

In terms of the opponent for Michigan women's basketball, that will be eight-seeded Kansas. The Jayhawks, out of the Big 12, are 19-12 overall. They finished 12-7 in their league. Kansas has four scorers in double figures led by freshman S'Mya Nichols. She's 6-foot, averages 15 points per game, along with 2.7 assists and shoots 40 percent from 3-point range.

Nichols and Laila Phelia should be quite the first-round matchup. Kansas and Michigan are two veteran teams but the Jayhawks return to the NCAA women's tournament after missing it in 2023.

If Michigan wins, future Big Ten foe USC could be the opponent as the No. 1 seed.