South Dakota is a hoops state, and it is well represented in this year’s NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament. The tourney starts March 19 and concludes with the national championship on April 6 in Tampa, Florida. 

Here’s a rundown of players and coaches from South Dakota that are participating in this year’s NCAA Division I tourney:

Eleven South Dakotans part of another SDSU tournament

The South Dakota State University women’s basketball team is making its 13th trip to the NCAA tournament in 17 seasons of postseason eligibility. The Jacks are a 10 seed and will play No. 7 Oklahoma State in the first round on March 22 in Storrs, Connecticut.  

South Dakotans on the roster include: Mahli Abdouch (O’Gorman), Hilary Behrens (Brandon Valley), Jaidyn Dunn (Sioux Falls Jefferson), Emilee Fox (Mount Vernon/Plankinton), Claire Sheppard (Flandreau), Haleigh Timmer (St. Thomas More), Katie Vasecka (Tea Area) and Madysen Vlastuin (Lennox). 

Mitchell native and former SDSU player Macy Miller is an assistant coach, while Shelby Selland (Sanborn Central/Woonsocket) and Erika Sage (Freeman) are also on staff. Selland is an assistant coach and director of operations, while Sage is an assistant coach and director of player development. 

South Dakota State University's Emilee Fox dribbles the ball against Oral Roberts in the Summit League championship on March 9 in Sioux Falls. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Texas earn No. 1 seed

Sioux Falls Washington graduate Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and the University of Texas earned a No. 1 seed and will host the first and second round games. 

The Longhorns will take on the winner of a first four game between High Point and William & Mary in the first round on March 22. Texas will make their 37th appearance in the NCAA tournament, which is tied for second most among all NCAA DI teams. 

The Longhorns are 31-3 on the season and have won 15 of their last 16 games. 

A 6-foot-2 junior guard, Mwenentanda is averaging 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She’s also totaled 23 steals and 19 blocks, while starting in 12 games. 

Kyah Watson and West Virginia are No. 6 seed 

Rapid City Stevens graduate Kyah Watson and West Virginia University was selected as a No. 6 seed. 

West Virginia opens the first round against No. 11-seeded Columbia or Washington in the Birmingham 2 Region. The Mountaineers will take on Columbia or Washington on Saturday, March 22. 

A 5-foot-10 senior guard, Watson is averaging 5.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She’s tallied 97 steals and 13 blocked shots, while starting all 30 games for the Mountaineers. 

Watson was an honorable mention all-conference selection and was chosen to the All-Big 12 defensive team. 

Reese Ross and Utah play Indiana in first round

St. Thomas More graduate Reese Ross and Utah is a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tourney.

The Utes will play No. 9 Indiana on March 21 in Columbia, South Carolina. The winner will play the South Carolina vs. Tennessee Tech winner in the second round. 

Utah is making its 21st appearance in the NCAA tourney, and its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since the 1995-98 seasons. 

A 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, Ross is averaging eight points and 5.1 rebounds per game. She’s also totaled 35 assists, 27 steals and 10 blocked shots. 

Another South Dakota on the Utes is assistant coach Ryan Larsen, who spent six seasons as the head coach at South Dakota School of Mines. Larsen became the head coach of the Hardrockers after serving five years as an assistant women's basketball coach at the University of South Dakota.

Before his time at South Dakota, Larsen was a member of the Augustana University men's basketball staff from 2002-07.

Amy Williams leads Nebraska to another NCAA tournament

Spearfish native and Nebraska head women’s basketball coach Amy Williams has guided the Huskers to their third NCAA tourney in the last four years. 

The Huskers are a No. 10 seed and will play No. 7 Louisville in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 21. Nebraska is playing in its 17th all-time NCAA tournament and is gunning for its 10th all-time NCAA tourney victory. 

Hanson High School graduate Amanda Hart is in her ninth season as Nebraska’s director of women's basketball operations.

Caleb Currier and Georgia Tech earn No. 9 seed

Sully Buttes High School graduate Caleb Currier and Georgia Tech earned a No. 9 seed in the NCAA tourney.

The Yellow Jackets will play No. 8 Richmond on March 21 in Los Angeles. It marks the 12th NCAA tourney appearance in program history for Georgia Tech. 

Georgia Tech looks to continue its storied year in the postseason. Coming off an ACC Tournament quarterfinal run where they took top-seeded NC State to the wire, the Yellow Jackets opened the 2024-25 campaign with the best start in program history at 15-0.

Currier is an assistant coach/director of recruiting operations for the Yellow Jackets.