The field has officially been cut to the Sweet 16, and as the NCAA women's basketball  tournament moves into the regional semifinals, the stars are shining brighter than ever. While several heavyweights are still fighting through the second round on Monday, the bracket is already loaded with elite Black women who have dominated the opening weekend.

In the East, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong have UConn looking like a buzzsaw. Fudd is playing the most efficient basketball of her career, shooting a lights-out 44.6% from deep. Meanwhile, Strong is proving why she is considered a generational talent, leading a Huskies defense holding  opponents to a nation-best 50.4 points. Their dominance has UConn entering the second weekend with a perfect 36-0 record.

LSU has surged into the Sweet 16 following a historic 54-point rout of Texas Tech. The Tigers’ backcourt of Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams has been nearly impossible to game-plan against, with Johnson’s two-way brilliance and Williams’ career-high shooting percentages leading the way. Adding to the depth is MiLaysia Fulwiley, who has flourished as a primary playmaker off the bench, leading the team in scoring and steals.

In the South, Madison Booker has been the ultimate stabilizer for a No. 1 seed Texas team that just dropped 100 points on Oregon to punch its  ticket to Fort Worth. Booker’s consistency was on full display as she led the Longhorns in scoring throughout their current win streak. They’ll be joined in the Sweet 16 by TCU and Olivia Miles, who survived an overtime thriller against Washington to keep their historic season alive.

The bracket also features massive individual performances from Hannah Hidalgo, who continues to be Notre Dame'spremier two-way threat, and Mikayla Blakes, who led Vanderbilt to its highest seed in nearly two decades. At USC, freshman Jazzy Davidson has stepped up in a major way, leading the Trojans in every major statistical category to help them advance.