The women’s NCAA tournament kicks off on Friday. It’s my favorite part of March Madness, but you’ve probably heard people say it’s a waste of time to even watch. The University of Connecticut is undefeated once more, again the favorite to cruise through the tournament and claim its fifth consecutive national championship. Why should I watch, critics say, if I already know what’s going to happen?
The answer is simple: You should watch because of Erica McCall.
McCall—or “Bird,” as her teammates call her—is a senior for No. 2-seeded Stanford, a post player in the mold of former Stanford All-American Chiney Ogwumike.