Villanova still has championship aspirations ahead of WBIT first-round matchup with VCU

After an 18-12 season, and a second round exit in the Big East Tournament, Villanova fell short of making the women’s basketball 2024 NCAA Tournament.

But a No. 1 seed in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament will keep the Wildcats’ postseason alive as Denise Dillon and her squad have their sights set on a championship of a different kind.

Here’s what you need to know before the Wildcats tipoff in their first round game (7 p.m., ESPN+) against Virginia Commonwealth (26-5).

» READ MORE: How Villanova’s Christina Dalce prepared — mentally and physically — for an expanded role this season

After a Sweet Sixteen run in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, missing the cut this year was a disappointment for Villanova.

“It’s tough because you felt what it felt like last year and now it hurts,” honorable mention all-American Lucy Olsen said. “But you can’t do anything about it, so now you [have] to use it as motivation.”

And that’s the mentality the Wildcats are bringing to the WBIT: they can still bring home some hardware.

“This group [has] a chance to continue to play,” Dillon said. “To compete for a championship. I think it’s going to show a lot of who we are and what we’re about as we finish off the season.”

The Drexel women’s team clinched a No. 16 seed after winning the CAA Tournament, beating top-seeded Stony Brook, 69-68, in the championship game, and will face No. 1 Texas on Friday.

“I was down there for the championship game of the Dragons,” Dillon said. “I’m so proud of their accomplishment.”

Drexel is also led by former Wildcat Brooke Mullin, who averages 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds for the Dragons.

“[Drexel] representing Philly is just remarkable,” Dillon said.

In the 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament, Villanova was the only Big 5 team representing the 12 Philadelphia-area Division I teams.

“We’re all rooting for Drexel this year,” Olsen said. “It’s amazing that they won their tournament and with Brooke being there, it’s awesome to see her succeed.”

» READ MORE: How lucky No. 7 has guided Drexel to March Madness

VCU is a No. 16 seed in the WBIT, hailing from the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Leading the Rams are Sarah Te-Biasu, Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, and Mary-Anna Asare, who all average double digit points.

Te-Biasu is the leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points, while Mykel Parham helps on the defensive end, averaging 8.4 boards per game.

“We need to handle their pressure,” Dillon said. “They get after it on the defensive end and that’s been the success of their season.”

VCU averages 39.9 rebounds per game, outrebounding opponents by nearly 10. However, the Rams struggle on the offensive end, shooting just 41.2% from the floor.

In postseason play, the Rams were upset by St. Louis, 65-63, in the quarterfinals of the A10 tournament, but a 26-5 record was enough to keep their season alive, with hopes of a first-round upset.

“Everyone wants to win,” Olsen said. “But everyone’s also angry they didn’t make the tournament. We all have that common goal to prove something.”

If there’s one main perk to being the No. 1 seed in the WBIT, it’s having home court advantage.

“Our fans are awesome,” Olsen said. “They’re loud. They’re into it. They’re not just there to sit there — they’re energized — and it brings a lot of energy to us on the court as well.”