Sweet 16, Elite 8 come to Portland: What to know before you go
Some of the best players in the country will be in Portland this weekend, including Stanford's Cameron Brink, USC's Juju Watkins and UConn's Paige Bueckers.
Eight of the best women's college basketball teams in the country will come to Portland this weekend for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 of the women's NCAA Tournament. Fans will get a chance to see top programs like USC, Texas, Stanford, NC State, UConn, Gonzaga, Baylor and Duke and top players like USC's Juju Watkins, UConn's Paige Bueckers and Stanford's Cameron Brink.
Some players who were prep stars in the Portland metro area are coming home to compete, spotlighted by Brink, who starred at Southridge High School and Mountainside High School in Beaverton and will likely be the No. 2 pick in the WNBA this summer. The Cardinal's opponent on Friday, NC State, has an area player on its roster: Katie Peneueta, who starred at Heritage High School in Vancouver.
Here's a look at the schedule of Sweet 16 games Friday and Saturday at Moda Center in Portland. Winners of these games will play in Elite 8 games on Sunday and Monday at Moda Center.
Schedule Sweet 16 games at Moda Center
Here's a look at the schedule of games for the Sweet 16 on Friday and Saturday. All games are at Moda Center. The Elite 8 games will be played on Sunday and Monday.
Sweet 16 schedule
Friday's games
- No. 3 seed NC State 77, No. 2 seed Stanford 67 (game recap)
- No. 1 seed Texas 69, No. 4 seed Gonzaga 47 (game recap)
Saturday's games
- No. 1 seed USC 74, No. 5 seed Baylor 70 (game recap)
- No. 3 seed UConn 53, No. 7 seed Duke 45 (game recap)
Elite 8 schedule
Sunday's game
- No. 3 seed NC State 76, No. 1 seed Texas 66 (game recap)
Monday's game
- No. 3 seed UConn 80, No. 1 seed USC 73 (game recap)
Tickets How to get tickets to the games
While there are limited full-session tickets left, single-session tickets are on sale now. As of Sunday morning, single-session tickets for the Elite 8 games are listed for as low as $6.
Directions How to get to Moda Center
It's easy to access the Rose Quarter campus (where Moda Center is located) via public transit. It's located next to two MAX Light Rail stations: the Rose Quarter Transit Center (red, blue and green lines) south of the arena and the Interstate/Rose Quarter station (yellow line) west of the Rose Quarter campus. Several TriMet buses also serve the arena. Click here to plan your trip on TriMet.
Driving to the arena? Follow these directions, provided by the Rose Quarter:
- From I-5 northbound: Take the Rose Quarter Exit, left on Broadway (2nd light), left on Vancouver Ave. (2nd light), proceed straight, enter parking garages as directed. or Take City Center Exit (before Marquam Bridge), proceed North on Front Street (Naito Parkway) over the Steel Bridge, left on Interstate Ave. (1st light), enter parking garages as directed. or Take I-405 Exit to Everett St. Exit, right on Everett St., proceed over Steel Bridge, left on Interstate Ave. (1st light), enter parking garages as directed.
- From I-5 southbound: Take Rose Quarter Exit (302A), proceed straight through two lights, enter parking garages as directed.
- From I-205 northbound: Take I-205 North to the City Center/I-84 West Exit and follow the I-84 Westbound directions.
- From I-205 southbound: Take I-205 North to the City Center/I-84 West Exit and follow the I-84 Westbound directions.
- From I-84 westbound: Follow signs to I-5 N Seattle, take Rose Quarter exit. Turn left onto NE Multnomah (2nd light). Turn right onto N. Interstate (3rd light including pedestrian crossing light.) Enter parking garages as directed.
- From Highway 26 eastbound: Take I-405 North/Seattle exit, take Everett St. Exit, exit right on Everett St., proceed straight over Steel Bridge, left on Interstate Ave. (1st light), enter parking garages as directed. or Take I-405 North exit proceed to I-5 South exit, from I-5 South take Rose Quarter Exit, proceed straight through 2 lights, enter parking garages as directed. or Take I-405 South exit, proceed to I-5 North, from I-5 North take the Rose Quarter Exit, left on Broadway (2nd light), left on Vancouver Ave. (2nd light), proceed straight, enter parking garages as directed.
Parking Where to park
There are more than 2,500 parking spaces available at the Rose Quarter. Prices vary, according to the event, but they typically range from $10 to $35:
- Garden Garage: 1,038 total spaces (24 ADA accessible spaces; 8 EV charging stations); physically attached to north end of Moda Center
- Annex Garage: 350 total spaces (9 ADA accessible spaces; 2 EV charging stations)
- West Broadway Garage: 554 total spaces (12 ADA accessible spaces; 7 EV charging stations)
- East Broadway Garage: 533 total spaces (14 ADA accessible spaces; 11 EV charging stations)
- Benton Surface Lot: 92 total spaces (3 ADA accessible spaces)
Moda Center rules What regulations are there for spectators?
Here's a look at some of the rules and regulations for people attending events at Moda Center. This isn't a comprehensive list; to see the full list, click on the link at the bottom of this chapter.
Alcohol: Alcohol is served at most events at the Rose Quarter. At sporting events, alcohol can be purchased at concession stands or at several kiosks throughout the concourse. Guests are served no more than two drinks at a time. Alcohol sales end at the last period of play for basketball games.
Bags and purses: Bags larger than 14" x 14" x 6" and backpacks are not permitted with exceptions for medical and childcare needs.
Cash-free campus: The Rose Quarter is a cash-free campus. Learn more about this here.
Outside food and beverage: All outside food or beverages are prohibited from Moda Center. Exemptions may be made for medical and child needs.
Smoking and vaping: The Rose Quarter is a smoke-free campus. All smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited on-site, including inside the Moda Center. If any guest is caught smoking inside the arena, they will be escorted off the premises and are not entitled to a refund.
Water bottles: Reusable (non-glass) water bottles are permitted. Bottles must be no larger than 32 oz and must empty upon entry.
Weapons: All weapons are not permitted on our premises, even if you have a concealed weapons permit. Exceptions will not be made for off-duty police officers, security or military personnel not in service at the Rose Quarter, or other licensed carriers.
Players to watch Top players from each team
Some of the best players in the country will be in Portland this weekend. Here's a look at the top players for each team, with their stats from the regular season and postseason.
Texas
Madison Booker, 6-foot-1, freshman forward, No. 35
- Regular-season stats: 16.8 points, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds
- NCAA Tournament stats: 14.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds
USC
JuJu Watkins, 6-2, freshman guard, No. 12
- Regular-season stats: 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists
- NCAA Tournament stats: 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists
Stanford
Cameron Brink, 6-4, senior forward, No. 22
- Regular-season stats: 17.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 blocks
- NCAA Tournament stats: 12.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 blocks
Kiki Iriafen, 6-3, junior forward, No. 44
- Regular-season stats: 19.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists
- NCAA Tournament stats: 29.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
NC State
Saniya Rivers, 6-1, junior guard, No. 22
- Regular-season stats: 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.3 steals
- NCAA Tournament stats: 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals
UConn
Paige Bueckers, 6-0, junior guard, No. 5
- Regular-season stats: 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists
- NCAA Tournament stats: 30.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists
Gonzaga
Yvonne Ejim, 6-1, senior forward, No. 15
- Regular-season stats: 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists
- NCAA Tournament stats: 21.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Baylor
Sara Andrews, 5-6, senior guard, No. 24
- Regular-season stats: 11.3 points, 3.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds
- NCAA Tournament stats: 14.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds
Duke
Reigan Richardson, 5-11, junior guard, No. 24
- Regular-season stats: 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists
- NCAA Tournament stats: 26.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists
Where's Caitlin Clark? and Oregon State?
Portland is one of two regions for the women's NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for fans in Portland, national superstar Caitlin Clark and the No. 3 seed Oregon State Beavers are both in the Albany region.
Clark, the biggest star in all of college basketball, and her team, No. 1 seed Iowa, will play its Sweet 16 matchup against Colorado in Albany, New York. That's where the Beavers will play, too, with a Thursday matchup against No. 2 seed Notre Dame.
Colorado features another local player, Aaronette Vonleh, who is the younger sister of former Portland Trail Blazers forward Noah Vonleh and starred at West Linn High School. She's the starting center for Colorado.