NAZ HILLMON

For the first time since her freshman season at Michigan, Naz Hillmon is not a starter. And yet, in her rookie year with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, Hillmon is still contributing to a team hoping to make a second-half playoff push. For the season, Hillmon has appeared in 20 of Atlanta’s 22 games, averaging 14 minutes, 3.1 points, and 3.7 rebounds. With 14 games left, Atlanta enters the second “half” in a three-way tie for sixth place. Hillmon might not be an All Star this season, but she’s still an asset.

Naz Hillmon hasn’t yet played an official WNBA game, but members of the Atlanta Dream franchise have already declared the former Michigan star the steal of the draft. We still agree with that.”Hillmon and the Dream open the regular season on Saturday night at Dallas (8 p.m. In Atlanta’s first preseason game, on April 24, Hillmon played 15 minutes, tallying four points and four rebounds. “Naz looks really, really good,” she said. She said the young players, Hillmon included, have been receptive to teaching.

It’s the offseason for college hockey and hoops, but there’s still plenty of news. The latest episode of the Wolverine Confidential podcast has you covered. Overtime losses in hockey are always disheartening, and this one was no different, especially considering Michigan’s talent. The Michigan men’s team’s roster remains in flux for this season and beyond, but that’s the nature of the sport. Stories discussed in this episode:Michigan hockey enters uncertain offseason after Frozen Four overtime loss to DenverNo.

It’s easy to forget now, what with all the winning Naz Hillmon did at Michigan, especially the last two years. And so after getting drafted into the WNBA on Monday night -- higher than any other Wolverine ever -- Hillmon viewed her challenge with the Atlanta Dream as a similar one. The two-time All-American who rewrote the Michigan basketball record books was taken 15th overall, the third pick of the second round. Hillmon said she was excited to be joining a league that has been at the forefront of social justice initiatives. “Having a lot of 6-5, 6-6 players that I’ll be going against night in and night out, I’ll continue to expand (my game),” Hillmon said.

The Michigan star was taken by the Atlanta Dream with the 15th overall pick in Monday night’s WNBA draft, becoming the program’s highest draft pick ever. Mya Hollingshed (forward, Colorado): Las Vegas Aces9. Nia Clouden (guard, Michigan State): Connecticut SunRound 213. Khayla Pointer (guard, LSU): Las Vegas Aces14. Naz Hillmon (forward, Michigan): Atlanta DreamRemaining picks will be updated later in the night.

Hillmon will almost certainly be the highest Michigan player ever chosen and is a guarantee to be the first drafted in 17 years. There are 12 picks per round, and draft prognosticators are split on whether Hillmon will be among the first dozen. It has been a long time since a Michigan player was drafted. No Wolverines were taken in the inaugural WNBA draft, in 1997; six were selected between 1998 and 2005; and none since. Pool, like 2002 third-round pick Alayne Ingram and ‘01 fourth-rounder Anne Thorius, was waived a month after getting drafted and never appeared in a WNBA game.

WICHITA, Kan. – The Michigan women’s basketball team’s senior class began their careers looking to build off the team’s NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017-18. “We’ve talked about it and they talked about it before, the history and the tradition hasn’t been rich in women’s basketball,” Barnes Arico said. “I got to play with the greatest player in Michigan women’s basketball history, and she is also my best friend. Michigan women’s basketball history is not written that way, and we made it that way. “I would say they lived up to the hype,” Barnes Arico said.

WICHITA, Kan. – The Michigan women’s basketball team’s deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history came to an end Monday night in the Elite Eight. A Naz Hillmon made free throw cut the Cardinals’ lead to 52-50 with 5:42 remaining, but missed shots and turnovers plagued Michigan down the stretch. Louisville, which advances to its fourth Final Four, held Michigan to a season-low in points in a 70-48 victory on its home court Dec. 2. Fueled by a pair of triples, Louisville jumped out to a 24-17 lead in the second quarter before Michigan responded with an 8-2 run. Buy Wolverines gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, LidsBuy Wolverines tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Wolverines games live: fuboTV, ESPN+ and Hulu + Live

The magical run from the University of Michigan women’s basketball team has come to an end as the women in maize fall to No. 1 seed Louisville 62-50 in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8.

Barnes Arico built her program with players who have embrace challenges and hard work. “I wasn’t a big-time college player, and I wasn’t, a GA (graduate assistant) at a big-time Power Five program,” Barnes Arico said Sunday in Wichita. I believed in her full force.”The year after Munger graduated, Barnes Arico signed her most prolific recruiting class at Michigan. Although Rauch had the lowest recruiting ranking among the group, she said Barnes Arico made her feel just as important. But first-year assistant Carrie Moore still sees Barnes Arico coaching with that proverbial chip on her shoulder.

1 seed Louisville at 9 p.m. at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. 3 seed Michigan Wolverines (25-6) vs No. 1 seed Louisville (28-4)Where: INTRUST Bank Arena (Wichita, Kansas)When: Monday, March 28, 9 p.m. ETFollow: Ryan ZukePoint spread: Louisville -4.5How to WatchTV: ESPN (Pam Ward, Stephanie White, Christy Winters Scott)Stream: Watch & DVR College Basketball Live | fuboTV: Stream live TV with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN & top channels without cable. WatchESPN | Hulu + Live TV | Sling | YouTube TV | fuboTVHow to ListenWTKA (1050 AM) | MGoBlue.comSatellite radio: (Sirius 138, XM 205)MORE: First look at Louisville, Michigan’s Elite Eight opponentMeet Naz Hillmon: 10 things to know about Michigan’s All-AmericanAfter slow start, Michigan’s Naz Hillmon finds her groove in Sweet 16 victory

That opponent is now what’s standing in the way of the Wolverines reaching the Final Four. RELATED: Michigan more cohesive, confident heading into rematch vs. LouisvilleDeep tournament runs are nothing new for Louisville under 15th-year head coach Jeff Walz. Here are some keys to Michigan pulling off the upset and punching its ticket to Minneapolis. The Wolverines had no answer for it in the first meeting, committing 24 turnovers and shooting just 37 percent. A sea of Coyotes fans in red nearly surrounded the court outside of a small pocket of Michigan fans behind the Wolverines bench.

Michigan’s first women’s hoops loss of the season was a doozy.

Naz Hillmon's mother, NaSheema Anderson, aunt and grandmother cheer on Michigan's All-American on Saturday at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. (Ryan Zuke | MLive.com)They had plenty to cheer about when the buzzer sounded as the third-seeded Wolverines upended the No. Despite Hillmon getting off to a slow start, her mother, NaSheema Anderson, never lost confidence. “So much so that I sit and text so (Hillmon) don’t see the anxiety and worry on my face. I was most definitely had a bag of nerves today even though I didn’t play defense and I didn’t take one shot.”

WICHITA, Kan. – Michigan and South Dakota’s head coaches expected a physical, defensive battle heading Saturday’s Sweet 16 matchup. Leigha Brown extended the Wolverines’ edge to four points with a pair of made free throws with 11 seconds remaining, but South Dakota made it interesting in the waning seconds. A missed second free throw went out of bounds off Michigan, giving South Dakota the ball with 7.5 seconds remaining. But Grace Larkins quickly ignited the raucous South Dakota crowd with back-to-back triples to give her team the lead for the rest of the half. Buy Wolverines gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, LidsBuy Wolverines tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Wolverines games live: fuboTV, ESPN+ and Hulu + Live

Naz Hillmon had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Laila Phelia scored the go-ahead layup in the final minute and No. 3 Michigan beat No. 10 seed South Dakota 52-49.

RELATED: South Dakota coach Dawn Plitzuweit’s ties to Michigan run deepMeanwhile, No. 3 seed Michigan (24-6) lost four of its previous six entering the tournament but bounced back in the opening two rounds. Here are some keys to the Wolverines slowing down the streaking Coyotes and advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time. We’ve been watching film, we’ve been talking about it, what South Dakota has been able to do. “I think that comes with experience,” Barnes Arico said of South Dakota, which has three fifth-year starters.

Before Kim Barnes Arico took over as Michigan’s head women’s basketball coach in 2012, the program had five career NCAA Tournament appearances. The Wolverines have earned five more tournament bids under Barnes Arico, including four straight, and are looking to make more history this season. “I have been coaching a long time, and I know a lot of great coaches that have never been to the Sweet 16 ever,” Barnes Arico said following her team’s win over No. “It was just a special weekend for our senior class, which has left such a legacy on our program,” Barnes Arico said. “Being there before certainly helps,” Barnes Arico said.

The Michigan men’s and women’s basketball programs have advanced to the Sweet 16.

ANN ARBOR, MI -- University of Michigan women’s basketball defeated Villanova University 64-49 on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The Crisler Center in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. Wolverines senior Naz Hillmon keeps possession of the ball during the women’s basketball game on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The Crisler Center. (Jenifer Veloso | MLive.com) Jenifer VelosoWolverines senior Leigha Brown shoots a field goal during the women’s basketball game on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The Crisler Center. (Jenifer Veloso | MLive.com) Jenifer VelosoWolverines senior Naz Hillmon defends the basket during the women’s basketball game on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The Crisler Center. (Jenifer Veloso | MLive.com) Jenifer VelosoWolverines senior Danielle Rauch shoots a field goal during the women’s basketball game on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The Crisler Center.

Hillmon and Barnes Arico are living that vision as the Wolverines’ historical season continues into the Sweet 16. The first Associated Press first-team All-American in program history walked off the court at Crisler Center one final time Monday after another MVP-like performance. She recorded her 50th career double-double, finishing with a game-high 27 points, 11 rebounds and five steals to help No. “I think the bigger the stage with Naz, the more she performs,” Barnes Arico said. “I think she belongs in the rafters of Crisler for sure,” Barnes Arico said of Hillmon, who ranks second in program history in points and rebounds.

ANN ARBOR – Michigan’s women’s basketball team is headed back to the Sweet 16. 11 seed Villanova 64-49 on Monday in a second-round matchup at Crisler Center. RELATED: Star forwards highlight Michigan vs. Villanova NCAA Women’s Tournament matchupMeanwhile, Siegrist, who is second nationally in scoring averaging 25.8 points, scored 12 on just 5 of 13 shooting. After allowing 180 points combined in their last two games heading into the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines held No. For Michigan, it was Hillmon taking over down low, while Villanova took advantage of open 3-point shots.

The University of Michigan women’s basketball team has advanced to its second-straight Sweet 16 after a win over Villanova in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

It will square off against another in its NCAA Tournament second-round matchup against Villanova on Monday at Crisler Center. Do-it-all forward Maddy Siegrist is second in the nation averaging 25.8 points per game and also leads the Wildcats in rebounding (9.4 per game). “She’s an incredible scorer and her length and her size is special,” Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico said. I know that she’s a tough matchup for people just because of her size.”Monday’s game should present a compelling matchup inside. 12 nationally averaging 21.1 points per game, scored a game-high 24 points Saturday on 11-of-14 shooting.

ANN ARBOR – Playing in the NCAA Tournament is nothing new for Michigan’s Naz Hillmon. But playing an NCAA Tournament game in front of a home crowd was for the senior forward. The third-seeded Wolverines hosted their first tournament game in program history on Saturday and didn’t disappoint their home fans, rolling to a 74-39 victory over No. “In that first 5 minutes where we were rushed and flustered, our home crowd was there still cheering us on. It was electric.”Michigan advances to the second round four a fourth straight tournament and will be at home again Monday against No.

Naz Hillmon had 24 points and 11 rebounds to help third-seeded Michigan beat No. 14 seed American 74-39 in the first round of the Wichita Regional.

ANN ARBOR – Michigan’s women’s basketball team gave its fans plenty to cheer about in the program’s first NCAA Tournament game on its home court. 14 seed American 74-39 on Saturday in front of 6,471 at Crisler Center, where they are now 15-0 this season. She made all five of her field-goal attempts in the second quarter as the team’s lead ballooned to 39-13. With American, the Patriot League champion, ranking third in the country in 3-point defense, Michigan exploited its size advantage inside. Defensively, Michigan forced 21 turnovers and held American to 29.8% shooting, including just 1 of 21 from beyond the arc.

Media tables now line both sides of the court while NCAA Tournament and March Madness posters and signage are now displayed throughout the arena. “I think we came into Michigan on a mission, wanted to complete a lot of our goals. This was one of our goals, and the fact that we’re being able to do it during our senior year is super special. “Obviously, being able to have that experience like we did last year and having some of the success that we did definitely gives us confidence coming into this tournament,” senior guard Leigha Brown said. RELATED: Michigan women to put unbeaten home record on the line in NCAA Tournament

On Wednesday, the senior forward became the first player in women’s basketball program history to be named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. Hillmon, who is averaging 21 points and 9.4 rebounds this season, was an AP second-team selection last year. “She obviously makes such an impact on the court for our program and has helped elevate Michigan women’s basketball. This year, Hillmon became the first Michigan basketball player, man or woman, to score 2,000 career points and reach 1,000 rebounds. Hillmon was joined on the first-team AP by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston, Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith and Stanford’s Haley Jones.

Kentucky's Rhyne Howard has become the ninth player in women’s basketball history to earn first-team Associated Press All-America honors three times.

For the second time in six years, Michigan’s Kim Barnes Arico is the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Michigan finished the regular season 22-5 and 13-4 in the Big Ten, coming up just short of the program’s first-ever Big Ten title. She was twice named the Big East Coach of the Year while at St. John’s. Another Michigan senior, Leigha Brown, was selected to the second team by the media. Brown is in her second season in Ann Arbor after transferring from Nebraska.

Honored pregame with the rest of her record-setting classmates, Naz Hillmon scored 28 points to power Michigan past rival Michigan State 62-51 on Thursday night. Both makes came from Nolan, on consecutive possessions in the second quarter, to give Michigan it’s first lead. Michigan started the second half strong by going inside to -- who else? They shot just 3-for-13 from the field, with Hillmon accounting for all but one of Michigan’s points. Not until a few minutes into the second quarter did a Wolverine besides Hillmon make a shot.

Yeah, a lot is happening at Crisler Center as Michigan hosts Michigan State (6 p.m. If the Wolverines were to lose to Michigan State and beat Iowa, they’d have an outside shot at winning the Big Ten. They’d still need Ohio State to lose -- either to Penn State on Thursday or at Michigan State on Sunday. Michigan will host a Michigan State team that beat the Wolverines two weeks ago, 63-57. Last season, Michigan made its deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history, reaching the Sweet 16 before losing in overtime.

13 Maryland on Sunday in a first-place showdown at Crisler Center. It snapped Maryland’s eight-game win streak and pulled ahead of the Terrapins (20-7, 12-4) in the conference. Ashley Owusu, Maryland’s second-leading scorer, missed a wide-open layup with 50 seconds remaining and then fouled Michigan guard Maddie Nolan right after. In the first half, senior forward Naz Hillmon, who became the fourth Wolverine to reach the 2,000 career points mark last game, kept Michigan afloat. They have two more scheduled regular-season games remaining: Michigan State at home on Thursday and Iowa on the road next Sunday.

Michigan State’s women’s basketball team just put a dent in Michigan’s Big Ten title hopes. A big third quarter propelled the Spartans to a 63-57 victory over the fourth-ranked Wolverines on Thursday at Breslin Center. The Wolverines (20-3, 11-2 Big Ten) entered the game red-hot and sat alone in first place in the conference. They were ahead 29-26 at halftime before Nia Clouden led a MSU surge in the third quarter. The loss for the Wolverines puts them behind Indiana (17-3, 9-1) in win percentage, while the win for the Spartans puts them back in the NCAA Tournament conversation.

Freshman guard Laila Phelia, who entered the game averaging 7.6 points and 20.3 minutes per game, slotted into the starting lineup and delivered a career-best performance. Considering some of the shots Clark hit were heavily contested or from just inside half court, Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico didn’t assign any blame. “I thought Laila did an unbelievable job on her defensively,” Barnes Arico said. “That was exciting,” said a buoyant Barnes Arico. “I can’t even think about that,” Barnes Arico said of a Big Ten title.

ANN ARBOR – In another historic first for coach Kim Barnes Arico, Michigan women’s basketball claimed their first home win over a Top 5 opponent with a 65-50 victory over Indiana Monday night. Star forward Naz Hillmon gave a dominant 21-point performance, helping Michigan maintain their lead over rival Hoosiers throughout. The Wolverines will travel to face Illinois Thursday night. Check out the gallery above or click the link here to see all our photos from the big night.

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan women’s basketball team’s historic season continues. In its first ever top-10 matchup in Ann Arbor, No. They’re now 6-1 against ranked opponents this season and are in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten. Although Michigan shot 52% from the floor in the first half, it went the last 4:42 without a field goal, allowing Indiana to pull to within two at the break. In a battle of the top two defenses in the Big Ten, Michigan shot 47.3% from the floor while holding Indiana to 33.3%.

Kim Barnes Arico went on the radio last week and solicited support for her team in its next home game. ET, ESPN2) the biggest home game in program history is enough to understand why Michigan is encouraging a packed house. 5 Baylor on Dec. 19, every Michigan game has been decided by double digits. Indiana won the lone meeting between the teams last season and outlasted Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight. With fans back at Crisler this season, Michigan is 10-0 at home.

The Michigan women’s basketball team is about to embark on perhaps the most exciting two-game stretch in program history. Ohio State hasn’t lost since that game, winning six in a row to move to 7-2 in the Big Ten. “We know now with the ranking that we have, every single game we are getting everyone’s best shot,” Barnes Arico said on WTKA. While not looking past Ohio State, Barnes Arico was asked about the home matchup with Indiana, a potential top-10 showdown. “I know it’s a Monday night and it’s a televised game, but we could really use our fans there that night,” Barnes Arico said.

Naz Hillmon scored 32 points and had 12 rebounds, and No. 7 Michigan dominated the paint in a 79-66 win over Purdue on Monday night.

Leigha Brown scored 25 points to lead No. 13 Michigan to a 74-68 win over fifth-ranked Baylor in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.

For the first time in program history, the Michigan women’s basketball team defeated a top-five team. 5 Baylor on Sunday in overtime, 74-68, at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The senior finished with a game-high 25 points and scored the basket, with 3:24 left in overtime, that put Michigan ahead for good. Michigan held the Lady Bears scoreless over the final 1:40 of the fourth to force overtime. That game was historic for the Wolverines simply because they were playing -- it was their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.

While final exams and the holidays often mean uninteresting home games for power programs, Michigan has a marquee neutral-court matchup this weekend. As had been the case earlier in the season, Michigan found a way to win despite poor 3-point shooting (2-of-11). For the second straight game, Izabel Varejão scored seven points in seven minutes off the bench. 5 Baylor; Eastern MichiganWe get a rematch of one of the best games of the 2021 NCAA Tournament when Michigan plays Baylor on Sunday (1 p.m. The Wolverines will take some time off before resuming Big Ten play at home against Ohio State on Dec. 31.

It was a very happy Thanksgiving weekend for the Michigan women’s basketball team. 10 Louisville; AkronMichigan visits Louisville on Thursday as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. It will be Michigan’s third game at Louisville in the past five seasons. The Cardinals are second in the country in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 42.8 points per game. “We’ll have to handle their pressure, try to get by them, throw the ball inside and play inside out,” Michigan assistant coach Carrie Moore said on the “Inside Michigan Basketball” radio show on Monday night.

The Michigan’s women’s basketball team will head to sunny Florida with a bright and shiny 5-0 record. UMass Lowell, Nov. 16Junior guard Michelle Sidor made her first career start and scored seven points over 20 minutes in a 73-54 home victory. Both Brown and Amy Dilk, who injured her knee in the season opener, are day to day. She scored 12 points in the final seven minutes to preserve the win. In addition to Michigan, which moved up a spot to 12 in Tuesday’s poll, Ohio State State is No.

ANN ARBOR -- The Michigan women’s basketball team raised a first-of-its-kind banner to the Crisler Center rafters last weekend, then won to improve to 2-0. Just 42 seconds into Michigan’s season, on Nov. 9 against IUPUI, senior point guard Amy Dilk went down with a knee injury. Michigan displayed its depth against St. Francis, as 11 different Wolverines played at least nine minutes. Michigan opened last season with a win over Central Michigan in Ann Arbor, 93-75, in the programs’ first meeting since 2006. 13 Michigan: 2-0Last week: won vs. IUPUI 67-62 (overtime); won vs. St. Francis Brooklyn 82-46This week: vs. UMass Lowell (Nov. 16); at Central Michigan (Nov. 20)

For the second straight season, Michigan’s Naz Hillmon has been named Big Ten women’s basketball preseason co-Player of the Year. The senior center was named preseason Player of the Year by the media on Tuesday, while Iowa sophomore Caitlin Clark was selected by the conference’s coaches. Hillmon is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year after having one of the best seasons in program history. 11 in the Associated Press preseason poll, was picked to finish fourth in the conference by both the coaches and media. MORE: Michigan women’s basketball team ready for its encoreAP Top 25 preseason poll: Michigan women’s basketball ties highest ranking in program history

ANN ARBOR -- Kim Barnes Arico isn’t superstitious, but she made a minor exception on Thursday. The Michigan women’s basketball head coach wore the same pants she sported the last time Michigan played a game. See also: Michigan basketball to host fan event with dunk contest, musical performanceTo have a great team, Barnes Arico said, “Obviously you need great players like Naz and Leigha, but you need great pieces. Barnes Arico views her three sophomores as, in some ways, freshmen given last year’s unusual college experience. On Thursday, Barnes Arico spoke about how last year’s team was a selfless group that handled the adversity brought about by COVID.

Michigan junior forward Naz Hillmon racked up numerous accolades during the women’s college basketball season. 🥇🥇🥇@nazhillmon wins her third gold medal with @usabasketball, helping the Red, White and Blue win the @americupw with a 74-59 victory over Puerto Rico. Naz had 8 points and 12 boards in the gold medal game. This isn’t the first gold medal for Hillmon, who also won with USA Basketball at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup. “It feels amazing,” Hillmon said of winning another gold medal.

Naz Hillmon was a double-double machine for Michigan’s women’s basketball team during the 2020-21 season. Competing for USA Basketball at the AmeriCup, Hillmon recorded a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds in an 87-65 win over host Puerto Rico. She also was a part of the 2018 USA Basketball U18 team and the 2019 U19 team. The Cleveland native also became the first Michigan women’s basketball player to earn Associated Press All-American honors. Team USA is back on the floor at 6:10 p.m. Monday against Venezuela.

0:18 – Baylor 76, Michigan 73Akienreh Johnson’s layup to tie the game at the other end didn’t fall. FOURTH QUARTER0:00 -- Michigan 63, Baylor 63Ursin Moon’s jumper in the final seconds came up short, and Michigan came up with the rebound. 3:39 – Baylor 27, Michigan 17Two quick baskets from Baylor has forced Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico to call a timeout. FIRST QUARTER0:00 – Baylor 16, Michigan 13Baylor has missed several open looks in the last few minutes, and Michigan continues to hang around. 2 seed Baylor (27-2) at 3 p.m (ABC) at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Michigan’s women’s basketball team takes on the defending national champions in a Sweet 16 matchup on Saturday. The game will air on ABC, and fans also will be able to stream it with fuboTV (7-day free trial), Sling, Hulu (free trial) and YouTube TV. Each team features one of the four finalists for the Wade Trophy, presented annually to the best women’s player by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Who: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: No. 6 seed Michigan vs. No.

On Thursday, the junior forward was named as one of four finalists for the Wade Trophy, presented annually to the best women’s player by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Hillmon, who averages 24.3 points and 11.6 rebounds this season, already became the first Michigan player to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors. She will go head-to-head against another Wade Trophy finalist – Baylor junior forward NaLyssa Smith -- in the Wolverines’ Sweet 16 matchup. 6 seed Michigan (16-5) reach its first Sweet 16. Hillmon also has been named an Associated Press Second-Team All-American and is among 15 players named to the national ballot for the Wooden Award.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines Women’s Basketball team isn’t just winning games -- it’s making history. For the first time ever, they punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 and let everyone know there’s more than just one good basketball team on campus. Congrats to @KBA_GoBlue & her squad for reaching the Sweet 16 -- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!! pic.twitter.com/NSaoSB7zVk — Juwan Howard (@JuwanHoward) March 23, 2021“It’s a great win for the university, a great win for Michigan,” Barnes-Arico said. “Great win for little kids growing up in Michigan and for the country to see Michigan is not just a football school, or a men’s basketball school -- it’s also a women’s basketball school.”

Don’t tell Michigan’s women’s basketball team it was at a size disadvantage in its NCAA Tournament second-round game against Tennessee. The Wolverines held a 42-40 rebounding advantage and equaled the Volunteers’ 32 points in the paint. But Hillmon, the Big Ten Player of the Year, said the team’s defensive effort is the main reason it is still dancing. But she got emotional after the game talking about the team advancing past the second round for the first time. “I think that we need to stay consistent, another thing that we’ve been talking about a lot within our team,” she said.

6 seed Michigan to its first regional semifinals appearance with a 70-55 win over third-seeded Tennessee on Tuesday in the women's NCAA Tournament. It's great to see Michigan is not only a football and men's basketball school, but also a women’s basketball school,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. The Lady Vols missed their final seven shots of the period and ended their drought 1:18 into the third quarter. The Lady Vols' deficit grew to 17 points as Michigan went on a 22-7 run spanning the quarters. Rennia Davis scored 12 points to lead the Lady Vols, who were playing Michigan for the first time.

Michigan’s women’s basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time. 3 seed Tennessee with a 70-55 victory Tuesday in a second-round game in San Antonio. Michigan (16-5) had been to the second round five times before this season but lost each time by double digits. The Wolverines took advantage of their matchup and stifled a talented Tennessee team that averages nearly 73 points per game. The Wolverines, whose tallest starter is 6-foot-2 Naz Hillmon, out-rebounded the Volunteers 42-40, while each team scored 32 points in the paint.

Michigan has a chance to make program history on Tuesday against one of the most storied programs in women’s college basketball. The sixth-seeded Wolverines have advanced to the second round in two straight NCAA Tournaments but have never reached the Sweet 16. 3 seed Tennessee – a program that has made the tournament every year since the 1982 season and has eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances. 14 seed Middle Tennessee in the first round, with 6-foot-2 point guard Rennia Davis’ 24 points and 14 rebounds leading the way. Four starters average at least four rebounds per game as the team held a 56-21 rebounding advantage against Middle Tennessee.

The junior forward made the Associated Press All-American second team on Wednesday, becoming the first women’s basketball player in program history to earn AP All-American honors. The AP recognition comes a week after Hillmon was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament – its highest ever. They open the NCAA Tournament at 3 p.m. Sunday against No. Michigan has never made it past the second round in the tournament.

On Monday, the junior forward became the first player in Michigan women’s basketball history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year. She also is just the second player in Big Ten history to earn Freshman, Sixth Player and Player of the Year honors in a career. ▪️ 25.1 ppg▪️ 11.3 rpg▪️ 64.5 FG%▪️ 12 double-doubles▪️ 50-point, 16-rebound game0⃣0⃣ @nazhillmon is the consensus #B1G Player of the Year, the first player in program history to earn the honor. Her .645 shooting percentage was good for second in the Big Ten, while her 11.3 rebounds per game was a league high. She is 11th in women’s program history with 1,396 career points and 15th with 686 rebounds.