Meet the Iowa Native Who Is Dominating the NCAA Tournament

Iowa's March Madness Run Comes to an End

It seems like Iowans have no one to root for in March Madness anymore.

All of the teams from the Hawkeye State that made it to the NCAA tournament lost in their second round of gameplay.

However, while Iowa Hawkeye fans are specifically a bit heartbroken over the women's team's loss to Oklahoma, it seems like that is the team that Iowans might want to start to root for!

Sahara Williams Stuns Her Home State of Iowa

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A player that really shone during the matchup between the Hawkeyes and the Sooners was sophomore forward Sahara Williams.

From Waterloo West High to Oklahoma University

Williams is an Iowa native, so it must've been a surreal moment when she led her team to victory against a team from her home state.

This 5-foot 11 player was a five-star recruit and was rated by both ESPN and Prospects Nation as the No. 23 overall player in the country during her high school days, according to her Oklahoma bio.

Dominating at Waterloo West High School

Williams played ball at Waterloo West High School and averaged 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.2 steals per game during her senior year.

To top off just some of her accomplishments, she also helped Team USA secure a gold medal at the 2022 3x3 World Cup.

Sahara Williams Helps Oklahoma Make March Madness History

During the matchup against the Hawkeyes, Williams helped lead the Sooners to a 96-62 win and helped move the team on to the Sweet Sixteen.

This is a history making moment for Williams and the rest of her team from Oklahoma, since this is their first time making it this far in the tourney in well-over a decade, according to reports.

Williams' Post Game Reaction

In the post-game press conference, Williams was asked what was going through her mind as she helped the team "throttle" Iowa while being an Iowa girl herself.

"Just do whatever it takes to win..."

What Is Next for Sahara Williams and Oklahoma?

The No. 3 seeded Oklahoma Sooners are set to take on No. 2 Connecticut Huskies in the next round of the tournament.

Sweet Sixteen Matchup Details

This Sweet Sixteen game is set for Saturday, March 29th at 4:30 PM CST.  Last year, the Huskies fell to the Hawkeyes in the Final Four.

Can Williams Take on UConn's Star Power?

UConn has a strong legacy in March Madness. The team has been led by head coach Geno Auriemma for 40 seasons, and during that time they've made 36 NCAA tournament appearances, according to ESPN.

Will our very own Waterloo native be able to take on the Huskies and the WNBA's predicted #1 overall draft pick Paige Bueckers this weekend?

We'll have to watch to find out!

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