The Big 12 Tournament for women’s basketball will be taking place this weekend with first round games starting Friday night and the championship game on Monday night. The bracket above shows the games and times for each matchup this weekend.

The Iowa State Daily women’s basketball beat writers made their picks for the upcoming weekend with winners of each game, eventually crowning a Big 12 champion on Monday. 

Jack MacDonald:

Game 1: No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Kansas

While this game is the eight vs. nine game, it’s not going to be close. Kansas State is just a better team than the Jayhawks. The two played an overtime game in the first meeting, but last Saturday, the Wildcats throttled Kansas 91-67.

Winner – Kansas State

Game 2: No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Texas Tech

Again, this game has the potential to be a close game, but it won’t. It’s not that Iowa State is a way better team than Texas Tech, it’s just the fact that the Red Raiders aren’t good. Texas Tech has lost 17 of its last 18 games, including two double-digit losses to the Cyclones. Simply put: Iowa State will run the Red Raiders right back to Lubbock. 

Winner – Iowa State

Game 3: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 TCU

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly is no stranger to this four vs. five matchup and he said it’s a game that’s a toss up. This year the Cyclones pass this game onto Oklahoma and TCU. Both are quality teams, but Oklahoma is on a tear. The Sooners won four of their last five, including a win over West Virginia. The Sooners and Horned Frogs split the season series, but Oklahoma is on a roll. 

Winner – Oklahoma

Game 4: No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 8 Kansas State

Baylor is very, very good. 

Winner – Baylor 

Game 5: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 Iowa State

Iowa State has a chance to make this a close game. The Cyclones played the Longhorns fairly close in late February, but didn’t have the scoring to keep up with Texas. The Longhorns are just too much for an inexperienced Cyclones squad to provide the Big 12 tournament with its first upset. 

Winner – Texas

Game 6: No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 6 West Virginia

At last, the Big 12 Tournament will receive its first upset. Oklahoma State is a good team, but so is West Virginia. The Cowgirls swept the season series, but both games were close. The Mountaineers will send Oklahoma State packing, but it won’t be a walk in the park. 

Winner – West Virginia

Game 7: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Baylor

Oklahoma is good, but Baylor is Baylor. The Lady Bears aren’t ranked No. 3 in the country for no reason. The Sooners were blown out by Baylor the first time the two met up, but the second time around, Oklahoma managed to keep it at a nine-point loss on the road. Yes, the Sooners could shock the Big 12 with a win, but Baylor is just too good. 

Winner – Baylor

Game 8: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 6 West Virginia

West Virginia’s win over Oklahoma State is where the magic runs out. Texas is in another tier than the Mountaineers and unlike the first semifinal game, this one won’t be close. The Longhorns are going to come out hot and on a mission. West Virginia is going to endure a long and disappointing trip back to Morgantown. 

Winner – Texas

Game 9: No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 2 Texas

Just as everyone predicted: Texas vs. Baylor. The Longhorns and Lady Bears are untouchable when it comes to Big 12 play. This is going to be a battle for the ages. My basketball senses are predicting a hot start from the Lady Bears, but the Longhorns will be able to cool down Kalani Brown and steal the title right out from under Baylor. 

You read it here first, Texas will upset Baylor. 

Big 12 Champions – Texas 

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Noah Rohlfing:

Game 1: No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Kansas

The third edition of the Sunflower Showdown will go the same way as the first two matchups between these in-state rivals went. Kansas will keep it close, but in the second half Kansas State pulls away and moves on. 

Winner – Kansas State

Game 2: No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Texas Tech

Iowa State comes into this game with two 12-point victories over the Red Raiders. For the sake of continuity, I’m betting on the same result. Bridget Carleton and Emily Durr are on a roll, and they’ll carry the Cyclones through to the quarterfinals.

Winner – Iowa State

Game 3: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 TCU

This is the closest thing to a toss-up that this year’s tournament has to offer. The Sooners made a big run in Big 12 after a 5-6 non-conference record and are now in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament bid. Oklahoma needs this win to make their case, and the combo of Maddie Manning, Gabbi Ortiz, and Voinise Pierre-Louis will make the difference for Oklahoma.

Winner – Oklahoma

Game 4: No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 8 Kansas State

LOL.

Winner – Baylor

Game 5: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 Iowa State

Iowa State’s season ends here. The Cyclones may have pushed the Longhorns in Ames, and I think that they give Texas a game in the first half. Texas simply has too much talent for Carleton, Durr and co. in this one. 

Winner – Texas

Game 6: No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 6 West Virginia

West Virginia needs this win to have a chance of making the NCAA Tournament. The problem is, right now Oklahoma State is just better. Kaylee Jensen will have a field day in the post against the Mountaineers, and the Cowgirls will win a close one.

Winner – Oklahoma State

Game 7: No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Baylor

LOL.

Actually, this game should be close. Oklahoma stuck with Baylor in their first meeting this season and the Sooners are playing well. But Baylor is Baylor, and Baylor is really damn good at basketball. 

Winner – Baylor

Game 8: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State

We roll in to minor upset central for this semifinal matchup. Texas might look past the Cowgirls and towards a potential final against Baylor, and Oklahoma State can take advantage. This one comes down to the final possessions, but Oklahoma State heads to the final.

Winner – Oklahoma State

Game 9: No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State

 The Cowgirls will run out of gas against the always-dominant Lady Bears. The loss of star point guard Kristy Wallace to an ACL tear is a big one, but I feel that Baylor has enough talent to overcome that loss and become the least surprising Big 12 Tournament Champions in history.

Big 12 Champions – Baylor, of course