Is UCLA's women's basketball destined to play Iowa in the Elite 8

UCLA would have to win their first three games in the NCAA tournament and so would Iowa but as the two top seeds in the Regional 2 in Albany, it is more likely than not that it happening.

Let's take an early look at a possible match-up between UCLA and Iowa in the Elite Eight.

Season Resume and Rankings

RPI Ranking: 2

NET Ranking: 5

AP Top 25 Ranking: 2

Most impressive wins this season: Virginia Tech (80-76), Kansas State (77-70), @ Iowa State (67-58), Michigan State (76-73), Indiana (84-57), Nebraska (92-73), @ Maryland (93-85), Michigan (95-68), Ohio State (93-83), and Nebraska (94-89)

RPI Ranking: 5

NET Ranking: 6

AP Top 25 Ranking: 6

Most impressive wins this season: Purdue(92-49), UConn (78-67), @ Arkansas (81-66), Florida State (95-78), @ Ohio State (77-71), USC (71-64), @ Colorado (76-68), Oregon State (65-54), Arizona (66- 58), Utah (82-52), Colorado (53-45), @ Arizona (61-41), and Utah (67-57)

Pathways for both teams to play one another in the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA starts its path to possibly playing Iowa when they host No. 15 seed Cal Baptist on March 23rd. If they win their opening round game, they'll face the winner of Creighton vs. UNLV two days later. From then, they likely will play the No. 3 seed LSU in the Sweet Sixteen. If the Lady Bruins were to defeat LSU, then they would likely play Iowa in the Elite Eight.

Iowa begins its journey in the NCAA tournament facing off against the winner of UT Martin and Holy Cross in their opening game of the tournament on March 23rd. Then in the next round assuming they win their first game of the tournament, they would play the winner of the Princeton and West Virginia game. In the Sweet Sixteen, they would probably face off against No. 4 seed Kansas State or No. 5 seed Colorado. Iowa has an easier path to the Elite Eight than UCLA on paper.

The biggest obstacle to UCLA and Iowa meeting in the Elite Eight.

The potential match-up of UCLA vs. LSU is easily the biggest obstacle because LSU besides Iowa, is the most talented and toughest opponent in the region that the Lady Bruins could possibly face. The duo of Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow for LSU will be a potentially huge challenge for UCLA if they were to play one another in the Sweet Sixteen. LSU had won ten straight games before losing to the No. 1 ranked South Carolina SEC Tournament championship game.

Will UCLA and Iowa meet in the Elite Eight? No one knows for sure but if would be a great game that many UCLA fans would love to see.