After a season full of historic performances, thrilling finishes and record-breaking television viewership, the 2024 women’s NCAA Tournament field is set. Undefeated South Carolina is the top seed, with Iowa, USC and Texas the three other programs on the No. 1 line.

All four have their sights set on Cleveland, the site of this year’s Final Four, but they aren’t alone in being potential contenders. Before the first round begins Tuesday night, here’s a look at everything you need to know to help with your bracket and prepare you for the tournament.

How good are the No. 1 seeds?

This year’s crop of No. 1 seeds features some of the best coaches and players in the country.

South Carolina (32-0)

Albany 1 Region

The Gamecocks’ roster turned over in the offseason, with its famed “Freshies” core (led by star center Aliyah Boston) graduating and moving to the pro ranks. This year’s squad has an entirely new starting lineup from the group that was undefeated heading into last year’s NCAA Tournament. Still, the 2024 SEC champions had the nation’s best defense and the No. 2-rated offense in the regular season. Coach Dawn Staley, our unanimous Coach of the Year pick, leaned on South Carolina’s depth, with nine players averaging double-digit minutes. Take particular note…

More than a half-dozen conference tournaments have already started, meaning the first bids for the 2024 women’s NCAA Tournament are just days from being claimed. As the action progresses and weekday gameplay turns into weekend competition and spots in the field of 68 are solidified, The Athletic will deliver a daily briefing to update you on the most important results.

We’ll bring you games to watch and analysis of key results, anecdotes from tournament sites and everything you need to know. Check back for updates from Thursday’s action. If there are things you, the reader, want to see during conference tournaments or as NCAA Tournament play begins, please let us know in the comments.

Keep a close eye on …

As conference tournament play continues, pay particular attention to what’s happening in the Pac-12 and Atlantic 10. Last March, seventh-seed Washington State ran off four consecutive wins to claim the school’s first conference title. The Cougars’ run was undoubtedly a surprise. But it wouldn’t be shocking to see Colorado or Utah, two programs that won their conference tournament openers Wednesday, go on similar runs and win four straight — though doing so would involve upset victories Thursday.

Pac-12 high stakes

Five Pac-12 schools ranked in the AP top five…