In an unexpected turn of events, a significant issue arose just minutes before the start of the Portland Region 4 final between Texas and North Carolina State at the Moda Center on Sunday. Coaches, referees, and members of the NCAA women's basketball tournament committee huddled at half court to discuss the problem that had been discovered – the three-point lines on each end of the court were not the same distance from their respective baskets.

Despite the discrepancy, the decision was made to proceed with the game on time. The exact dimensions of the three-point lines were not disclosed during the game, but it appeared that the arc in front of the N.C. State bench was closer to the rim. Officials had measured the distance from the baseline to the top of the arc on both sides before tip-off.

Interestingly, this issue went unnoticed during all four Sweet 16 games played in Portland on Friday and Saturday. Spokespeople for the tournament site declined to comment, directing reporters to the NCAA. Lisa Peterson, chair of the NCAA Division I women's basketball committee, also chose not to comment on the matter.

The NCAA released a statement during Sunday's game, offering limited details regarding the discrepancy. It stated, "The NCAA was notified today that the three-point lines on the court at Moda Center in Portland are not the same distance. The two head coaches were made aware of the discrepancy and elected to play a complete game on the court as is, rather than correcting the court and delaying the game. The court will be corrected before tomorrow's game in Portland [between Connecticut and USC in the Portland Region 3 final]."

It is worth noting that in 2021, the women's college basketball arc was moved to 22 feet 1.75 inches, the same distance used in the WNBA and men's college basketball. Previously, the distance was 20 feet 9 inches.

As this story continues to develop, updates will be provided. The NCAA tournament is currently underway, and fans are eagerly following the action. In the men's bracket, defending national champion U-Conn. has claimed the top overall seed, while the undefeated South Carolina leads the women's tournament. For predictions on the potential winners, check out our March Madness cheat sheet.

Analysis from our team suggests that U-Conn. remains a dominant force in the tournament, North Carolina's tournament dominance over Michigan State continues, and Gonzaga has defied expectations by securing its ninth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Stay up to date with the latest tournament updates in our March Madness hub.