What a whopping!!!

The women's game has always been more predictable when it comes to outcomes. Here's a basic simple breakdown. https://faculty.sfsu.edu/~pbeckman/content/march-madness-basketball-tournament-there-more-parity-men%E2%80%99s-side-women%E2%80%99s-side

Reasons given vary, but in short, more men play basketball so talent gap between top and bottom is less on men's side. And more developed opportunities for women in other sports pull athletes from basketball (volleyball mainly). You could say this about football for men, but boys still participate at a higher rate and for longer than females in sports. More scholarships for a women's team means more stacking of top talent, at least pre NIL. Men in general are more athletic and can make up for size differences better with this athleticism.

Results like this aren't uncommon in the women's game, or are at least more common than the mens. NIL probably had little affect in this case.