Brittney Griner, the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft, recently said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that she is gay.

CNN: NBA's Jason Collins comes out as gay

Brittney Griner and the top-ranked Lady Bears might not be able to overcome these sort of mistakes as they get deeper into March.

NPR: No. 1 Baylor Holds On, 77-69 Over Oklahoma State

Brittney Griner, a two-time AP college basketball player of the year and the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, caused few ripples when she said this month she is a lesbian.

NPR: 'I'm Gay': NBA Player Jason Collins Breaks Barrier

The Cardinals became the first No. 5 seed to make the championship game, pulling off the greatest upset in tournament history when they beat Brittney Griner and Baylor in the regional semifinals.

NPR: UConn Women Win 8th Title In Rout Of Louisville

The Cardinals, who pulled off the biggest upset in the tournament knocking off Brittney Griner and Baylor before taking out Tennessee, will face Final Four newcomer California on Sunday in the first game in New Orleans.

NPR: Notre Dame And UConn Headline Women's Final Four

Meanwhile, there were newly ascendant challengers like Baylor, which featured the 6-foot-8 tour de force Brittney Griner and came into the NCAA tournament ranked No. 1, and Notre Dame, the Big East Conference winner that had eked past UConn three times this season.

WSJ: University of Connecticut Huskies Back On Top With 93-60 Win Over University of Louisville Cardinals

That early culture-changing work is why it was "no big deal" as some writers said recently when Brittney Griner, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and one of the best female basketball players, came out of the closet, before she even played her first pro basketball game for the Phoenix Mercury.

CNN: Here's to Collins -- and the NBA

Griner then committed a turnover that led to a jumper by Brittney Martin.

NPR: No. 1 Baylor Holds On, 77-69 Over Oklahoma State