A First Four Virginia team provided the tournament’s biggest surprise. Through opening weekend the bracket had been largely by-the-book until Virginia, a First Four entry, shocked No. 2 Iowa in double overtime — the first First Four team ever to reach the Sweet 16 and the latest sign that at least one No. 2 seed will miss regionals for the third time in four years. Other lower seeds also prevailed on the road: No. 6 Notre Dame knocked off No. 3 Ohio State, and No. 5 Kentucky escaped No. 4 West Virginia.
The four No. 1 seeds remained dominant. UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina combined to win their second-round games by an average of 38.5 points, leaving them atop the field. The Sweet 16 tilts toward the SEC (six teams) and ACC (five teams) and mixes long-established powers with rising programs.
1. UConn Huskies
Original seed: No. 1 overall (Fort Worth 1)
Results: Def. No. 16 UTSA 90-52; def. No. 9 Syracuse 98-45
Notes: After a sluggish opener the Huskies blew Syracuse away, led by Azzi Fudd’s 36 points (26 in a career-best first half). UConn produced a 65-point first half, its seventh 60-plus half in NCAA tournament play, a continuation of its season-long dominance of ACC opponents.
Up next: North Carolina (Fri, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
2. UCLA Bruins
Original seed: No. 1 (Sacramento 2)
Results: Def. No. 16 Cal Baptist 96-43; def. No. 8 Oklahoma State 87-68
Notes: Lauren Betts scored a career-high 35 as UCLA advanced to its fourth straight Sweet 16. The Bruins shot better than 50% and assisted on over two-thirds of made field goals, maintaining the ball-movement identity that has defined their season.
Up next: Minnesota (Fri, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
3. Texas Longhorns
Original seed: No. 1 (Fort Worth 3)
Results: Def. No. 16 Missouri State 87-45; def. No. 8 Oregon 100-58
Notes: Madison Booker poured in an NCAA tournament record 40 points in round two, finishing 14-of-21. Texas, a team that struggled from long range during the regular season, caught fire from three in the postseason (8-of-12 vs. Oregon), briefly turning a season weakness into a weapon.
Up next: Kentucky (Sat, 3 p.m. ET, ABC)
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
Original seed: No. 1 (Sacramento 4)
Results: Def. No. 16 Southern 103-34; def. No. 9 USC 101-61
Notes: The Gamecocks dominated inside, ranking second nationally in points in the paint. Joyce Edwards (23) and Madina Okot led another blowout; Edwards has 21 20-point games this season and averages 19.9 points as a sophomore.
Up next: Oklahoma (Sat, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
5. LSU Tigers
Original seed: No. 2 (Sacramento 2)
Results: Def. No. 15 Jacksonville 116-58; def. No. 7 Texas Tech 101-47
Notes: LSU set the NCAA single-season record for 100-point games (16). The Tigers overpowered Texas Tech with size and athleticism and converted turnovers into 70 points across their first two games. Flau’jae Johnson scored 24 in her Maravich Center farewell.
Up next: Duke (Fri, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
6. Vanderbilt Commodores
Original seed: No. 2 (Fort Worth 1)
Results: Def. No. 15 High Point 102-61; def. No. 7 Illinois 75-57
Notes: Mikayla Blakes, the nation’s leading scorer, nearly recorded a triple-double (25 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists). Vanderbilt’s opportunistic defense ranks sixth nationally in points off turnovers and was decisive in forcing Illinois into a long cold stretch. This is Vanderbilt’s first Sweet 16 since 2009.
Up next: Notre Dame (Fri, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
7. Michigan Wolverines
Original seed: No. 2 (Fort Worth 3)
Results: Def. No. 15 Holy Cross 83-48; def. No. 7 NC State 92-63
Notes: Michigan’s press produced 21 NC State turnovers and 35 points off those miscues. Olivia Olson scored all 27 of her points after halftime. A sophomore core of Olson, Syla Swords, Mila Holloway and Te’Yala Delfosse has fueled a high-powered offense now into its first Sweet 16.
Up next: Louisville (Sat, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
8. Duke Blue Devils
Original seed: No. 3 (Sacramento 2)
Results: Def. No. 14 Charleston 81-64; def. No. 6 Baylor 69-46
Notes: Kara Lawson’s defense was the story as Duke held Baylor to 30% shooting, forced 23 turnovers and limited them to a season-low 46 points. Duke has had some early turnover issues (36 turnovers in two rounds), but the defense gives them a chance in a rematch with LSU.
Up next: LSU (Fri, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
9. Oklahoma Sooners
Original seed: No. 4 (Sacramento 2)
Results: Def. No. 13 Idaho 89-59; def. No. 5 Michigan State 77-71
Notes: Raegan Beers (18/14 vs. MSU) and Aaliyah Chavez (18 points, 6 assists) carried the load as Oklahoma closed strong in the second half. Their 72.4% assist rate in the Michigan State game showed they can execute efficient halfcourt offense when required.
Up next: South Carolina (Sat, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
10. TCU Horned Frogs
Original seed: No. 3 (Sacramento 4)
Results: Def. No. 14 UC San Diego 86-40; def. No. 6 Washington 62-59 OT
Notes: Olivia Miles has transformed TCU this season, compiling a rare two-game stretch that totaled roughly 30 points, 26 rebounds and 22 assists across the first two wins. She played all 45 minutes in the OT win at Washington and delivered down the stretch in a slow offensive outing.
Up next: Virginia (Sat, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
11. Louisville Cardinals
Original seed: No. 3 (Fort Worth 3)
Results: Def. No. 14 Vermont 72-52; def. No. 6 Alabama 69-68
Notes: Transfer Laura Ziegler has been a steady presence, leading the team in rebounding and contributing in many facets. Reyna Scott’s late bucket sealed a one-point win over Alabama as Louisville reaches its first Sweet 16 since 2023.
Up next: Michigan (Sat, 12:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
12. North Carolina Tar Heels
Original seed: No. 4 (Fort Worth 1)
Results: Def. No. 13 Western Illinois 82-41; def. No. 5 Maryland 74-66
Notes: Sophomores Elina Aarnisalo and Lanie Grant combined to score or assist on 51 of UNC’s 74 points versus Maryland. Coach Courtney Banghart shifted from shooting threes to attacking the rim, and the Tar Heels turned Maryland into a 32% shooting team that went 3-of-23 from deep.
Up next: UConn (Fri, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
13. Kentucky Wildcats
Original seed: No. 5 (Fort Worth 3)
Results: Def. No. 12 James Madison 71-56; def. No. 4 West Virginia 74-73
Notes: Teonni Key returned from a midseason dislocated elbow to anchor Kentucky, scoring 19 with 10 rebounds in the upset at West Virginia. Clara Strack added a 18/15 line. Since Key’s return the Wildcats’ losses have come almost exclusively to top-tier opponents.
Up next: Texas (Sat, 3 p.m. ET, ABC)
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Original seed: No. 6 (Fort Worth 1)
Results: Def. No. 11 Fairfield 79-60; def. No. 3 Ohio State 83-73
Notes: Notre Dame entered the tournament having won 11 of 13 and reached its fifth straight Sweet 16. Hannah Hidalgo’s relentlessness (26/13/8 steals vs. Ohio State) set the tone, while Vanessa de Jesus, Iyana Moore and KK Bransford all outperformed season averages in the upset.
Up next: Vanderbilt (Fri, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Original seed: No. 4 (Sacramento 2)
Results: Def. No. 13 Green Bay 75-58; def. No. 5 Ole Miss 65-63
Notes: Amaya Battle hit a corner jumper with under a second remaining to knock off Ole Miss and send Minnesota to its first Sweet 16 since 2005. The Gophers play deliberate, efficient basketball (16th in points per 100 possessions) and got timely 3s from Mara Braun (4-of-5).
Up next: UCLA (Fri, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
16. Virginia Cavaliers
Original seed: No. 8 (Sacramento 4)
Results: Def. Arizona State 57-55 (First Four); def. Georgia 82-73 OT; def. No. 2 Iowa 83-75 2OT
Notes: Virginia became the first First Four team to reach the Sweet 16 and the first double-digit seed to advance to regionals since 2022. Kymora Johnson emerged as the tournament’s breakout star with consecutive 28-point outings and clutch scoring in both the First Four and the double-overtime upset of Iowa.
Up next: TCU (Sat, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
