Charlie Creme — Mar 24, 2026
Yes, Virginia, there is a Cinderella. The 2026 women’s NCAA tournament was relatively stunner-free through the opening weekend, until No. 10 seed Virginia — a First Four team — upset No. 2 Iowa in double overtime, becoming the first First Four participant to reach the Sweet 16. That game also meant at least one No. 2 seed failed to reach regionals for the third time in four years. Lower seeds also prevailed on the road: No. 6 Notre Dame beat No. 3 Ohio State, and No. 5 Kentucky escaped at No. 4 West Virginia.
The No. 1 seeds were dominant: UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina combined to win their second-round games by an average of 38.5 points, leaving their order at the top unchanged. The Sweet 16 is heavy on SEC (six teams) and ACC (five teams) representation and features a mix of established national powers and surging mid-level squads.
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 slow first game, UConn obliterated Syracuse behind Azzi Fudd’s 36 (26 in a career-best first half). The Huskies’ relentless, efficient attack produced a 65-point first half vs. Syracuse — their seventh 60-plus half in NCAA tourney play. UConn’s season-long domination of ACC foes (avg. +34) continues into Fort Worth.
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 had a career-high 35 as UCLA advanced to its fourth straight Sweet 16. The Bruins shot over 50% and assisted on more than two-thirds of made field goals — hallmarks of their season — though they only edged Oklahoma State on the glass.
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 exploded for an NCAA-tourney record 40 points in round two, finishing 14-of-21. Texas, typically poor from deep this year, suddenly ignited from 3 in the postseason (8-of-12 vs. Oregon) — turning a season weakness into a short-term strength.
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 pounded the paint (second nationally in points in the paint). Joyce Edwards (23) and Madina Okot powered another blowout; Edwards has 21 20-point games this season and averages 19.9 ppg 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 overwhelmed Texas Tech with size and athleticism and forced 70 points off turnovers in 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 posted a triple-double (25/10/9). Vanderbilt’s defense has been opportunistic — the Commodores were sixth nationally in points off turnovers and forced Illinois into a long cold stretch that decided the game. 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 forced 21 turnovers on NC State and turned them into 35 points. Olivia Olson scored all 27 of her points after halftime. The sophomores (Olson, Syla Swords, Mila Holloway, Te’Yala Delfosse) have fueled a high-powered offense now making 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 shone — Duke limited Baylor to 30% shooting, 23 turnovers and a season-low 46 points. Duke’s offense showed some early-turnover issues (36 turnovers in two rounds), but the defense carries them into another matchup with LSU, a regular-season loss to avenge.
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: Oklahoma leaned on stars Raegan Beers (18/14 vs. MSU) and Aaliyah Chavez (18/6 ast) and surged in the second half. The Sooners’ assist rate (72.4%) in the Michigan State game far exceeded their season norm, showcasing efficient halfcourt offense when needed.
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 in one season, logging a rare 30-20-20 two-game tournament stretch (30 pts, 26 reb, 22 ast across two games). Miles played all 45 minutes in the OT win at Washington and carried TCU through 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 steady in Louisville’s run, leading the team in rebounding and contributing across the board. Reyna Scott’s late bucket sealed the tight 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 vs. Maryland. Coach Courtney Banghart shifted from firing threes to attacking the rim, and the Tar Heels harassed Maryland into 32% shooting and 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 the Wildcats; she scored 19 with 10 rebounds in the upset at West Virginia, while Clara Strack added 18/15. Kentucky has limited losses since Key’s return 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 has won 11 of 13 entering the tourney and reached a fifth straight Sweet 16. Hannah Hidalgo’s motor has been relentless (26/13/8 stl vs. Ohio State), and teammates Vanessa de Jesus, Iyana Moore and KK Bransford exceeded season scoring 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 beat Ole Miss and send Minnesota to its first Sweet 16 since 2005. The Gophers play slow but efficient basketball (16th in points per 100 possessions) and got timely 3-point shooting 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 made history as the first First Four team to reach the Sweet 16 and the first double-digit seed to reach regionals since 2022. Kymora Johnson emerged as the tournament’s breakout star with consecutive 28-point games and key clutch scoring in both the First Four and the double-overtime upset at Iowa.
Up next: TCU (Sat, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
