Women's March Madness Day 1 takeaways: Scores, analysis, recaps

Women's March Madness Day 1 takeaways: Chalk reigns as better seeds go 16-0

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Women's March Madness Day 1 takeaways: Chalk reigns as better seeds go 16-0Duke Blue Devils20mESPNWomen's March Madness live tracker: Updates from Friday's first round14hESPNUCLA's Close hails Betts' mental health 'courage'UCLA Bruins8hSarah BarshopCaldwell takes blame as Lady Vols drop 8th straightTennessee Lady Volunteers2hCharlotte GibsonMiles cards triple-double as TCU opens with rompTCU Horned Frogs11hNCAA sues DraftKings for trademark infringement4hDavid PurdumVirginia tops ASU for first tourney win since '18Virginia Cavaliers1dSouthern's late run puts away Samford in First 4Southern Jaguars1dHuskers ride big third quarter to First Four winNebraska Cornhuskers2dBekemeier, Missouri St. advance with First 4 winMissouri State Lady Bears2dWomen's college basketball awards and All-Americans: UConn's Strong leads wayUConn Huskies10dMichael Voepel and Charlie CremeHow March Madness foes can end UConn's run through bracketUConn Huskies5dMichael VoepelWomen's March Madness Final Four, NCAA champion predictionsUConn Huskies2dESPNRanking the 25 best players in women's March MadnessUConn Huskies3dMichael Voepel and Charlie CremeWomen's tournament: Odds, spreads, totals and BPI for every game in the first round15hESPNTracking the 2026-27 women's college basketball coaching changesMemphis Tigers2dESPNplayMikaylah Williams beams after 58-point NCAA Tournament win for LSU (1:09)Williams discusses what the Tigers are focused on during the first weekend of the tournament while shouting out Flau'jae Johnson for drawing up a play for her to reach a double-double. (1:09)

Sixteen games are in the books. That's a wrap for the first half of the first round of the 2026 women's NCAA tournament.

We tracked every game Friday, from blowouts to big performances, including Olivia Miles' triple-double for TCU, Oklahoma freshman Aaliyah Chavez's NCAA tournament debut (no turnovers in 31 minutes) and Tennessee's historic end to its season.

There was also a whole lot of chalk as the better seed went 16-0 on Friday.

Here is ESPN's guide to all the Day 1 results, with analysis from reporters of how each game was won, and our experts' takes on each winner's chances to advance to the Sweet 16.

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How NC State won: In the opening half, NC State set the pace. The Wolfpack led by 15 with less than five minutes left in the first quarter. The Lady Vols couldn't keep up and shot 33% from the field and 19% on 3-pointers for the game.

Trailing 40-29 at halftime, Tennessee hit back-to-back 3s and tried to swing momentum, but NC State maintained consistency in the paint. Before the fourth quarter, Wolfpack forward Khamil Pierre recorded her 22nd double-double this season -- the most by an NC State player since Khadijah Whittington in 2007-08. When NC State guard Zoe Brooks exited the game midway in the third quarter with a right leg injury, the Wolfpack relied on Zamareya Jones, who had a career-high 30 points.

Tennessee ends the season on an eight-game losing streak (its last win was Feb. 12) -- and it's the first time since the NCAA tournament started in 1982 that the Lady Vols went winless in the month of March.

How the Wolfpack can advance to the Sweet 16: With the uncertainty around Brooks' injury, the Wolfpack will have to lean on each other to push through the next round. Players like Jones need to create bigger opportunities in the paint. Tennessee was able to limit NC State's offense when keeping the Wolfpack out of transition, so the Wolfpack have to find a way to get to the basket. -- Charlotte Gibson

play1:19Tennessee Lady Volunteers vs. NC State Wolfpack: Game HighlightsTennessee Lady Volunteers vs. NC State Wolfpack: Game Highlights

How Texas won: Everyone got a chance to play for the Longhorns, who shot 50% from the field (34-of-68) and 81% from the foul line (17-of-21). Sophomore guard Jordan Lee led Texas in scoring with 19 points, and junior forward Madison Booker had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Texas outrebounded Missouri State 49-27 and scored 28 points off the Lady Bears' 19 turnovers.

Despite the NCAA tournament exit, this postseason was still a big success for Missouri State. The Lady Bears won the Conference USA tournament as a No. 6 seed in their first season in the league, upsetting top-seeded Louisiana Tech in the final. Then they beat Stephen F. Austin 85-75 in their First Four game. Missouri State finishes the season 23-13.

How the Longhorns can advance to the Sweet 16: The Longhorns, who have made it to at least the Elite Eight four of the past five years, face No. 8 seed Oregon in the second round. The Ducks beat Virginia Tech 70-60 in the first round. You can be sure Texas coach Vic Schaefer is focusing on a defensive game plan to limit Oregon standout guard Katie Fiso, who had 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting against the Hokies. -- Michael Voepel

How Oregon won: In the rare 8-9 seed mismatch, Oregon cruised over Virginia Tech in a game that was not as close as the final score suggests. The Ducks led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter. Katie Fiso, one of only nine players this season to average more than 15 points and five assists, almost hit that mark against the Hokies with 22 points and four assists.

In their first NCAA tournament game under Megan Duffy, the Hokies never looked comfortable and Oregon settled in quickly. After the Ducks grabbed an 11-9 lead midway through the first quarter, they played in front the rest of the way. A Virginia Tech spurt near the end of the second quarter was quickly washed away when Oregon went on an 18-0 run in the third quarter to effectively end the game. Fiso and Ehis Etute combined for 10 of those points. Etute had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Mia Jacobs had 13 points, making 3 of 4 3-pointers.

How the Ducks can advance to the Sweet 16: The Ducks, who beat Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten tournament, have now won three of their past four games, their best streak since winning four in a row in late January. When Oregon beat Maryland in Indianapolis, Michigan was up next -- and the Wolverines handed the Ducks a 22-point loss. Oregon's likely next opponent, Texas, offers an even bigger challenge.

This was also the 23rd win of the season for the Ducks, making this their most successful campaign since Sabrina Ionescu's senior year in 2020, when the NCAA tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. -- Charlie Creme

play1:18Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Oregon Ducks: Game HighlightsVirginia Tech Hokies vs. Oregon Ducks: Game Highlights

How Michigan won: With an 8-0 run in the first two minutes of the first quarter, Michigan established the pacing of the game. Holding Holy Cross to a season-low six points in the first period, Michigan created opportunities in the paint, shooting 9-of-13 within the first quarter. The momentum continued in the second half, with nine different players scoring in the paint. Michigan's transition defense and ability to hit tough shots also drove the rout.

The Wolverines' success came down to sophomore Mila Holloway, who scored or assisted on 34 points, which is tied for the third most in a tournament game by a Michigan player over the past six tournaments.

How the Wolverines can advance to the Sweet 16: Consistency over the next couple of games will be key for Michigan. The best part about this team is its strength in numbers. Holloway led the charge Friday, but fellow sophomores Olivia Olson and Syla Swords are the team's top two scorers this season. Look for them to keep contributing with big numbers. -- Charlotte Gibson

How TCU won: Like most of the season, Olivia Miles fueled TCU's win over UC San Diego. She was short of her 19.6 PPG average, but Miles still dominated and registered a triple-double with 12 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists. She becomes the third player to record multiple triple-doubles in NCAA tournament play, joining Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu and Stanford's Nicole Powell. The Horned Frogs shot 14-of-20 for 36 points off Miles' passes, the most points produced by one player's passes in an NCAA tournament game since 2021.

TCU jumped out to a 15-4 early lead and was never threatened by the Tritons, who shot just 23.0% from the field.

With Miles doing most of the setting up, three other Horned Frogs finished in double figures, led by senior Taylor Bigby's 27 points on 7-of-9 3-point shooting. Clara Silva had 13 points and Marta Suarez had 11, all in the first half.

How the Horned Frogs can advance to the Sweet 16: The Horned Frogs scored just 53 points in the Big 12 tournament championship game against West Virginia. TCU scored 48 in the first half against UC San Diego, erasing the memory of their second-lowest offensive output of the season. The Tritons are certainly not the Mountaineers, but an offensive game like this helps restore TCU's confidence. The pick-and-roll offense looked sharp again with the Horned Frogs registering 23 assists on their 32 field goals. The 13 3-pointers on 26 attempts were also the most for TCU since early December. Having that shooting stroke against either Georgia or South Dakota State in the second round will be important. -- Charlie Creme

play1:18UC San Diego Tritons vs. TCU Horned Frogs: Game HighlightsUC San Diego Tritons vs. TCU Horned Frogs: Game Highlights

How Oklahoma won: Oklahoma overwhelmed Idaho in nearly every aspect of the game -- the Sooners' sixth 30-point NCAA tournament win in program history -- but none was more significant than the Sooners' presence in the post. Led by Wooden Award finalist Raegan Beers, OU outscored Idaho 38-14 in the paint. Beers poured in 18 points along with 10 rebounds and 4 blocks. Forward Sahara Williams also added 10 rebounds along with 17 points. Williams and Beers are the first OU duo to each have at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in a tournament game since 1999-00, according to ESPN Research. Oklahoma shot 76% in the paint, its highest mark in an NCAA tournament game over the last six seasons.

Meanwhile, freshman point guard Aaliyah Chavez finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists to become the first Oklahoma player with at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in an NCAA tournament game since Peyton Little in 2017. -- Brooke Pryor

How the Sooners can advance to the Sweet 16: Keep doing what they're doing. Oklahoma was effective in the frontcourt and backcourt, shot 51% from the field and put four players in double-digit scoring. As impressive as Beers and Williams were, it's perhaps most notable that Chavez -- making her NCAA tournament debut -- had zero turnovers in 31 minutes. -- ESPN

play1:17Idaho Vandals vs. Oklahoma Sooners: Game HighlightsIdaho Vandals vs. Oklahoma Sooners: Game Highlights

How Michigan State won: Even playing without its leading scorer, Colorado State nearly pulled off the upset as Rams guard Brooke Carlson poured in a career-high 26 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. But thanks to a second-half surge by Grace VanSlooten and Kennedy Blair, MSU's 12-2 edge in second-chance points and an improved shooting performance from outside the paint, the Spartans managed to survive the resilient Rams.

Though Michigan State, which was an 18.5-point favorite entering the game, was uncharacteristically cold from beyond the arc (4-of-21), VanSlooten dominated inside with 18 points and 10 rebounds, becoming only the seventh Division I player this century to record a double-double in each of their first three NCAA tournament games, per ESPN Research. Blair, meanwhile, racked up three blocks and 18 points, including 12 in the second half. -- Brooke Pryor

How the Spartans can advance to the Sweet 16: If Michigan State meets No. 4 seed Oklahoma in the second round, the Spartans will have to deal with the home crowd and one of the best point guards in the game in freshman Aaliyah Chavez -- not to mention one of the most dominant centers in Raegan Beers. The Spartans need to knock down some 3-pointers to help stretch the floor and open the court up for VanSlooten down low. Michigan State's guard-heavy lineup has been here before and is more experienced, which could be an X factor against Chavez. -- ESPN

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How Washington won: After falling behind by 10 points in the first five minutes, the Huskies found their rhythm and never looked back. They led by as much as 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Washington sophomore guard Avery Howell became the fifth player in program history to score 30 points in an NCAA tournament game. Finishing with 30 points (hitting seven 3-pointers) and nine assists, Howell was one assist shy of recording her eighth double-double of the season. She's the first Washington player with 30 points and no turnovers in a game since Kelsey Plum in 2016.

The Huskies' turnaround was historic; their 14-point halftime lead was their biggest in an NCAA tournament game since 2001. They outscored the Jackrabbits 35-8 over the final 15 minutes of the first half as their defense fueled their offense. South Dakota State's Brooklyn Meyer finished with 29 points and seven rebounds, and Emilee Fox -- the nation's top 3-pointer shooter -- knocked down four 3s, but Washington kept everyone else quiet.

How the Huskies can advance to the Sweet 16: This was Washington's first tournament win since 2017, the year the Huskies made it to the Sweet 16 behind Plum's 30 points per game. Washington will face No. 3 seed TCU -- and triple-double threat Olivia Miles -- in the second round. The Huskies cannot fall into an early hole like they did against South Dakota State. Washington must make sure its defense is clicking early. -- Kendra Andrews

How LSU won: Everything went the Tigers' way. LSU, which has the best scoring offense in the nation, recorded its 15th 100-point game of the season, tying a Division I record. It was the Tigers' third-highest-scoring game this season.

Mikaylah Williams led the Tigers in points with 18, but her playmaking was just as important. She finished the game with a career-high 10 assists, the first Tiger to do that in the NCAA tournament since 2005. Her teammates scored 21 points off her passes. Flau'jae Johnson added 20 points, and seven Tigers finished with double-digit scoring, which ties an NCAA record in a tournament game.

LSU scored 66 points in the paint and outrebounded Jacksonville 45-22.

How the Tigers can advance to the Sweet 16: The Tigers have made it to the Elite Eight the past two seasons, and all the way to the title game -- which they won -- in 2023 as a No. 3 seed. As strong as their offense was against Jacksonville, LSU coach Kim Mulkey said she wanted their defense to improve after the first half (the Dolphins had 36 points at the break). Tightening up that defense going forward is a must if LSU wants to continue to grow each round. -- Kendra Andrews

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How Texas Tech won: Texas Tech took control midway through the fourth quarter and then had to hold off Villanova to win its first NCAA tournament game since 2005. Villanova did not get its first field goal of the final quarter until nearly six minutes had gone by, and at that point, Texas Tech had built a seven-point lead. The Lady Raiders needed that cushion to win, as Villanova had a chance to tie the score with eight seconds left, but Denae Carter missed a 3-pointer. Lady Raiders leading scorer Bailey Maupin struggled from the floor -- going 4-of-13 -- but she scored 15 second-half points to finish with 17. That includes going 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Villanova benefited from its aggressive defense but simply lacked the offense to keep up. The Wildcats had zero bench points for the first time since 2022.

How the Lady Raiders can advance to the Sweet 16: There is no doubt LSU will provide a different challenge, but having played a defense as tough as Villanova on Friday should serve the Lady Raiders well. They cannot afford to get off to a slow start, though, because LSU has the type of offense to put the game out of reach early. The Lady Raiders will have to limit their turnovers -- 20 against Villanova is simply not going to get the job done if they are going to have any chance at pulling the upset on LSU. -- Andrea Adelson

How Minnesota won: Green Bay gave Minnesota a scare through three quarters, but the Gophers finally found themselves. The Phoenix led 49-45 heading into the final quarter but then were outscored 30-8 the rest of the way. The No. 13 seed has won seven times in previous first-round games, but in front of a big crowd at home, Minnesota didn't let that happen Friday.

Senior guard Amaya Battle led the Gophers with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Sophie Hart had 19 and six, shooting 8-of-13 from the field.

Maddy Skorupski had 19 points and six rebounds to lead Horizon League champion Green Bay, which finished 25-9.

How the Gophers can advance to the Sweet 16: The Gophers can't afford another slow start in the second round, because No. 5 seed Ole Miss will make them pay. The Rebels defeated Gonzaga 81-66 in the first round of the Sacramento 2 Regional; Ole Miss had 40 points in the paint, plus scored 23 points off turnovers. The Gophers will have their hands full with Ole Miss, which made it to the SEC tournament semifinals. -- Michael Voepel

play1:15Green Bay Phoenix vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Game HighlightsGreen Bay Phoenix vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Game Highlights

How Duke won: Duke set the tone early by making it difficult for Charleston to get into any rhythm offensively. The Cougars shot just 19% in the first half and trailed 45-26. But in the second half, Charleston outscored Duke 38-36. At one point, Duke coach Kara Lawson tossed her dry erase board in frustration because the Blue Devils weren't playing with the precision she knows they will need for the rest of the tournament.

That said, a lot of credit should go to Charleston junior guard Taryn Barbot, the Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year. She had 36 points, her fourth 30-plus game this season and 10th of her career. It's the most points the Blue Devils have allowed to any player this season -- and they have played a difficult schedule.

Ultimately, the ACC champion Blue Devils had too much offense of their own, led by sophomore forward Toby Fournier's 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Delaney Thomas had 19 points and Jordan Wood came off the bench for 17.

How the Blue Devils can advance to the Sweet 16: The Blue Devils have had one of the best defenses in the country, and that showed more in the first half Friday than the second. That's something Duke needs to be more consistent about in the second round. The Blue Devils moved the ball well with 25 assists, but part of Lawson's irritation was turnovers, as Duke had 20. The Blue Devils won the rebounding battle 47-39, but Lawson wants more dominance in that category as well. -- Michael Voepel

play1:19Charleston Cougars vs. Duke Blue Devils: Game HighlightsCharleston Cougars vs. Duke Blue Devils: Game Highlights

How Ole Miss won: Defense fueled the Rebels. Gonzaga scored a season-low 37 points entering the fourth quarter, marking the 12th time this season Ole Miss has held an opponent to fewer than 40 points through the first three periods. The Rebels also thrived in the paint, outscoring Gonzaga 38-20 down low heading into the fourth. Four players finished in double-figure scoring, led by Latasha Lattimore with 15 points. Cotie McMahon added 13, and Sira Thienou scored 12 points while also blocking four shots.

How the Rebels can advance to the Sweet 16:

Ole Miss will have to go through either No. 4 seed Minnesota or No. 13 seed Green Bay to make it back to the Sweet 16. The Rebels reached the regional semifinals a year ago, but this group is entirely different from last season's team. The Rebels brought in eight new players this season but figured out how to make the transition as seamless as possible. One thing to watch for: Though Ole Miss dominated Gonzaga early, the Bulldogs put together a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to cut into the Rebels' 30-point lead. The Rebels need to keep their foot on the gas. -- Kendra Andrews

How Baylor won: Baylor won the first and fourth quarters; Nebraska won the second and third. But ultimately, the Bears' 26-15 fourth-quarter edge over the Huskers decided the game. Taliah Scott, Baylor's leading scorer who entered the game averaging 20 PPG, was 3-of-12 from the field, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range. But she made 9 of 12 free throws and finished with 15 points. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

A flagrant foul by Nebraska's Jessica Petrie with 3:48 left -- initially unobserved by the officials but then confirmed after a challenge from Baylor coach Nicki Collen -- proved crucial. The score was tied 53-53, but Scott hit two throws after the flagrant, putting Baylor up for good. Petrie then fouled out with 3:21 left with 10 points.

Huskers sophomore guard Britt Prince led all scorers with 27 points, but it wasn't enough for Nebraska, which ended the season 19-13.

How the Bears can advance to the Sweet 16: The Bears will have to beat the No. 3 seed Blue Devils on their home court. Duke lost just once at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season: Dec. 4 to LSU. But the Bears have a win over the Blue Devils already this season: 58-52 in the opener on Nov. 3 in Paris. Expect these teams' NCAA second-round game to be a similar defensive battle. Last year, Duke made the Elite Eight, while Baylor lost in the second round to Ole Miss. -- Michael Voepel

How North Carolina won: The Tar Heels made just 10 of their 40 3-point attempts, but that was more than enough considering Western Illinois made two 3-pointers. Overall, the Leathernecks hit just 17 of 56 shots (30%) and were outrebounded 47-32. Ohio Valley Player of the Year Mia Nicastro had 21 points and nine rebounds for Western Illinois, which finished the season 26-6.

Nyla Harris led North Carolina with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Lanie Grant had 15 points.

How the Tar Heels can advance to the Sweet 16: The Tar Heels face former ACC rival Maryland in the second round, which could be a very competitive game. The Terps beat Murray State 99-67 in the opening round and outrebounded the Racers 51-21. North Carolina will need to try to limit Maryland on the boards and also keep the Terps off the line as much as possible. Maryland made 19 of 22 free throws vs. Murray State. -- Michael Voepel

play1:17Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels: Game HighlightsWestern Illinois Leathernecks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels: Game Highlights

How Maryland won: Brenda Frese has lost in the first round only once in her 21 NCAA tournament appearances as head coach at Maryland. And the only game this season in which the Terrapins scored more points was a double-overtime win over Minnesota.

The Terps made the most of their big size advantage over the Racers. They dominated on the glass 51-21 and turned that into extra offense with 52 points in the paint as well as 33 second-chance points (Murray State had five). Those 33 second-chance points were the most for Maryland in 10 years.

Two different Terps had season highs: Freshman Kyndal Walker came off the bench for 20 points, and senior Mir McLean scored 19. McLean also led the way with 14 rebounds.

How the Terps can advance to the Sweet 16: That one first-round loss came in 2023. Otherwise, Maryland has reached the Sweet 16 in every NCAA tournament dating to 2021. Frese has a successful history in the second round, too. The production from McLean and Walker is a good sign. So much had fallen on leading scorer Oluchi Okananwa and Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu in other games, but the help wasn't there. That was largely to blame for Maryland losing two games prior to the NCAA tournament -- which cost the Terps the ability to host games this weekend. That duo combined for just 13 points on Friday, yet the Terps still won comfortably. -- Charlie Creme