Women's March Madness Day 4 takeaways: How every team reached the Sweet 16

Women's March Madness Day 4 takeaways: How every team reached the Sweet 16

-->

Skip to main content Skip to navigation

< >

Women's March Madness Day 4 takeaways: How every team reached the Sweet 16Ohio State Buckeyes2hESPNFudd heeds Geno's nail tips, powers 53-point winUConn Huskies6hAlexa PhilippouCuse women's HC blasts NCAA for UConn pairingSyracuse Orange2hAlexa PhilippouBetts erupts for career-high 35 as UCLA rolls onUCLA Bruins1hUVA ousts Iowa; 1st First Four team in Sweet 16Virginia Cavaliers9h'Smell the roses:' Kentucky back into Sweet 16West Virginia Mountaineers6hBlakes stars as Vandy ends Sweet 16 droughtVanderbilt Commodores4hWomen's college basketball awards and All-Americans: UConn's Strong leads wayUConn Huskies13dMichael Voepel and Charlie CremeTracking the 2026-27 women's college basketball coaching changesMemphis Tigers5dESPNWomen's March Madness Final Four, NCAA champion predictionsUConn Huskies5dESPNHow March Madness foes can end UConn's run through bracketUConn Huskies8dMichael VoepelplayReyna Scott floats home clutch bucket to help send Louisville to the Sweet 16 (0:48)Reyna Scott drains a big insurance bucket as Louisville defeats Alabama to advance to the Sweet 16. (0:48)

The final day of the second round of the 2026 women's NCAA tournament is underway. We're tracking every game as the regional semifinals take shape.

The Sweet 16 is set! Eight more teams won Monday in the second round of the 2026 women's NCAA tournament, setting the bracket for both regional semifinals.

The three No. 1 seeds moved on easily, but there was plenty of intrigue elsewhere, including 10-seed Virginia's double-overtime win against Iowa, making the Cavaliers the first First Four team in NCAA history to move on to the second weekend.

Here is ESPN's guide to all the Day 4 results, with analysis from reporters of how each game was won, and our experts' takes on each winner's chances to advance to the Elite Eight.

How UCLA won the game: UCLA took control early, jumping out to a 21-6 lead after the first quarter, and Oklahoma State couldn't overcome that early hole. The Bruins scored the first nine points in the game and never trailed. Once again, center Lauren Betts was a standout for the Bruins, finishing with 35 points and nine rebounds. According to ESPN Research, this is Betts' third NCAA tournament with 30 or more points. All other players in UCLA history have combined for three 30-point games in the NCAA tournament in program history. Betts received a standing ovation after she was taken out of the game in her final game at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA's Sweet 16 opponent: (4) Minnesota

How the Bruins can advance to the Elite Eight: In the first two games of this tournament, the Bruins have shown how dominant they can be in stretches, and they can lean on their Final Four experience for resilience. On Monday night, the Bruins survived the Cowgirls' 9-0 run in the third quarter, never letting them get within single digits in that span. As UCLA continues in the tournament, the Bruins can't give teams a chance to get back into the game.

How South Carolina won the game: The Gamecocks took over this game from the start, thanks to well-rounded performances from everyone who played. The Gamecocks had five players score in double figures, led by Joyce Edwards' 23 points and 10 rebounds. Madina Okot finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Ta'Niya Latson had 12 points and four steals. South Carolina's defense was stifling, holding USC to just 16 made field goals on 33% shooting. The Gamecocks sent USC to the free throw line only once. They held Jazzy Davidson to 12 points.

South Carolina's Sweet 16 opponent: (4) Oklahoma

How the Gamecocks can advance to the Elite Eight: South Carolina has won its first two games of the tournament by a combined 109 points, and scored at least 100 points in both games -- the first time it has scored 100 twice in the same tournament. Between its size, quickness, defense and depth, teams are challenged to slow down South Carolina. But Oklahoma, the Gamecocks' Sweet 16 opponent, was one of the three teams that beat them during the regular season. In that matchup -- a 94-82 overtime loss in January -- Aaliyah Chavez scored 15 of her 26 points in the extra period. Raegan Beers also had a strong showing, with 18 points and 14 rebounds. South Carolina built a comfortable lead heading into halftime, but it took its foot off the gas in the third and its offense was disrupted. The Gamecocks cannot become complacent after the early success they've had in the tournament.

How Vanderbilt won: The Commodores showed they have depth beyond their star, Mikayla Blakes. With Illinois double-teaming Blakes, Aubrey Galvan and Justine Pissott combined for 30 points and six rebounds. And Blakes still finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, becoming the fourth player in Vanderbilt history with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in an NCAA tournament game (she's the first since 2003). She's the first Vanderbilt player to score at least 25 points in each of her first three NCAA tournament games.

Vanderbilt's Sweet 16 opponent: (6) Notre Dame

How the Commodores can advance to the Elite Eight: Vanderbilt hadn't made it past the second round of the tournament since 2009. The Commodores will face Olivia Miles and Notre Dame. Blakes is the nation's leading scorer, but Miles is the third-best scorer in the country. She is also a pesky defender. The Commodores average just 13.1 turnovers per game, but they will have to be even more careful with the ball. Vanderbilt shot well from 3-point range in the first round of the tournament, knocking down 11 shots from distance. Blakes hit more 3-pointers than Illinois. Vanderbilt averages 26.3 3-point attempts per game and converts 36.3% of them.

How the game was won: It was complete domination for the Huskies. Their defense/press set the tone, as it has all season, with the Huskies tallying seven steals in the first quarter. UConn shot 66% in the first half, including 60% from the 3-point arc -- a result of unbelievable shooting and lackluster defense from the Orange. A 31-0 run -- the first in the women's tournament since ESPN began tracking, which dates back to 2019 -- sealed the win. With the way the Huskies were forcing turnovers, hitting shots, passing the ball and playing on a string, it was an almost flawless first half. Azzi Fudd, who played only 17 minutes because of foul trouble in the Huskies' first-round win over UTSA, scored 26 of her 34 points in the first half. She shot 13 of 18 from the floor and 8 of 11 from 3. Sarah Strong added 18 points and nine boards, and Blanca Quiñonez followed up her strong NCAA tournament debut with 18 points and four assists.

UConn's Sweet 16 opponent: North Carolina

How UConn can advance to the Elite Eight: If the Huskies keep playing this way, they will have no issues advancing to the Elite Eight. That's no disrespect to North Carolina, but the Huskies are just that good. Geno Auriemma will want to ensure that his team doesn't get complacent after this early success or that it begins to feel the pressure of a 40-0 season as the Huskies get deeper into the tournament. No coach in the country is better equipped to navigate players through those dynamics than Auriemma. And having a group that has largely been through the NCAA tournament before -- not to mention emerged as champions -- should only help.

How Kentucky won the game: Though West Virginia made this a tight and intense game down the stretch, Kentucky led for 33 minutes and never trailed after the first quarter. The Wildcats led by as many as 14 points, but once the Mountaineers found their footing on defense, it became a tighter contest. Kentucky won thanks to the play of its top three scorers: Teonni Key, Clara Strack and Tonie Morgan. Key led the group with 19 points and 10 rebounds -- her second-highest scoring mark of the season. Strack recorded her 16th double-double of the season, and her fourth double-double in six career NCAA tournament games, with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Morgan added 15 points.

Kentucky's Sweet 16 opponent: (1) Texas

How the Wildcats can advance to the Elite Eight: The Wildcats are advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016, and have a chance to make it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2013. They will face Madison Booker and the Longhorns in the third round of the tournament. To get past that group, the Wildcats will have to use their size to their advantage. The Wildcats have four players listed at 6-foot-4 and taller, and they average 40 rebounds per game. This could help them work past the high-powered offense of Texas.

How Notre Dame won: The Irish lost four starters and two important reserves to graduation and transfers from last year's Sweet 16 team. But they had junior guard Hannah Hidalgo back, and she has had another fantastic season. In Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, she was the catalyst for everything, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds, eight steals and two assists. She also had good support, as Vanessa de Jesus had 15 points, Cassandre Prosper and Iyana Moore added 13 each, and KK Bransford chipped in 10. The Irish forced 21 turnovers and scored 25 points off them.

Notre Dame's Sweet 16 opponent: (2) Vanderbilt

How Notre Dame can advance to the Elite Eight: Notre Dame is rolling and will be a challenge for any foe. But that wasn't the case earlier this season. The Irish went 3-6 in January -- after falling at Cal on Jan. 29, they were 13-8 overall and 5-5 in the ACC. Then, their season started to turn around Feb. 1 after a victory at Stanford. The Irish have lost just twice since then: 81-70 at Virginia on Feb. 8 and 65-63 to Duke on March 7 in the ACC tournament semifinals. Hidalgo has been the rock for the Irish. Prosper's progress and the improved chemistry of transfers Moore (from Vanderbilt) and de Jesus (from Duke) have helped the Irish become perhaps the most improved team in the country since midseason. -- Voepel

How Virginia won: Simply put: tireless, gutsy, effective guard play. Kymora Johnson had 28 points, and Paris Clark added 20, plus they had a combined nine rebounds and eight assists. And another Cavalier guard, Romi Levy, had 13 points. The Cavaliers made 9 of 27 3-pointers and were 18-of-23 from the foul line. And even though Virginia had 20 turnovers to Iowa's 16, the Cavaliers capitalized much more on them. They got 27 points off turnovers to Iowa's 14. Iowa led 42-24 in points in the paint. But in a tight game that went to two extra periods, there were too many times the Hawkeyes didn't execute in clutch moments. They had the ball with an opportunity to win at the end of regulation, but Chazadi Wright missed a turnaround jumper. They had the ball again at the end of the first overtime but missed a 3-pointer and an attempted putback. Then, Iowa sophomore standout center Ava Heiden and senior guard Kylie Feuerbach fouled out in the second overtime. The Hawkeyes also missed critical free throws late in the game, finishing 8-of-16 from the line. They were 5-of-29 from 3-point range. Iowa lost its best 3-point shooter, senior Taylor McCabe, to a knee injury Jan. 25, and her absence as a perimeter threat and ball handler was felt in Monday's loss. The Hawkeyes end the season 27-7 and lose senior forward Hannah Stuelke, who was part of their Final Four teams in 2023 and 2024. She had 15 points, 19 rebounds and six assists in her final game, but was 1-of-6 from the line.

Virginia's Sweet 16 opponent: (3) TCU

How Virginia can advance to the Elite Eight: The Cavaliers seemed to feel at home at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, winning three games there to advance to the program's first Sweet 16 since 2000. Each game went down to the wire -- Virginia beat Arizona State 57-55 in the First Four and No. 7 seed Georgia 82-73 in overtime before the marathon win over Iowa. The Cavaliers are the first team since the First Four began for the women's tournament in 2022 to advance from that round to the Sweet 16. Johnson had a combined 73 points in the three games and will face off with TCU superstar guard Olivia Miles in the regional final. The Cavaliers must continue their stellar guard play and defense, which will give them a chance to knock off the Horned Frogs. -- Michael Voepel

How Louisville won: The Cardinals lost five games at home this season, and Alabama almost made it six Monday. Louisville did just enough to hold off the Crimson Tide despite leaving the door open: The Cardinals were just 8-of-16 from the free throw line and 7-of-26 from behind the 3-point arc, while Alabama was 4-of-4 from the stripe and 12-of-26 from 3. But Louisville also controlled the boards 41-24 and was called for just 10 fouls to Alabama's 21.

Louisville's Tajianna Roberts and Elif Istanbulluoglu each had 18 points, and Laura Ziegler had 12. The Cardinals have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 13th time and head to the Fort Worth Regional. On the other side, freshman Ace Austin had 17 points to lead Alabama, which was trying to make the program's first Sweet 16 since 1998. Instead, the Crimson Tide end their season at 24-11.

Louisville's Sweet 16 opponent: (2) Michigan

How Louisville can advance to the Elite Eight: The Cardinals face a Michigan team that cruised in its first two tournament games, beating Holy Cross by 35 and NC State by 29. Sophomore standouts Olivia Olson (27 points against the Wolfpack) and Syla Swords (26) have posed challenges for defenders all season, and the Cardinals will need to figure out some way to keep them from taking over the game. Louisville didn't guard the 3-point line against Alabama as well as it wanted to, and it can't afford to give the Wolverines those kinds of looks. Louisville is looking for its ninth trip to the Elite Eight, while Michigan seeks its second. -- Voepel