On Monday, March 23, 2026, the women’s NCAA Tournament second round trimmed the field to 16 teams as eight Sweet 16 berths were decided across multiple sites. Several top seeds advanced in decisive fashion — UConn rolled past Syracuse and South Carolina dismantled USC — but the day also featured major upsets, most notably No. 10 Virginia knocking off No. 2 Iowa in double overtime in Iowa City. Notre Dame, Kentucky and Vanderbilt also won key games to join the Sweet 16; Virginia’s run is notable as the first First Four entrant ever to reach the round of 16. The nightcap between No. 1 UCLA and No. 8 Oklahoma State closed out a drama-filled Monday.
Key takeaways
- Virginia upset No. 2 Iowa 83-75 in double overtime; Kymora Johnson played all 50 minutes and scored 28 points, and Virginia became the first team to reach the Sweet 16 after starting in the First Four.
- UConn beat Syracuse 98-45, extending the Huskies’ consecutive Sweet 16 streak to 32 and featuring Azzi Fudd’s 34 points and eight 3-pointers.
- South Carolina advanced 101-61 over USC to reach its 12th straight Sweet 16; Joyce Edwards had 23 points and Madina Okot recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds.
- Notre Dame defeated Ohio State 83-73 as Hannah Hidalgo posted 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight steals while Jaloni Cambridge scored a career-high 41 for Ohio State.
- Vanderbilt beat Illinois 75-57; Mikayla Blakes nearly recorded a triple-double (25 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) and Vanderbilt advances to the Fort Worth regional.
- Kentucky edged West Virginia 74-73 on the road; Kentucky outrebounded West Virginia 39-23 and advances to face No. 1 Texas in Fort Worth.
- Close finishes were common: Louisville survived Alabama 69-68, and several games featured late-game swings and overtime tension that will affect fatigue and matchup planning for the Sweet 16.
Background
The 2026 women’s NCAA Tournament began with 68 teams and moved through the first weekend into the second round on March 23. High seeds entered the second weekend with established pedigrees — UConn chasing another deep run, South Carolina defending recent national titles (2022 and 2024) and UCLA among the preseason favorites — while lower seeds chased historic breakthroughs. The First Four pathway, introduced to expand the field, produces teams that must win extra games to reach the Sweet 16; Virginia’s advance marks an unprecedented result under that structure.
Seeding and conference dynamics matter: power conferences supplied many high seeds, but mid-major and bubble teams have repeatedly influenced bracket balance in recent years. Virginia’s resume included quality wins over Louisville and Notre Dame during the season, which ultimately helped the committee place them in the First Four rather than leave them out entirely. Meanwhile, the tournament format — single elimination, compressed schedule and national neutral/regional sites — intensifies the impact of turnovers, foul trouble and physical wear across back-to-back weekend dates.
Main event
Virginia vs. Iowa was the afternoon’s centerpiece: after regulation tied at 57-57, the matchup required double overtime, with an upgrade to a foul on review late in the first overtime that briefly shifted momentum toward Iowa. Chit-Chat Wright made just one of two flagrant free throws and went 1-for-2 on a subsequent trip to the line; Kymora Johnson then tied the game to send it to a second overtime where Virginia pulled away. Johnson finished with 28 points, and Paris Clark added 20, as the Cavaliers won 83-75.
At UConn, the Huskies overwhelmed Syracuse 98-45. Azzi Fudd led with 34 points on a night she tied her career high for threes (eight). UConn shot efficiently (65.9% in the first half at one point) and forced turnovers that translated into 30 points. Sarah Strong added 18 points and freshman Blanca Quinonez scored 18 on 7-of-9 shooting as the Huskies maintained control throughout.
South Carolina’s 101-61 victory over USC showcased defensive suffocation and balanced scoring. Joyce Edwards had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds; Madina Okot posted 15 and 15. The Gamecocks limited freshman scorer Jazzy Davison to 16 points and leaned on bench production from Maryam Dauda and Agot Makeer, who combined for 25 points.
Notre Dame’s 83-73 win over Ohio State combined stout defense and a breakout performance from Hannah Hidalgo (26 points, 13 rebounds, eight steals). Hidalgo set Notre Dame’s single-season scoring mark in the game, while Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge still managed a career-tying 41 points in defeat. Vanderbilt’s 75-57 result over Illinois featured a near triple-double by Mikayla Blakes (25-10-9), signaling Vanderbilt’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2009.
Kentucky edged West Virginia 74-73 in a nail-biter on the road. The Wildcats controlled the glass 39-23, and Teonni Key (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Clara Strack (18 points, 15 rebounds) paced Kentucky. West Virginia had chances late, but a missed 3 by Gia Cooke at the end sealed the Mountaineers’ exit as they fell short of their first Sweet 16 since 1992.
Analysis & implications
Virginia’s win reshapes the Sacramento side of the bracket. As the only remaining double-digit seed and the lone First Four survivor, Virginia now faces No. 3 TCU in Sacramento with the winner headed to the Elite Eight. Cinderella momentum can be powerful in March, but extra minutes and travel demand careful rotation management; Virginia’s five-day stretch of multiple overtime games raises fatigue concerns heading into the weekend.
UConn and South Carolina’s dominant wins reinforce their status as tournament favorites. UConn’s offensive efficiency and depth — highlighted by a veteran like Azzi Fudd and multiple scoring threats — make them a matchup problem for many teams. South Carolina’s defensive identity and balanced bench scoring keep the Gamecocks among the top contenders; both programs’ recent national titles and streaks add psychological pressure on opponents.
Mid-tier upsets — Notre Dame over Ohio State, Kentucky at West Virginia, Vanderbilt over Illinois — underline the tournament’s guard-driven, possession-focused trends. Teams that create turnovers, convert transition opportunities and control rebounding margins have repeatedly flipped expected outcomes. Coaches now must weigh matchups: teams like Kentucky that dominate the glass may force adjustments by more perimeter-oriented opponents like Texas or UConn in later rounds.
For bubble and bubble-adjacent programs, the fines margins of error are smaller than ever. One-point games and late officiating reviews (the Iowa-Virginia flagrant upgrade, for example) can swing tournament paths, affecting not only this year’s bracket but recruiting narratives and job security for coaching staffs. The Sweet 16 matchups will test depth, foul management and scouting preparation across regional hosts in Fort Worth and Sacramento.
Comparison & data
| Game (Mar 23) | Score | Winner (Seed) |
|---|---|---|
| UConn vs. Syracuse | 98-45 | UConn (1) |
| South Carolina vs. USC | 101-61 | South Carolina (1) |
| Virginia vs. Iowa (2OT) | 83-75 | Virginia (10) |
| Notre Dame vs. Ohio State | 83-73 | Notre Dame (6) |
| Kentucky vs. West Virginia | 74-73 | Kentucky (5) |
| Vanderbilt vs. Illinois | 75-57 | Vanderbilt (2) |
| Louisville vs. Alabama | 69-68 | Louisville (3) |
The table highlights a mix of blowouts and one-possession finishes across the second round. Two No. 1 seeds posted 50-plus point margins (UConn and South Carolina), while several middle seeds won narrow games, reflecting both the depth of the women’s field and the tournament’s parity. Overtime frequency (multiple extra-period games on the same weekend) increases the variance in outcomes and places a premium on rotation depth.
Reactions & quotes
South Carolina’s postgame atmosphere was emphatic after the Gamecocks’ 101-61 win. Coach Dawn Staley framed the victory as a full-team effort and highlighted defensive execution as the spine of the win.
“A complete team performance — we defended, rebounded and shared the ball.”
Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina (postgame)
At UConn, Geno Auriemma and staff praised Azzi Fudd’s senior night performance and the team’s offensive balance; analysts noted the Huskies’ ability to score at every level. After Virginia’s double-overtime upset, coaches and broadcasters emphasized the Cavaliers’ resilience and experience from their First Four start.
“She was outstanding tonight and our team responded in every phase.”
Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn (postgame)
Commentators and bracket analysts on multiple networks noted that Virginia’s path — First Four to Sweet 16 — is historically significant and changes regional matchup projections heading into Thursday and Saturday scheduling.
Unconfirmed
- Long-term health status of players who logged extensive minutes (e.g., Kymora Johnson’s 50-minute game) remains to be confirmed; teams often provide updated medical reports closer to regional weekend.
- Any internal strategic adjustments tied specifically to the flagrant foul review in the Iowa-Virginia game have not been publicly detailed by officials beyond the on-court ruling.
Bottom line
Monday’s second-round slate combined signature blowouts from traditional powers with high-drama upsets that recalibrate the bracket. UConn and South Carolina reinforced their status as elite contenders with decisive wins, while Virginia’s historic advance adds an uncommon narrative to the Sacramento regional. Coaches must now balance momentum with recovery; teams coming out of overtime or one-possession games face shorter turnarounds and must manage rotations carefully.
Attention now turns to the Sweet 16 in Fort Worth and Sacramento: matchups will test depth, defensive adaptability and how well programs handle the psychological swings of March. Fans and bracket-watchers should watch minutes distribution, turnover rates and three-point efficiency as leading indicators of which teams can sustain runs deeper into the tournament.