March Madness: Women's NCAA Tournament Second Round Updates
The final eight spots in the Sweet 16 are up for grabs in the NCAA women's tournament. Follow the action as teams battle for advancement on Monday.
Half of the Sweet 16 is already determined, and the remaining eight spots will be contested as the second round of the 2026 women's NCAA tournament concludes on Monday.
Today's matchups include a mix of regular-season rematches and lower-seeded teams aiming for upsets, with games starting at noon ET on ESPN.
Matchups for the day are as follows: (6) Alabama vs. (3) Louisville at noon ET, (10) Virginia vs. (2) Iowa at 2 p.m. ET, (6) Notre Dame vs. (3) Ohio State at 4 p.m. ET, (5) Kentucky vs. (4) West Virginia at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2, (9) Syracuse vs. (1) UConn at 6 p.m. ET, (7) Illinois vs. (2) Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, (9) USC vs. (1) South Carolina at 8 p.m. ET, and (8) Oklahoma State vs. (1) UCLA at 10 p.m. ET.
For Alabama to secure a position in the Sweet 16, Coach Kristy Curry will need to address issues from their previous game, where despite dominating in the paint, they committed 14 turnovers, allowing Rhode Island to score 18 points off those mistakes. They also missed six free throws, finishing 14-of-20 at the line. A strong start and establishing dominance early against Louisville will be crucial.
Louisville's Coach Jeff Walz will be looking for a stronger performance from the start after a sluggish opening against Vermont. While the team's ball movement improved in the second half, they will need to build on the recent good form of Mackenly Randolph as they prepare for Alabama.
The Virginia Cavaliers are entering their match against Iowa with confidence, having displayed composure in their first-round game even when trailing. Key performers like Kymora Johnson and Sa'Myah Smith will need to maintain their scoring and rebounding prowess to secure a win.
For Iowa, improving their shooting from beyond the arc is essential after a poor performance against FDU. They will need to focus on limiting Virginia's scoring, particularly from Johnson, while leveraging their strong post play.
Notre Dame is riding a wave of momentum with 10 wins in their last 11 games, and Hannah Hidalgo will be pivotal in their match against Ohio State. Hidalgo's ability to contribute significantly in multiple areas will be vital for the Fighting Irish's chances of advancing.
The Buckeyes, led by Jaloni Cambridge, will rely on her ability to disrupt defenses and facilitate scoring opportunities. A solid performance against Howard will need to translate into a successful outing against Notre Dame.
In their match against West Virginia, Kentucky will aim to leverage their rebounding advantage and strong ball movement demonstrated in the first round. Coach Kenny Brooks hopes to maintain the intensity displayed in their previous game.
The Mountaineers are determined to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1992, and will face a tough challenge against Kentucky. They need to capitalize on their experience and home-court advantage.
Syracuse faces a daunting task against UConn, a team with a long history of success in the tournament. The Orange will need to enhance their defensive efforts to contend with UConn's star players.
UConn is heavily favored to advance, but they must improve their shooting consistency and avoid foul trouble, which affected key players in their first-round game.
Illinois is seeking to break a long-standing trend of limited success in the regional semifinals and will need to overcome Vanderbilt on their home court, where the Commodores have not lost this season.
The Commodores hope to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009 and will rely on their standout player, Mikayla Blakes, to lead them against Illinois.
USC faces a tough rematch against South Carolina, who previously defeated them in the season. The Trojans must adapt their strategy to overcome their earlier loss.