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The second day of the tournament is underway for the women’s NCAA Tournament. Few upsets so far as Georgia has been the only higher seed to lose so far. But lots of strong performances have been on display.
Follow along for highlights from the day:
No. 10 Virginia 82, No. 7 Georgia 73 (OT)
Up next in Round 2: Winner of No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson
It took 20 games, but the 2026 NCAA Tournament finally produced its first upset: No. 10 Virginia took down No. 7 Georgia to keep one double-digit seed alive. It took a seven-point comeback in the fourth quarter, a midrange jumper that was just short at the regulation buzzer and an entire extra session for the Cavaliers to pull away and advance to the second round for the first time since 2018.
Virginia is the second First Four team to win a game in the Round of 64, joining No. 11 Mississippi State in 2023, but the Cavaliers were also the highest-seeded First Four team in the 68-team era, earning a slightly easier first-round matchup.
No Virginia player had ever suited up in the NCAA Tournament in a Cavaliers uniform, but they had plenty of experience at previous stops. LSU transfer Sa’Myah Smith won a national championship as a freshman and was a starter on an Elite Eight team last season (she missed the 2024 tournament with a knee injury). She was a steadying force for Virginia with 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting, 11 rebounds and three assists. Smith had five points in the overtime as the Cavaliers pulled away.
Tabitha Amanze, who has played in the tournament twice for Princeton, and Romi Levy, who made her NCAA Tournament debut in 2025 for South Florida, had important defensive efforts for Virginia on Mia Woolfolk and Riley Theuerkauf. Levy also hit the game-tying 3 in regulation on an absurd banker.
That veteran presence should help the Cavaliers in the second round, likely a road game against No. 2 seed Iowa. Smith is no stranger to facing the Hawkeyes, and a familiar foe from 2023, Hannah Stuelke, awaits.
But the leader for Virginia was the homegrown Kymora Johnson, who has dazzled in her first March Madness. Johnson had the game-winning 3-pointer in the First Four against Arizona State to top off a 17-point, 10-rebound, five-assist night. The junior followed that up with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Bulldogs with only one turnover. It has been a star turn for the Charlottesville, Va., native who hasn’t had the opportunity to play on national television much but has certainly made some new fans over the last three days.
The Cavaliers had outscored the Bulldogs 13-6 over the final seven minutes of regulation, then finished the game on a 7-0 run.
Record-breaking temperatures soared to 88 degrees in Iowa City, which brought a little extra warmth to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The building does not have air conditioning and was built 43 years ago inside a local crater. Courtside temperature approached the mid-70s at game’s end.
It’s been one of the wildest weather weeks in the region. On Selection Sunday, a blizzard gripped Eastern Iowa, sending temperatures to near zero with extra wind and several inches of snow. Virginia plays either second-seeded Iowa or 15th seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday, which has an expected high temperature of 53 degrees. – Sabreena Merchant and Scott Dochterman
Zoe Brooks’ availability uncertain
NC State coach Wes Moore said it was “hard to say at this point” whether junior Zoe Brooks will be available for the seventh-seeded Wolfpack’s second-round game against second-seeded Michigan on Sunday. The guard injured her foot midway through the third quarter in a first-round win over Tennessee on Friday evening and didn’t return to the game.
“Some of it may come down to just how she feels tomorrow,” Moore said on Saturday. “She won’t be practicing today. Taking all precautions with a boot, crutches, trying to keep weight off it.”
Brooks is the Wolfpacks’ second-leading scorer, and their leader in assists, steals free throws. The junior has started 72 games during her career and has the highest usage of any NC State player this season.
If Brooks is unable to go, Moore will likely turn to freshman Destiny “Ky’She” Lunan as a ballhandler. Moore called on her after Brooks’ injury against Tennessee, and she played 23 minutes, the fourth-most of her career. Lunan has appeared in 30 games this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.2 assists per game in 17 minutes of play.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in her, and I think the other players do as well,” Moore said of Lunan. “Still not the same as having Zoe out there, a junior with her experience and all that she’s done, but either way we’ll be ready to play.”
With the hit to its backcourt, NC State would likely try emphasizing the paint more, highlighting senior Khamil Pierre and exposing a potential mismatch against Michigan forward Sofilkanich. Pierre, a Vanderbilt transfer, has led the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Especially with a homecourt advantage, the Wolverines already had the edge going into Sunday but given Michigan’s talent and depth across its backcourt — Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, Mila Holloway and Brooke Quarles Daniels — replacing a veteran like Brooks with any freshman dampens the Wolfpacks’ chances at an upset. — Chantel Jennings
Day 1 highlights
You can read our first-day takeaways here. The most noteworthy events of the day included:
• Tennessee’s futile effort to extend its season, leaving the tournament on an eight-game losing streak of historic proportions.
• Minnesota’s 30-9 fourth quarter comeback at The Barn.
• Skylar Jones’ departure from Louisville.
• Duke withstanding a 36-point scoring barrage from Charleston’s Taryn Barbot.
How to watch
Here’s Saturday’s guide for watching the rest of the first-round games.
