"I put my phone onDo Not Disturblast night," Jackson said on Saturday, twelve hours removed from her 3-pointer thatended No. 2 LSU's season. "I try to respond to as many people as I can because I'm very grateful that they're even watching women's basketball... but I haven't been able to get back that much."
Jackson revealed that one message was from Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant on Instagram.
"I was so happy about that. He's one of my favorite players," Jackson added. When asked if she was able to respond to Durant's message, Jackson said, "Of course. I just hit him with a thank you so much."
Mar 27, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Ashlon Jackson (3) celebrates with forward Delaney Thomas (12) and forward Toby Fournier (35) after making a game-winning shot against the Louisiana State Tigers during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Sacramento Regional 2 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Jackson said she hasn't had time to fully process the shot that will go down in March Madness history, much like Arike Ogunbowale's buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win a national championship at Notre Dame over Mississippi State in 2018. Jackson remembers watching Ogunbowale's shot "as a kid. It was really cool to see. And now I have the opportunity to say that I was a part of [tournament history]."
Jackson's game-winner was a mainstay on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and social media Friday evening, so much so that Jackson "got tired of seeing it."
"It's literally everywhere. Every time I scroll I see it," Jackson said with a laugh. "I just put my phone down. I just replay in my head the ball spinning and spinning and I'm like, bro, I don't want to see that."
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The shot rimmed around the basket for several seconds before ultimately falling down. Jackson was immediately engulfed by her teammates as they celebrated in front of their bench. She shared an embrace with head coach Kara Lawson and even went in the stands to celebrate withDukealum Chelsea Gray.
"The shot was great, but that feeling was better of them telling me how much they believed in me, telling me how much they love me, I wouldn't trade that for the world," Jackson said. "Regardless if I would've missed that shot or not, they would've told me the same thing. And I feel like that speaks volume, especially for our program. We call ourselves the sisterhood and it feels exactly like that."
The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.
(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot cheer prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Louisville fans cheer during a first-round game between the Louisville Cardinals and Vermont Catamounts in the 2026 NCAA WomenâÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.
(Jeff Faughender, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle up prior to the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)
A Louisville fan held a sign in the final seconds as the Cards defeated Alabama 69-68 to move on to the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. March 23, 2026.
(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Alabama mascot Big Al works the crowd during a first-round game between the Rhode Island Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 NCAA WomenÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.
(Jeff Faughender, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Ohio State Buckeyes sit for the starting lineup prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Ohio State Buckeyes fans react to a foul call during the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)
A member of the Louisville Cardinals band performs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
A player spins a basketball branded with the NCAA logo before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
The Iowa State Cyclones mascot on the court during a break against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Ct. on Mar 21, 2026.
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
Guard Kylie Feuerbach #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes interacts with fans after a match-up against the FDU Knights on March 21, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
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The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.
(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.
(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot cheer prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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Louisville fans cheer during a first-round game between the Louisville Cardinals and Vermont Catamounts in the 2026 NCAA WomenâÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.
(Jeff Faughender, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle up prior to the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)
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A Louisville fan held a sign in the final seconds as the Cards defeated Alabama 69-68 to move on to the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. March 23, 2026.
(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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Alabama mascot Big Al works the crowd during a first-round game between the Rhode Island Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 NCAA WomenÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.
(Jeff Faughender, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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The Ohio State Buckeyes sit for the starting lineup prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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Ohio State Buckeyes fans react to a foul call during the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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A member of the Louisville Cardinals band performs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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A player spins a basketball branded with the NCAA logo before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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The Iowa State Cyclones mascot on the court during a break against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Ct. on Mar 21, 2026.
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
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Guard Kylie Feuerbach #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes interacts with fans after a match-up against the FDU Knights on March 21, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
Jackson didn't end up going to bed around 2 a.m. as emotions were running high. She said rest is going to be "very, very important" moving forward with the tight turnaround.
No. 3 Duke plays No. 1 UCLA in the Elite Eight on Saturday 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC).
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Her text messages can wait until next week.
"People are still texting me," Jackson said in disbelief. "I've been just trying to stay present, trying to stay where my feet are. I've gotten back to some people. I plan to get back to as many people as I can, but just trying to take it all in with (my teammates). It's my last time at this."
This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
Reach USA TODAY National Women's Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.
