Women's Elite Eight winners and losers include Notre Dame and Duke
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Women's Elite Eight winners and losers include Notre Dame and Duke
Meghan L. Hall, Cydney Henderson and Mitchell Northam, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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6 min read
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Did you like last season's Women's Final Four?
Well, then you are going to love what the2026 Women's Final Fourhas in store. Same teams, different semifinal matchups.
All four No. 1 seeds advanced to Phoenix where the semifinals will take place April 3 and championship April 5 at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
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UConnwill faceSouth Carolina(7 p.m. ET) in the first semifinal andUCLAwill take onTexas(9 p.m.) in the second on Friday. The two winners will play in the championship Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET). All games will be telecast on the ESPN family on networks.
The Huskies are the defending national champions and riding a 54-game win streak heading into the tournament. But the Bruins,Longhornsand Gamecocks have seven loses between them and have all proved they have a chance at a national title.
How did the four advance? Let's take a look at the winners and losers in the Elite Eight.
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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)
1/13
See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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)
5/13
See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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)
8/13
See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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)
10/13
See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
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.
Few players stuffed the stat sheet more in the second weekend of the Women's NCAA Tournament than theTexas Longhorns' veteran point guard. Harmon averaged nine points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and 3.5 steals in lopsided wins overKentuckyandMichigan. After suffering a season-ending knee injury as a junior, Harmon came back to Texas and guided the Longhorns to back-to-back Final Four appearances. She's also the only player in the history of Division I NCAA women's basketball to tally at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 600 assists and 350 steals in a career. She'll have the chance to cement her legacy as one of the best players in program history this weekend in Phoenix.
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South Carolina guard Agot Makeer
The 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament marks the first for Agot Makeer, but she's not playing like your typical freshman. Makeer averaged 6.6 points per game during the regular season, but has stepped up her offensive production in March Madness. She's averaging 14.7 points through four tournament games and has provided a punch off the bench for South Carolina. She scored a career-high 18 points in South Carolina's 78-52 Elite Eight rout of No. 3 TCU. Makeer, who shot 8-of-14 from the field including 1-of-2 from the 3-point line, received a big hug from head coach Dawn Staley following her performance.
Notre Dame didn't win its Elite Eight matchup with UConn, but theFighting Irishdefied expectations. With three players on the roster from the previous season and numerous transfer players, Notre Dame was one game away from the Final Four. Head coach Niele Ivey said she was happy and grateful to reach the Elite Eight for the first time in her tenure and "get over the hump" after making the Sweet Sixteen for five straight seasons.
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"I'm so grateful and blessed that I get a chance to do what I love and in coaching this group," Ivey said. "Obviously, we wanted to win this game, but for them to cement their legacy with me getting us back to the Elite Eight is something special, and I'll never forget it. This is one of my most special groups I've ever been around ... I love them so much."
For star playerHannah Hidalgo, this year's roster changed her as a leader. The junior guard said she was a lot more intentional this season with understanding each of her teammates, and that made a huge difference.
"You know, they've helped me grow my patience and just my understanding, just the way I think," Hidalgo said. "I'm so grateful for each and every single one of them. I wouldn't want to go to war with anybody else in this world."
Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in theNCAA women's basketballtournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Denae Fritz #5 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts after a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts after a double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs her mother after the double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
Chance Gray #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Kennedy Cambridge #3 sit on the bench as time runs down in the fourth quarter of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)
Head coach Krista Gerlich of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts during the second half of a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
Snudda Collins #0 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts during the second half of a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
Kamy Peppler #1 of the Green Bay Phoenix reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter during the First Round of theWomen's NCAA Tournamentat Williams Arena on March 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Phoenix 75-58.
(David Berding, Getty Images)
Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament against the Syracuse Orange at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on March 21, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut.
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
The Vermont women's basketball team starters consoled each other as the Caramounts lost to Louisville at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)
Rhode Island Rams head coach Tammi Reiss gives a hug to Rhode Island Rams guard Sophia Vital (15) in the waning moments of the Rams' loss to Alabama in the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)
Comari Mitchell #5 of the Jacksonville Dolphins reacts during the second half of the game against the LSU Tigers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
Bailey Burns #11 of the Jacksonville Dolphins exits the court after the game against the LSU Tigers in first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in theNCAA women's basketballtournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in theNCAA women's basketballtournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.
(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)
2/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Denae Fritz #5 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts after a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
3/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts after a double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
4/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs her mother after the double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)
5/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Chance Gray #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Kennedy Cambridge #3 sit on the bench as time runs down in the fourth quarter of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)
6/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Head coach Krista Gerlich of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts during the second half of a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
7/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Snudda Collins #0 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts during the second half of a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
8/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Kamy Peppler #1 of the Green Bay Phoenix reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter during the First Round of theWomen's NCAA Tournamentat Williams Arena on March 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Phoenix 75-58.
(David Berding, Getty Images)
9/13
Audi Crooks enters transfer portal after 3 seasons at Iowa State
Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament against the Syracuse Orange at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on March 21, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut.
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)
10/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
The Vermont women's basketball team starters consoled each other as the Caramounts lost to Louisville at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)
11/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Rhode Island Rams head coach Tammi Reiss gives a hug to Rhode Island Rams guard Sophia Vital (15) in the waning moments of the Rams' loss to Alabama in the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)
12/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Comari Mitchell #5 of the Jacksonville Dolphins reacts during the second half of the game against the LSU Tigers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
13/13
March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Bailey Burns #11 of the Jacksonville Dolphins exits the court after the game against the LSU Tigers in first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
Losers
Duke
The Blue Devils blew a double-digit lead and went cold in the second half against UCLA, losing in the Elite Eight for the second straight year. To make matters worse for Blue Devils' fans, their men's and women's team both lost in the Elite Eight on Sunday — the men falling to UConn in heartbreaking, buzzer-beater fashion. For the women's team, the Blue Devils simply didn't get what they needed from two of their top scorers,Ashlon JacksonandToby Fournier. In her final game for Duke, Jackson shot 0-of-8 from the floor, going scoreless in 37 minutes of action. Fournier encountered some foul trouble and found difficulty scoring againstLauren Bettsin the post, putting up 10 points in 27 minutes. UCLA hammered Duke in the paint and stifled them at the 3-point line. Before she turns her attention to coaching Team USA in the World Cup this summer, Kara Lawson has to retool the roster to replace the backcourt of Jackson and Taina Mair, who guided Duke to two straight ACC titles.
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Michigan
The Wolverines made it back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2022, but their journey ended painfully. Michigan only had 29 points through three quarters against Texas, finishing with 41 points. The Longhorns lead ballooned as high as forty points during the fourth quarter, but the damage was done during the third quarter. Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico sat silently as Texas players likeMadison Booker, Breya Cunningham, Justice Carlton and X- factor Kyla Oldacre went to work."It was tough. We've been a team that has fought through everything this year, and we've challenged ourselves against the best teams in the country to be in a position that we were tonight, Barnes Arico said.
"We've always been able to find that second gear. Tonight we couldn't against Texas."
"And I think we were letting the emotion -- you know, (Brooke Quarles Danies) knew it was her last game. The emotion of the game was really getting to us. So it was hard to be in those moments down the stretch."
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The Wolverines finished Monday's showdown with Texas shooting just 23%. Michigan also got outrebounded, 49-32, an area they usually own despite being undersized. Barnes Arico's team also struggled to move the ball effectively against Texas and never truly found a sustained offensive rhythm. The Wolverines had five assists in the contest.
After scoring or assisting on all of TCU's points in the Horned Frogs' 79-69 Sweet 16 win over No. 10Virginia, Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez struggled to replicate that performance. TCU's dynamic duo shot 10-of-37 from the field and 4-of-14 from the 3-point line in a 78-52 Elite Eight loss to South Carolina. Miles finished with a team-high 18 points and Suarez had nine points.
