Every year in the NCAA Tournament, the biggest plays are the ones that we remember – the buzzer beaters, the missed free throws, or the clutch three from the corner to seal the win. Players, coaches and fans live and die by those moments. There is also a special group of people that we only hear, who capture it with passion and etch it in our memories – the loyal radio crews of our favorite teams.
These dedicated, hardworking people spend as much time with the coaches and players as anyone. What you do not know is that all these broadcasters have “day jobs.” Some work in the radio and sports journalism business, while others are accountants, sales directors and civic servants. They spend time away from their families, take vacation days so they can cover a four-day road trip, haul their equipment from buses to arenas and hope the connections are set for the pregame show.
This edition of The Weekly Fast Break is dedicated to the 16 radio crews that made a pit stop at home to repack their bags and reload on cough drops. After they check in with their real jobs and pick up the kids from school, they will be updating broadcast charts and diving into the next opponent. They understand better than anyone this week that it does not matter if you win by one or 21 – a win is a win.
There will be questionable foul calls that draw their ire and clutch layups that will have them pounding on the courtside table. They want more than anything for their team to survive and advance and to be the ones that capture the biggest moments so that they live on forever. There will be four teams and their energized radio crews that survive with their dancing shoes packed for Phoenix. For them, the sweetest moments are never too big.
A year ago, the storylines surrounding the Sweet 16 were not about how Cinderella had hitched a ride to the party but how the top seeds were challenged yet still advanced. The first weekend of this year’s installment was much of the same, with many lopsided games. We will leave the discussion about parity and where we go from here in the women’s game for when the season is over.
In the meantime, as we crank up the dance music in Fort Worth and Sacramento, we have seven of the top eight seeds still alive, including the defending national champs and a tournament first. While the Big Ten tied the record for the most teams in the Field of 68 with 12, only three are still dancing. The ACC has surprised many with five teams advancing to the second weekend. Sweet 16 radio ads are being cut as we speak, and we have your pregame show rundown for the next round.
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!
FORT WORTH 1 REGIONAL (Games to be played on March 27)
No. 1 UCONN vs. No. 4 NORTH CAROLINA
If you want to be the best, you must beat the best, and no one has been able to knock UConn, the overall No. 1 seed in the field, off the top perch this season. The reigning national champions notched their 52nd straight win with a blowout victory over No. 9 seed Syracuse in the Round of 32. The Huskies blasted the Orange with a 31-0 run and were led by All-American Azzi Fudd. The senior guard dropped 26 of her 34 points in the first half, leading UConn to a 98-45 victory. Sophomore sensation Sarah Strong averaged 18 points per game through the first weekend of the Big Dance and her team averaged 94 per game.
Up next for head coach Geno Auriemma’s squad will be North Carolina. The Tar Heels used their homecourt advantage as a four seed to hold off Maryland and advance to their second straight Sweet 16. The Tar Heels kept the No. 5 seed in check with a stellar defensive effort, holding the Terrapins to just 32.4% from the field for the game and 3-for-23 from behind the arc. Sophomore Elina Aarnisalo, who played in the Final Four a season ago with UCLA, led UNC with 21 points in the 74-66 win. If the Tar Heels are to have a chance against UConn, their defense, which was second-best in the ACC this season, will need to travel with them to Fort Worth.
No. 2 VANDERBILT vs. No. 6 NOTRE DAME
The Commodores inserted themselves into the national conversation early in the 2025-26 season and have not looked back. SEC Coach of the Year Shea Ralph has Vanderbilt back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 17 years and the ‘Dores are ready to make some noise. In the 75-57 win over No. 7 seed Illinois in the second round, Vanderbilt had three players post double figures, led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes. The SEC Player of the Year had 25 points and 10 boards, making it her second double-double of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Blakes and company were 18-0 at home this season and now need to have their depth and high-flying offense (over 84 points per game) produce in the heart of Texas.
Up next for the No. 2 seed is Notre Dame, which advances to its fifth consecutive Sweet 16 with an 83-73 win over No. 3 seed Ohio State. This Fighting Irish roster looks vastly different than a year ago and has had its fair share of struggles this season. But their leader, junior Hannah Hidalgo, was not going down without a fight. The do-everything guard had 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight steals in the victory over the Buckeyes. For the Irish to knock off the Commodores, it all starts with their defense – they scored 25 points off 21 turnovers in the Round of 32.
SACRAMENTO 2 REGIONAL (Games to be played on March 27)
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 4 MINNESOTA
The seeds hold serve in this regional where UCLA sits at the top. The Bruins lost their only game of the season back in November and, since then, have rattled off 27 wins. They finished the Big Ten regular season undefeated at 18-0 and captured the postseason tournament hardware. The roster that head coach Cori Close has assembled is one of the most talented and balanced in the field, led by 6’7 center Lauren Betts. The Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She is coming off a career-high 35-point performance in the Round of 32 against No. 8 seed Oklahoma State. UCLA scored 96 and 87 points, respectively, in its first two games of the Big Dance.
The Bruins will line up against fellow Big Ten member, No. 4 seed Minnesota, whom they beat in their only meeting of the season in January. The Golden Gophers are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006 after a buzzer-beater by senior Amaya Battle knocked off No. 5 seed Mississippi 65-63 in the second round. They had three in double figures, led by junior guard Mara Braun, who is one of eight players on the roster who hail from Minnesota. The Bruins have their sights set on not just returning to their second straight Final Four but capturing a first-ever national title. They say dreams can come true in Hollywood – but they will have to start in Sacramento first.
No. 2 LSU vs. No. 3 DUKE
Some may say this game could be a battle of style and substance, but both teams have a swagger about them that makes them incredibly dangerous in the Sweet 16. No. 2 seed LSU is into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year after dismantling No. 7 seed Texas Tech 101-47 in the Round of 32. The Tigers posted their 16 100-point game of the season, led by guards Flau’jae Johnson and Mikayla Williams, who each had 24 on the day. LSU has the top scoring offense in the nation, averaging over 95 points per game, and its road to the Final Four now goes through one of the best defensive teams in the nation.
Duke is in the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season after capturing both the ACC regular season and tournament titles. They led the ACC in scoring defense, giving up just south of 59 points per game on the year. In their 64-46 win over No. 6 seed Baylor, the Blue Devils held the Bears to just 30% from the floor for the game and caused 23 turnovers. Early season scoring struggles have evened out for head coach Kara Lawson’s squad, led by 6’2 super sophomore Toby Fournier (17.4 per game). Can the Blue Devils turn this into a rock fight and slow down the high-flying Tigers? Whoever can control pace and play with patience will have the upper hand – sequins are optional.
Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. “Rare Gems” follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy Megdal’s coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout to save 30%!
FORT WORTH 3 REGIONAL (Games to be played on March 28)
No. 1 TEXAS vs. No. 5 KENTUCKY
Year 2 in the SEC saw Texas positioned as one of the top teams in the nation all season long. The Longhorns captured their first SEC Tournament title, dispatching South Carolina, and have carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Vic Schaefer’s squad bounced No. 16 seed Missouri State in the first round and then blew out Oregon in the second round 100-58. Junior All-American Madison Booker dropped a career high 40 points to lead the way as Texas dominated the Ducks on the glass and scored 23 points off their 15 turnovers. Next up for the Longhorns will be No. 5 seed Kentucky, which knocked off No. 4 seed West Virginia 74-73 in Morgantown. This will be the first Sweet 16 appearance for the Wildcats since 2016.
Head coach Kenny Brooks’ squad survived the suffocating defense of the Mountaineers and had balance across the board, led by 6’5 center Clara Strack. The first team All-SEC pick had 18 points, 15 boards and four blocks in the win, registering her 16th double-double this year. In the only match-up of these two SEC foes in the regular season, Texas came away with a 64-53 win at home. The X-factor in this matchup will be the crowd – look for a large contingent of burnt orange-clad fans to pack the stands in Fort Worth. It will feel like another road game for Kentucky, who will need to keep their composure against the Longhorns defense.
No. 2 MICHIGAN vs. No. 3 LOUISVILLE
For just the third time in program history, Michigan has danced its way into the Sweet 16. The Wolverines dispatched of No. 15 seed Holy Cross 83-48 in their first game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament and then brought the heat with their defense to destroy No. 7 seed NC State in the Round of 32 (92-63). Head coach Kim Barnes Arico has assembled a balanced roster with three super sophomore guards leading the way. All-Big Ten first team selections Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, along with Mila Holloway, are all producing above their season scoring averages in the Big Dance. Olson had 27 points, all in the second half, to lead the way over the Wolfpack.
Michigan will now face No. 3 seed Louisville, who are packing for Fort Worth after a 69-68 nail-biter over Alabama in the second round. Three Cardinals scored in double figures for the top-ranked offense in the ACC this season, including 18 from sophomore guard Tajianna Roberts. Even though head coach Jeff Walz’s team has only lost seven games this season, a handful of those were missed opportunities down the stretch. When it counted the most, Louisville closed out the Crimson Tide to advance to its 13th Sweet 16 in program history. These two teams have squared off in the NCAA Tournament three times, most recently in the 2022 regional final. Louisville punched its ticket to the Final Four that year with a 62-50 victory over the Wolverines. Michigan is 3-0 against ACC schools this season, with wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse and NC State. Can they take down the Cardinals to keep the record unblemished? Time to two-step and find out.
SACRAMENTO 4 REGIONAL (Games to be played on March 28)
No. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA vs. No. 4 OKLAHOMA
South Carolina won 12 of 13 games coming into this year’s NCAA Tournament, and the Gamecocks show no signs of taking their foot off the gas. The balance of the Gamecocks has been the backbone of their success this season, with five players averaging over double-figures. They scored over 100 points in their first two matchups of the tournament, including a 101-61 win over No. 9 seed USC in the Round of 32. Sophomore standout Joyce Edwards led the way over the Trojans with 26 points and 10 boards and 6’6 center Medina Okot posted her 22nd double-double of the season with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Next up for Dawn Staley’s team will be a matchup with No. 4 seed Oklahoma, which is the only team to beat the Gamecocks during the SEC regular season (94-82 in OT).
The Sooners race into the Sweet 16 for the second straight year after a 77-71 win over a tough Michigan State team. Oklahoma used the energy of their homecourt advantage to propel them to a win behind four players in double figures and a double-double from senior center Raegan Beers (18 points and 14 rebounds). Does OU have another monster game in them to knock off the Gamecocks for a second time this season? This will be a battle of the third and fourth-best-scoring offenses in the nation in the Sweet 16. There is high-volume shooting and playing with speed, and then there is this matchup – running shoes are recommended.
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 10 VIRGINIA
TCU followed up what was a season of firsts last year with more success this season, making the Horned Frogs the team to beat in the Big 12. They won their second straight regular-season conference title on the backs of another transfer-laden roster assembled by head coach Mark Campbell. They entered this year’s Big Dance as a No. 3 seed, handling UC San Diego in Round 1, and then were pushed in overtime by No. 6 seed Washington. Big 12 Player of the Year Olivia Miles delivered with 18 points and 10 boards in the 62-59 OT victory. She, along with fellow transfers Marta Suarez, Clara Silva and others, has led this team all season, propelling TCU to its second straight Sweet 16 appearance. The Horned Frogs, however, will not get the luxury of a friendly crowd in Fort Worth for their next matchup. They will be tested in sunny California by the one true Cinderella of this year’s tournament.
No. 10 seed Virginia becomes the first team to have been in the First Four to ever advance to the Sweet 16. The Cavaliers won three games in five days and have their program playing on the second weekend of the Big Dance for the first time since 2000. The ‘Hoos first beat Arizona State and then knocked off No. 7 seed Georgia 82-73. Not many gave them a chance against No. 2 seed Iowa, especially having to tussle with the Hawkeyes on their home court. But in the true spirit of survive and advance, Virginia did just that, taking down Iowa 83-75 in double overtime. Junior guard Kymora Johnson scored in double figures in all three tournament matchups, including back-to-back 28-point performances. UVA head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton has her team believing anything is possible. Will the ‘Hoos have something left in the tank when they get to Sacramento? Only time will tell if the Horned Frogs can put a spell on Cinderella.
Check your local listings and/or visit ESPN.com for a complete rundown of dates and times for the women’s NCAA Tournament games that will begin Friday, March 27.
*All statistics cited in this column are sourced from university and conference-provided statistics
