NCAA Women's Tournament: The Elite Eight Field Takes Shape

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The first night of the 2026 Women’s Sweet 16 was a showcase of dominant blue bloods and high-stakes drama. While some favorites cruised through the “Second Weekend” gate, others required historic individual efforts or last-second heroics to punch their tickets to the Elite Eight.

Here is the in-depth look at Friday night’s Sweet 16 action.

No. 6 Notre Dame 67, No. 2 Vanderbilt 64

In a classic “star vs. system” battle, the Fighting Irish leaned on a legendary individual performance to overcome the higher-seeded Commodores. In a high-stakes Sweet 16 clash in Fort Worth, No. 6 seed Notre Dame punched its ticket to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019 by holding off No. 2 seed Vanderbilt 67-64. The game was defined by a historic performance from Irish star Hannah Hidalgo, who recorded an extraordinary triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals, while also breaking the NCAA single-season record for steals (reaching 199). Despite the Commodores erasing a double-digit deficit to briefly take the lead in the final minutes, Hidalgo delivered the go-ahead assist to Cassandre Prosper with 22 seconds remaining. Vanderbilt’s star sophomore Mikayla Blakes finished with 26 points but was unable to convert a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer, ending a historic 29-win season for the Commodores.

Hidalgo’s History: Hannah Hidalgo delivered one of the greatest stat lines in tournament history, recording a 31-point triple-double that also included 11 assists, seven rebounds, and an incredible 10 steals.
The Finish: Despite Hidalgo’s dominance, Vanderbilt had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but a contested three-pointer from the wing fell short. The Irish return to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019.

Sacramento Region 2 (Sacramento, CA)

No. 3 Duke 87, No. 2 LSU 85

The night ended with the most dramatic finish of the tournament thus far. In a rematch of an earlier-season blowout, the Blue Devils exacted their revenge in stunning fashion. In a Friday night thriller in Sacramento, No. 3 seed Duke punched its ticket to the Elite Eight with a heart-stopping 87-85 victory over No. 2 seed LSU. The Blue Devils appeared to have the game in hand with an 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers roared back with a 10-0 run, capped by two Mikaylah Williams free throws to take a one-point lead with just nine seconds remaining. After Duke’s initial game-winning attempt rimmed out, the Blue Devils retained possession for one final chance with 2.6 seconds on the clock. Senior Ashlon Jackson, who finished with 19 points, became the hero of the night by catching the inbounds pass, pump-faking to shed a defender, and burying a three-pointer that rattled around the rim before dropping as time expired. Toby Fournier and Taina Mair each chipped in 22 points for Duke, while LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley led all scorers with 28 in the losing effort.

The Shot: After LSU erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to take a one-point lead with just 9 seconds left, Duke’s Ashlon Jackson etched her name into March Madness lore. Jackson banked in a leaning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to stun the Tigers.
The Collapse: LSU looked poised to advance after a 10-0 run late in the game, but their defense lost track of Jackson on the final play. MiLaysia Fulwiley scored a career-high 28 points for LSU in the heartbreaking loss.
Moving On: Duke advances to face UCLA in an All-Blue-Blood regional final on Sunday.

No. 1 UCLA 80, No. 4 Minnesota 56

The Bruins left no doubt in their Sweet 16 matchup, dismantling the Golden Gophers with size and transition scoring.

The Depth: UCLA’s balanced attack saw four starters reach double figures by the end of the third quarter. The Bruins dominated the paint, outscoring Minnesota 44-22 near the rim.
The Gophers’ Exit: Minnesota’s surprising tournament run ends here, as they struggled to deal with UCLA’s length, shooting just 31% from the field.

Fort Worth Region 1 (Fort Worth, TX)

No. 1 UConn 63, No. 4 North Carolina 42

The defending national champions looked every bit like the overall top seed, extending their remarkable winning streak to 53 games with a defensive masterclass.

The Star: Sophomore forward and North Carolina native Sarah Strong haunted her home-state team, racking up 21 points and 10 rebounds. She ignited a decisive 17-8 run in the second quarter that effectively sucked the air out of the Tar Heels’ upset bid.
The Defense: The Huskies’ suffocating perimeter play forced UNC into a season-low 28% shooting and 24 turnovers. Blanca Quiñonez added 16 points for UConn, while Azzi Fudd shook off a slow start to chip in 10.
The Streak: With this win, UConn advances to its 30th Elite Eight, where they will face a familiar foe in Notre Dame.