The remaining day of the second spherical of the 2026 girls’s NCAA event is underway. We’re monitoring each recreation because the regional semifinals take form.
Here is ESPN’s information to all of the Day 4 outcomes, with analysis from reporters of how every recreation was gained, and our specialists’ takes on every winner’s possibilities to advance to the Elite Eight.
How Notre Dame gained: The Irish misplaced 4 starters and two necessary reserves to commencement and transfers from final yr’s Sweet 16 crew. But that they had junior guard Hannah Hidalgo again, and he or she has had one other unbelievable season. In Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, she was the catalyst for every little thing, ending with 26 factors, 13 rebounds, eight steals and two assists. She additionally had good help, as Vanessa de Jesus had 15 factors, Cassandre Prosper and Iyana Moore added 13 every, and KK Bransford chipped in 10. The Irish compelled 21 turnovers and scored 25 factors off them.
Notre Dame’s Sweet 16 opponent: (2) Vanderbilt or (7) Illinois
How Notre Dame can advance to the Elite Eight: Notre Dame is rolling and will likely be a problem for any foe. But that wasn’t the case earlier this season. The Irish went 3-6 in January — after falling at Cal on Jan. 29, they have been 13-8 total and 5-5 within the ACC. Then, their season began to show round Feb. 1 after a victory at Stanford. The Irish have misplaced simply twice since then: 81-70 at Virginia on Feb. 8 and 65-63 to Duke on March 7 within the ACC event semifinals. Hidalgo has been the rock for the Irish. Prosper’s progress and the improved chemistry of transfers Moore (from Vanderbilt) and de Jesus (from Duke) have helped the Irish turn out to be maybe essentially the most improved crew within the nation since midseason. — Voepel
How Virginia gained: Simply put: tireless, gutsy, efficient guard play. Kymora Johnson had 28 factors, and Paris Clark added 20, plus that they had a mixed 9 rebounds and eight assists. And one other Cavalier guard, Romi Levy, had 13 factors. The Cavaliers made 9 of 27 3-pointers and have been 18-of-23 from the foul line. And though Virginia had 20 turnovers to Iowa’s 16, the Cavaliers capitalized far more on them. They obtained 27 factors off turnovers to Iowa’s 14. Iowa led 42-24 in factors within the paint. But in a decent recreation that went to 2 additional intervals, there have been too many instances the Hawkeyes did not execute in clutch moments. They had the ball with a chance to win on the finish of regulation, however Chazadi Wright missed a turnaround jumper. They had the ball once more on the finish of the primary additional time however missed a 3-pointer and an tried putback. Then, Iowa sophomore standout heart Ava Heiden and senior guard Kylie Feuerbach fouled out within the second additional time. The Hawkeyes additionally missed vital free throws late within the recreation, ending 8-of-16 from the road. They have been 5-of-29 from 3-point vary. Iowa misplaced its finest 3-point shooter, senior Taylor McCabe, to a knee harm Jan. 25, and her absence as a fringe risk and ball handler was felt in Monday’s loss. The Hawkeyes finish the season 27-7 and lose senior ahead Hannah Stuelke, who was a part of their Final Four groups in 2023 and 2024. She had 15 factors, 19 rebounds and 6 assists in her remaining recreation, however was 1-of-6 from the road.
Virginia’s Sweet 16 opponent: (3) TCU
How Virginia can advance to the Elite Eight: The Cavaliers appeared to really feel at residence at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, successful three video games there to advance to this system’s first Sweet 16 since 2000. Each recreation went right down to the wire — Virginia beat Arizona State 57-55 within the First Four and No. 7 seed Georgia 82-73 in additional time earlier than the marathon win over Iowa. The Cavaliers are the primary crew for the reason that First Four started for the ladies’s event in 2022 to advance from that spherical to the Sweet 16. Johnson had a mixed 73 factors within the three video games and can face off with TCU celebrity guard Olivia Miles within the regional remaining. The Cavaliers should proceed their stellar guard play and protection, which can give them an opportunity to knock off the Horned Frogs. — Michael Voepel
How Louisville gained: The Cardinals misplaced 5 video games at residence this season, and Alabama nearly made it six Monday. Louisville did simply sufficient to carry off the Crimson Tide regardless of leaving the door open: The Cardinals have been simply 8-of-16 from the free throw line and 7-of-26 from behind the 3-point arc, whereas Alabama was 4-of-4 from the stripe and 12-of-26 from 3. But Louisville additionally managed the boards 41-24 and was known as for simply 10 fouls to Alabama’s 21.
Louisville’s Tajianna Roberts and Elif Istanbulluoglu every had 18 factors, and Laura Ziegler had 12. The Cardinals have superior to the Sweet 16 for the thirteenth time and head to the Fort Worth Regional. On the opposite facet, freshman Ace Austin had 17 factors to guide Alabama, which was attempting to make this system’s first Sweet 16 since 1998. Instead, the Crimson Tide finish their season at 24-11.
Louisville’s Sweet 16 opponent: (2) Michigan
How Louisville can advance to the Elite Eight: The Cardinals face a Michigan crew that cruised in its first two event video games, beating Holy Cross by 35 and NC State by 29. Sophomore standouts Olivia Olson (27 factors towards the Wolfpack) and Syla Swords (26) have posed challenges for defenders all season, and the Cardinals might want to determine some method to hold them from taking up the sport. Louisville did not guard the 3-point line towards Alabama in addition to it wished to, and it may’t afford to offer the Wolverines these sorts of appears. Louisville is on the lookout for its ninth journey to the Elite Eight, whereas Michigan seeks its second. — Voepel
