Virginia guard Kymora Johnson (21) shows a heart to Cavalier supporters after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes March 23, 2026, during a Round of 32 NCAA March Madness game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Virginia women’s team makes NCAA Tournament history

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Mar 23, 2026 6:18 PM ET

The men’s NCAA Tournament has a few surprises in the Sweet 16 with No. 9 seed Iowa and No. 11 seed Texas.

On Monday, the women’s Sweet 16 saw a giant upset with No. 10 seed Virginia knocking off No. 2 seed Iowa 83-75 in double overtime at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

Virginia now becomes the first women’s First Four team to make the Sweet 16.

Virginia won its First Four game with a 57-55 win over No. 10 seed Arizona State. Then, Virginia knocked off No. 7 seed Georgia 82-73 in the Round of 64 game on Saturday in Iowa City.

No. 10 Virginia just beat No. 2 Iowa to advance to the Sweet 16.

It's the first time a First Four team has made the Sweet 16 in history of the women's tournament.
— Colin Salao (@colincsalao) March 23, 2026

Kymora Johnson led the Cavaliers with 28 points, including the game-tying jumper with 13 seconds remaining to send it into double overtime.

The women’s tournament went mostly chalk in the first two rounds as Virginia was the only double-digit seed remaining, and now the Cavaliers have punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 since 2000.

Virginia now will face No. 3 seed TCU on Saturday with the game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, and an Elite Eight berth on the line.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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