UConn, North Carolina Set for Sweet 16 Showdown

Defending champions Huskies take on No. 4 seed Tar Heels in women's NCAA tournament

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:35am

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The 2026 women's NCAA basketball tournament has reached the Sweet 16, with the defending champion UConn Huskies set to face off against the No. 4 seed North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the most storied programs in women's college basketball, with UConn looking to continue its quest for a second straight national title and North Carolina aiming to pull off the upset and advance to the Elite Eight.

The details

UConn, the No. 1 seed in the Bridgeport Region, cruised through the first two rounds of the tournament, winning its first two games by an average of 25 points. North Carolina, meanwhile, knocked off No. 5 seed Oregon in the second round to reach the Sweet 16.

  • The UConn vs. North Carolina game will tip off at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, March 27.
  • The 2026 women's NCAA tournament began with Selection Sunday on March 15.

The players

UConn Huskies

The defending national champions, UConn is one of the most dominant programs in women's college basketball history.

North Carolina Tar Heels

A perennial powerhouse, North Carolina is making its 25th Sweet 16 appearance in program history.

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What they’re saying

“We know UConn is going to be a tough test, but our team is ready for the challenge. We've worked hard all season to get to this point, and we're excited to compete against the defending champs.”

— Courtney Banghart, Head Coach, North Carolina Tar Heels

“The Sweet 16 is always an exciting time of the tournament, and we're looking forward to another opportunity to compete for a national championship. North Carolina is a great program, and we know we'll have to bring our 'A' game to advance.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

What’s next

The winner of the UConn-North Carolina game will advance to the Elite Eight, where they will face the winner of the UCLA-Minnesota matchup on March 29.

The takeaway

This Sweet 16 showdown between UConn and North Carolina is a must-watch for any college basketball fan, as it features two of the sport's premier programs battling for a spot in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA women's tournament.