Syracuse coach calls NCAA bracket placement a 'personal attack' after third straight tournament loss to UConn

Felisha Legette-Jack frustrated by repeated matchups against powerhouse Huskies program

Mar. 24, 2026 at 9:48am

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Syracuse women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack expressed frustration with the NCAA Tournament selection committee, saying the Orange's repeated matchups against UConn feel like a "personal attack" after another blowout loss to the Huskies. This marked the third straight year Syracuse's season ended at the hands of the dominant UConn program, and Legette-Jack felt her team deserved to be placed elsewhere in the bracket.

Why it matters

The Syracuse-UConn rivalry in the women's NCAA Tournament has become a lopsided affair, with the Huskies winning the last three meetings by an average of 34 points. Legette-Jack's comments highlight the challenges smaller programs face in trying to advance past perennial powerhouses like UConn, and raise questions about the fairness of the NCAA Tournament selection process.

The details

In the latest matchup, UConn jumped out to a 65-12 halftime lead and cruised to a 98-45 victory. Legette-Jack felt her team, which went 24-8 during the regular season, deserved better than being placed in the same region as the Huskies for the third straight year. She suggested the selection committee may have a "personal" issue with her, given a previous loss to UConn when she was the head coach at Buffalo.

  • On March 20, 2026, Syracuse lost to UConn 98-45 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • In 2021, Syracuse lost to UConn 83-47 in the NCAA Tournament under former coach Quentin Hillsman.
  • In 2024, Syracuse lost to UConn 72-64 in the NCAA Tournament under Felisha Legette-Jack.

The players

Felisha Legette-Jack

The head coach of the Syracuse women's basketball team, who has led the Orange to the NCAA Tournament in three of her four seasons with the program.

Geno Auriemma

The legendary head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who has led the Huskies to a record 32 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.

Azzi Fudd

A star player for UConn who matched a career-high with 34 points in the win over Syracuse, including 8 three-pointers.

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What they’re saying

“For us and what we've done, our body of work, to have to come to play the best team in the country. Geno has this thing going, and I love what he's done. But we, I thought, deserved more respect after being in this business for 37 years. To have to come and be in this particular bracket every freaking year is unacceptable. It's wrong.”

— Felisha Legette-Jack, Head Coach, Syracuse Women's Basketball

“If you're on the committee, and you've been around for more than a year or two – five to 10, 15 years – you understand what that looks like. I've been on those committees to see how it's done, how you can put people on different lines. Put us on the 10 line. But for us to continue to come to Connecticut, year after year after year is, to me, a personal attack.”

— Felisha Legette-Jack, Head Coach, Syracuse Women's Basketball

What’s next

The NCAA Tournament selection committee will likely review Legette-Jack's comments and consider adjusting future bracket placements to avoid repeated matchups between top programs and smaller schools, especially in the early rounds.

The takeaway

Legette-Jack's frustration highlights the challenges smaller women's basketball programs face in trying to advance past perennial powerhouses like UConn in the NCAA Tournament. Her comments raise questions about the fairness of the selection process and the need for the NCAA to ensure a more balanced and equitable tournament field.