Southern Jaguars Defeat Alabama State Lady Hornets to Claim 2026 SWAC Women's Basketball Championship

The No. 4 Southern Jaguars defeat the No. 3 Alabama State Lady Hornets 62-58 to earn the SWAC's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:36am

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The 2026 SWAC Women's Basketball Championship Game featured a matchup between the No. 3 Alabama State Lady Hornets and the defending champion No. 4 Southern Jaguars. In a close contest, the Jaguars defeated the Lady Hornets 62-58 to claim the SWAC title and earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

Why it matters

This game was a highly anticipated rematch between two of the top teams in the SWAC. Alabama State was looking to reach its first SWAC championship game since 2022, while Southern was aiming to defend its title and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. The winner would secure the SWAC's automatic bid, making this a must-win game for both squads.

The details

Southern, led by head coach Carlos Funchess, battled through a tough bracket to reach the title game. The Jaguars defeated No. 1 seed Alabama A&M 51-49 in the semifinals on a last-second layup from Jocelyn Tate. For Alabama State, this was their first final appearance since 2022 after beating No. 7 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the semifinals, with three starters scoring in double figures.

  • The 2026 SWAC Women's Basketball Championship Game took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET.
  • Southern defeated Alabama State 62-58 to claim the SWAC title and earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

The players

Carlos Funchess

The head coach of the Southern Jaguars women's basketball team.

Jocelyn Tate

A sophomore guard for the Southern Jaguars who hit the game-winning layup in the semifinal against Alabama A&M.

Johnetta Hayes

The head coach of the Alabama State Lady Hornets women's basketball team.

Ny'Keria Flowers

A key player for the Alabama State Lady Hornets, scoring 14 points in the semifinal victory.

Caylee Simpson

A starter for the Alabama State Lady Hornets who hit a game-winning layup against Southern during the regular season.

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What they’re saying

“I think we have the talent to win it all. We just have to be fundamentally sound. We have to go to Atlanta and play well.”

— Carlos Funchess, Head Coach, Southern Jaguars

“I'm calm, but I'm super excited about this win. Just to see our ladies come out and compete in a tight game, lose a lead, and finish strong.”

— Johnetta Hayes, Head Coach, Alabama State Lady Hornets

What’s next

The Southern Jaguars will advance to the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, where they will look to build on their first-round appearance from last season.

The takeaway

This championship game showcased the depth and competitiveness of the SWAC, as two talented teams battled it out for the conference title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Southern's experience and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference, as they claimed their third SWAC tournament championship in four years.