Louisville, Duke Advance to ACC Women's Basketball Title Game

No. 12 Louisville and No. 13 Duke will meet in the championship after semifinal wins

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In the ACC women's basketball tournament semifinals, No. 13 Duke edged Notre Dame 65-63, while No. 12 Louisville defeated North Carolina 65-57. The Blue Devils and Cardinals will now face off in the tournament final on Sunday.

Why it matters

The ACC tournament is a high-stakes event that determines the conference champion and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Both Duke and Louisville are ranked teams looking to secure a top seed in the Big Dance, making this a pivotal matchup between two of the ACC's powerhouse programs.

The details

In the Duke-Notre Dame game, the Blue Devils overcame a 49-46 deficit going into the fourth quarter to hold on for the 65-63 win. Taina Mair led Duke with 16 points, while Toby Fournier added 14. For Notre Dame, Hannah Hidalgo scored a game-high 24 points. In the other semifinal, Louisville's Imari Berry poured in 22 points to pace the Cardinals to a 65-57 victory over North Carolina. Laura Ziegler chipped in 13 points for Louisville, while Elina Aarnisalo led the Tar Heels with 17 points.

  • The semifinal games were played on Saturday, March 8, 2026 in Duluth, Georgia.
  • The ACC tournament championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Taina Mair

A player for the Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team.

Toby Fournier

A player for the Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team.

Hannah Hidalgo

A player for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team.

Imari Berry

A player for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

Laura Ziegler

A player for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The championship game between No. 12 Louisville and No. 13 Duke is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The takeaway

This ACC tournament semifinal matchup featured two highly ranked teams battling for a spot in the conference title game and a chance to secure a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Both Duke and Louisville demonstrated their offensive firepower and defensive tenacity in advancing to the final.