No. 13 Duke Rallies to Win Women's ACC Tournament

Blue Devils defeat No. 12 Louisville 70-65 in overtime for second straight title

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The No. 13 Duke Blue Devils rallied to defeat the No. 12 Louisville Cardinals 70-65 in overtime and win the women's Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship for the second consecutive year. Taina Mair led Duke with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Delaney Thomas also scored 19 points for the Blue Devils.

Why it matters

The ACC Tournament is one of the premier women's college basketball events, and this victory solidifies Duke's status as a top program in the conference and nationally. The win also boosts Duke's chances of securing a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

Duke trailed for much of the game, but the Blue Devils mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter to force overtime. In the extra period, Duke outscored Louisville 10-5 to clinch the victory. The win marks the second straight ACC Tournament title for the Blue Devils.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Duluth, Georgia.

The players

Taina Mair

A standout player for the Duke Blue Devils, Mair led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the ACC Tournament championship game.

Delaney Thomas

Also a key contributor for Duke, Thomas scored 19 points to help the Blue Devils rally and defeat Louisville in overtime.

Duke Blue Devils

The No. 13 ranked women's basketball team from Duke University, who won their second consecutive ACC Tournament title with the victory over Louisville.

Louisville Cardinals

The No. 12 ranked women's basketball team from the University of Louisville, who fell to Duke in the ACC Tournament championship game.

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What’s next

Duke will now await their seeding and matchup for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where they will look to make a deep run and potentially win a national championship.

The takeaway

Duke's victory over Louisville in the ACC Tournament final showcases the Blue Devils' status as an elite women's basketball program, and sets them up for a potentially strong showing in the NCAA Tournament.