Virginia edges Arizona State in NCAA Women's First Four

Kymora Johnson's late 3-pointer lifts Cavaliers to 57-55 win

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:10am

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Kymora Johnson drilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 30.6 seconds left to lift Virginia to a 57-55 win over Arizona State in an NCAA Women's First Four game in Iowa City. Marley Washenitz's corner 3 with 41.4 seconds remaining had tied the game at 51-51, but Johnson's clutch shot gave the Cavaliers the lead for good. Virginia won despite making only 21 of 65 shots from the field (32.3%).

Why it matters

The win advances Virginia to the first round of the NCAA Women's Tournament, where they will face seventh-seeded Georgia on Saturday. For Arizona State, the loss ends their season after a 24-11 campaign.

The details

Johnson finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Cavaliers. Virginia's Caitlin Weimar added 11 points and 12 boards, hitting a pair of foul shots with 11 seconds left to help seal the victory. Washenitz scored a game-high 19 points for Arizona State, which had a chance to force overtime or win after Johnson made just 1 of 2 foul shots with five seconds remaining, but Paris Clark stole the ball from Jyah LoVett just before time expired.

  • The game was played on March 20, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
  • Johnson hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 30.6 seconds left on the clock.

The players

Kymora Johnson

A Virginia player who scored 17 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minute.

Caitlin Weimar

A Virginia player who scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, including two clutch free throws late in the game.

Marley Washenitz

An Arizona State player who scored a game-high 19 points, including a 3-pointer that tied the game late.

Paris Clark

An Arizona State player who stole the ball in the final seconds to prevent the Sun Devils from getting a final shot attempt.

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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

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

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game showcased the competitiveness and drama of the NCAA Women's Tournament's First Four round, with Virginia making a clutch play late to advance to the first round. The win keeps the Cavaliers' season alive, while Arizona State's strong campaign comes to an end.