Louisville Women's Basketball Comeback Falls Short Against Virginia

Cardinals lose key player early, struggle with turnovers in ACC matchup

Feb. 22, 2026 at 7:04pm

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The 8th-ranked Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team rallied late but ultimately fell 74-72 to the Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center. Louisville lost starting guard Taj Roberts just 5 minutes into the game, and turnovers plagued the Cardinals throughout as they shot just 37% from the field.

Why it matters

The loss is a setback for Louisville's postseason positioning in the ACC, as they look to secure a high seed for the conference tournament. The Cardinals had been on a roll, but this defeat highlights their vulnerability without their full starting lineup.

The details

Louisville struggled mightily with turnovers, which created problems and allowed Virginia to build a lead. The Cardinals had two chances in the final 12 seconds to tie the game or take the lead, but were unable to convert either attempt.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • Taj Roberts was injured and left the game just 5 minutes in.

The players

Taj Roberts

A starting guard for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

Jeff Walz

The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Losing Taj five minutes into the game was bad, and the turnovers were worse.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach (courier-journal.com)

What’s next

Louisville will look to bounce back in their next ACC matchup as they continue their push for a high seed in the conference tournament.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for the 8th-ranked Louisville Cardinals, who will need to shore up their ball security and find a way to win without key players if they hope to secure a top seed in the upcoming ACC tournament.