Michigan Wolverines Advance to Elite Eight in Women's March Madness

Olivia Olson and Syla Swords lead Wolverines to victory over Louisville Cardinals

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:56am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's basketball game, with overlapping planes of yellow, blue, and red representing the dynamic action on the court.Michigan's comeback win over Louisville sets up a potential Elite Eight showdown with the defending champion Gamecocks.Louisville Today

The No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines women's basketball team overcame an early 11-point deficit to defeat the Louisville Cardinals 71-52 in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Sophomore stars Olivia Olson and Syla Swords led the way for Michigan, scoring 19 and 16 points respectively.

Why it matters

Michigan's victory over Louisville marks the Wolverines' first appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women's Tournament, continuing the team's historic season. The win also sets up a potential matchup between Michigan and the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, who are the defending national champions.

The details

After falling behind 11 points early, Michigan went on a 16-0 run in the second quarter to take the lead. The game was tied in the third quarter before the Wolverines pulled away for the 19-point victory. Olson and Swords were the driving forces for Michigan, combining for 35 of the team's 71 points.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • Michigan overcame an 11-point deficit in the first half.

The players

Olivia Olson

A sophomore guard for the Michigan Wolverines who scored a team-high 19 points in the win over Louisville.

Syla Swords

A sophomore forward for the Michigan Wolverines who scored 16 points to help lead her team to the Elite Eight.

Michigan Wolverines

The No. 2 seed women's basketball team from the University of Michigan that advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Louisville Cardinals

The women's basketball team from the University of Louisville that was defeated by Michigan in the Sweet 16 round.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to fight back after that slow start. Our team showed a lot of heart and determination to overcome that early deficit.”

— Olivia Olson, Michigan Wolverines Guard

What’s next

Michigan will face the winner of the South Carolina-UCLA matchup in the Elite Eight round on Monday, March 30th.

The takeaway

Michigan's comeback victory over Louisville demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to win tough games, setting the stage for a potential showdown with the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks in the Elite Eight.