Louisville Cardinals Eliminated from March Madness

Women's basketball team falls short in Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:38am

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The third-seeded Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team was eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament after losing 71-52 to the second-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16 round. The loss ends Louisville's season and tournament run.

Why it matters

The early exit from the tournament is a disappointment for the Cardinals, who were expected to make a deep run. The loss will impact the team's revenue from tournament ticket sales and media exposure.

The details

Louisville struggled to contain Michigan's offense, falling behind early and never recovering. The Wolverines shot 50% from the field and outrebounded the Cardinals 38-30. Louisville was led by junior guard Emily Engstrom, who scored 18 points in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on March 29, 2026.

The players

Louisville Cardinals

The women's basketball team from the University of Louisville, a Division I program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Michigan Wolverines

The women's basketball team from the University of Michigan, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

Emily Engstrom

A junior guard for the Louisville Cardinals who led the team in scoring in the loss to Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“When you get to this stage of the tournament, every possession matters. We just couldn't make the plays we needed to win this game.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

What’s next

The Cardinals will now turn their focus to the offseason, where they will look to reload their roster and prepare for another run at the NCAA Tournament next year.

The takeaway

Louisville's early exit from the NCAA Tournament is a disappointment, but the team will have an opportunity to learn from this experience and come back stronger next season.