West Virginia and Kentucky Clash in Sweet Sixteen Battle

Mountaineers host Wildcats in key second-round matchup

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:54pm

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No. 4 seed West Virginia and No. 5 seed Kentucky will face off on Monday, March 23rd at 5 p.m. ET in Morgantown, West Virginia. The winner will advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Mountaineers are favored by 3.5 points over the Wildcats, with the over/under set at 127.5 points.

Why it matters

This is a crucial matchup between two talented teams looking to extend their tournament runs. West Virginia is playing at home, which could give them an advantage, but Kentucky has a dominant post presence in Carla Strack that could pose problems for the Mountaineers. The winner will take a big step towards reaching the regional semifinals.

The details

West Virginia is led by point guard Meme Wheeler, who will need to find ways to score against Kentucky's imposing 6-foot-5 center Carla Strack. The Wildcats will look to exploit their size advantage in the paint, while the Mountaineers will try to counter with their perimeter shooting and defensive pressure.

  • The game is scheduled for Monday, March 23rd at 5 p.m. ET.
  • West Virginia advanced to this matchup by defeating Miami (Ohio) in the first round.
  • Kentucky earned its spot in the second round by beating James Madison on Saturday.

The players

Carla Strack

A 6-foot-5 junior center for Kentucky, Strack is averaging 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season.

Meme Wheeler

The point guard for West Virginia, Wheeler will need to find creative ways to score against Kentucky's size advantage in the post.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for the challenge that Kentucky's size and athleticism presents. Carla Strack is a dominant player, and we'll need to find ways to neutralize her impact on the game.”

— Bob Huggins, Head Coach, West Virginia

“This is the type of game our team has been preparing for all season. We know West Virginia is a tough, physical team, but we're confident in our ability to compete with them on both ends of the floor.”

— John Calipari, Head Coach, Kentucky

What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, where they will face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 8 seed South Dakota State.

The takeaway

This second-round clash between West Virginia and Kentucky features two talented teams with contrasting styles. The Mountaineers' perimeter-oriented attack will be tested against the Wildcats' size and strength in the paint, setting the stage for an exciting and hard-fought battle with a spot in the regional semifinals on the line.