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Lady Vols Basketball to Face NC State in NCAA Tournament
Tennessee to take on Wolfpack in first round matchup in Ann Arbor
Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:28am
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The University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team will open the 2026 NCAA Tournament against the NC State Wolfpack on Friday at 8 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Lady Vols, a No. 10 seed, lost to the No. 7 seed Wolfpack 80-77 in their regular season opener back in November.
Why it matters
The Lady Vols are looking to bounce back after a disappointing end to their regular season, having lost 10 of their last 12 games, including their final seven in a row. A win over NC State would set up a potential second-round matchup with No. 2 seed Michigan.
The details
Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell is hoping to lead the Lady Vols to their first Elite 8 appearance since the 2015-16 season. The team is led by a core group of veteran players looking to make a deep tournament run after reaching the Sweet 16 in Caldwell's first season as head coach in 2024-25.
- The Lady Vols-NC State first-round game will tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, March 21, 2026.
- Tennessee lost 80-77 to NC State in their regular season opener on November 4, 2025.
The players
Kim Caldwell
The head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team, now in her second season leading the program.
NC State Wolfpack
The No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack defeated the Lady Vols 80-77 in their regular season matchup earlier this season.
What they’re saying
“We must be ready to face a tough NC State team that already beat us once this year. But I believe in this group and know they are capable of making a deep tournament run.”
— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Tennessee Lady Vols
What’s next
If the Lady Vols defeat NC State, they would face the winner of the No. 2 seed Michigan vs. No. 15 seed Holy Cross matchup in the second round on Sunday, March 23.
The takeaway
The Lady Vols have a chance to redeem themselves after a disappointing end to the regular season and prove they can compete with the top teams in the country in the NCAA Tournament. A win over NC State would set up an intriguing potential second-round showdown with Michigan.
