Lady Vols Coach 'Surprised' by NCAA Tournament Matchup

Tennessee to face NC State in first round, rematch of earlier game

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:35pm

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Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell said she was "surprised" to see her team matched up against NC State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee was widely projected to face other opponents, but will now take on the Wolfpack in a rematch of an earlier game on March 20 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Why it matters

The Lady Vols and NC State have already played each other this season, so this will be a rematch in the opening round of the tournament. Caldwell noted that both teams have changed since their previous matchup, making it more of a new challenge than a true rematch.

The details

When the Lady Vols' NCAA Tournament selection was revealed, the players erupted in celebration, which Caldwell said was the reaction she always wants to see as a coach. However, Caldwell admitted she was surprised by the specific matchup against NC State, as Tennessee was projected to face other opponents like Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, and Iowa State.

  • The Lady Vols (16-13) will face NC State (20-10) on March 20 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  • A win would match the Lady Vols with No. 2 seed and host Michigan (25-6) or No. 15 seed Holy Cross (23-9) in the second round on March 22.

The players

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team.

Tennessee Lady Vols

The women's basketball team of the University of Tennessee, who earned a No. 10 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

NC State Wolfpack

The women's basketball team of North Carolina State University, who will face the Lady Vols in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I think that their reaction was the reaction that you always want to see as a coach. You want to have some life. You want to be fired up, and you want March to matter, and for you to be excited. And when you have five days of practice, you're just excited to get an opponent.”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Lady Vols Basketball (Yahoo Sports)

“I was surprised with our matchup. We didn't have that one picked.”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Lady Vols Basketball (Yahoo Sports)

“I don't love having to play a team that we've already played, but it's not a game where it was — I think we're both very different teams. We've both been through a lot since that game, so it's going to be kind of not a rematch, if that makes sense. We're both different.”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Lady Vols Basketball (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The winner of the Tennessee-NC State matchup will face the winner of the Michigan-Holy Cross game in the second round on March 22.

The takeaway

This NCAA Tournament first-round matchup between the Lady Vols and Wolfpack is a rematch of an earlier game, but both teams have changed significantly since then, making it a fresh challenge for the two squads as they vie for a spot in the second round.