ASU Women's Basketball Earns NCAA Tournament Berth in Molly Miller's First Season

Sun Devils make tournament for first time since 2019, will face Virginia in opening round

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:33am

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In her first season as head coach, Molly Miller has led the Arizona State women's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils earned the final spot in the field of 64 after an exciting run in the Big 12 Tournament, including wins over Arizona and Iowa State. ASU will face Virginia in the opening round on Thursday, with the winner advancing to face Georgia on Saturday.

Why it matters

This marks the first time since 2019 that Arizona State has made the NCAA Tournament, a significant accomplishment for a program that had struggled in recent years. Miller's ability to quickly turn the team around in her debut season has energized the fanbase and set the stage for an exciting postseason run.

The details

Despite finishing with the fifth-most wins in the Big 12 standings, ASU dropped to 10th due to a .500 conference record. However, their strong performance in the Big 12 Tournament, including wins over Arizona and Iowa State, helped secure their spot in the NCAA field. The Sun Devils will face a tough test in Virginia, whose high-powered offense ranks 39th nationally.

  • ASU was announced as the final team in the NCAA Tournament field on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • The Sun Devils will face Virginia on Thursday, March 20, 2026 at 6 p.m. MST in Iowa City.

The players

Molly Miller

The first-year head coach of the Arizona State women's basketball team, who has quickly turned the program around and led them to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Graham Rossini

The Arizona State Athletic Director, who praised Miller's coaching and the team's performance in the Big 12 Tournament as key factors in securing their NCAA Tournament berth.

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What they’re saying

“A long wait, but a wait that was worth it. I'm happiest for our kids. They took a chance on a vision, and they decided to hop on board, and I couldn't be more grateful they chose Arizona State.”

— Molly Miller, Head Coach (on3.com)

“If there was a doubt that week, put the doubts to rest. I give Coach Miller a lot of credit. I think his press conference after West Virginia lost had a big effect on the bidding outcomes. You saw a lot of the national narrative turn last week, from going from more of a bubble team to, Where are they gonna go in the tournament?”

— Graham Rossini, Athletic Director (on3.com)

What’s next

The winner of the ASU-Virginia matchup on Thursday will face No. 7 Georgia on Saturday in the Sacramento Regional.

The takeaway

Molly Miller's first season as head coach of the Arizona State women's basketball team has been a resounding success, as she has led the Sun Devils to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019. This accomplishment has energized the fanbase and set the stage for an exciting postseason run, showcasing Miller's ability to quickly turn around a struggling program.