Syracuse Seeks March Madness Shock Against Defending Champ UConn

Orange look to build on 2024 near-upset of Huskies in high-stakes NCAA Tournament rematch

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:52pm

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The Syracuse Orange women's basketball team faces a daunting challenge as they take on the reigning national champion UConn Huskies in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the odds, Syracuse draws confidence from a narrow 2024 loss to UConn, when they pushed the Huskies to the brink at the intimidating Gampel Pavilion. Now more seasoned, the Orange believe they have what it takes to pull off the upset, even with the absence of injured starting point guard Dominique Darius.

Why it matters

This matchup pits an emerging program in Syracuse against the dominant force in women's college basketball in UConn. A Syracuse victory would be a major March Madness shock, signaling the Orange's arrival as a true national contender. For UConn, anything less than a convincing win would raise questions about their vulnerability, even as the tournament's No. 1 overall seed.

The details

In their 2024 meeting, Syracuse showed resilience in a 72-64 loss, refusing to fade under UConn's pressure. Junior guard Sophie Burrows had a breakout performance, knocking down six 3-pointers. This time, the Orange will be without starting point guard Dominique Darius, who suffered a finger injury. However, Darius has embraced a coaching role on the sidelines, providing guidance and encouragement to her teammates, especially guards Maddy Potts and Olivia Schmitt who are tasked with running the offense against UConn's stifling defense.

  • The teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Tournament second round, with UConn winning 72-64.
  • This year's rematch is set for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The players

Felisha Legette-Jack

The head coach of the Syracuse Orange women's basketball team, who has steadily built the program into a challenger for the established order in women's college basketball.

Paige Bueckers

The star player for the UConn Huskies, who led her team to victory over Syracuse in their 2024 matchup.

Sophie Burrows

A junior guard for the Syracuse Orange, who had a breakout performance against UConn in 2024 with six 3-pointers.

Ashlynn Shade

A UConn Huskies guard who was a key contributor in their 2024 win over Syracuse.

KK Arnold

A UConn Huskies guard who hit a crucial late 3-pointer to help the Huskies hold off Syracuse in 2024.

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What’s next

The winner of this matchup will advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

This game showcases the continued rise of the Syracuse Orange program, which has proven it can compete with the powerhouse UConn Huskies. A Syracuse victory would be a major March Madness upset, signaling the program's arrival as a national contender, while a UConn win would reinforce their dominance but also highlight the thin margin for error even the best teams face in the tournament.