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North Carolina, Michigan Advance to Women's NCAA Sweet 16
Tar Heels and Wolverines win second-round games to reach the regional semifinals
Mar. 23, 2026 at 1:10am
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In the women's NCAA tournament, fourth-seeded North Carolina defeated fifth-seeded Maryland 74-66 in the Fort Worth Region 1 second-round game, while second-seeded Michigan routed seventh-seeded NC State 92-63 in the Fort Worth Region 3 second-round game. The Tar Heels and Wolverines have advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the tournament.
Why it matters
The women's NCAA tournament is one of the premier events in college basketball, and advancing to the Sweet 16 is a significant achievement for these programs. North Carolina and Michigan will now compete in the regional semifinals, putting them one step closer to the Final Four and a chance at the national championship.
The details
In the North Carolina-Maryland game, Elina Aarnisalo led the Tar Heels with 21 points, while Lanie Grant added 20. Maryland's Oluchi Okananwa scored 21 points but struggled at the free-throw line. In the Michigan-NC State game, Olivia Olson scored 27 points and Syla Swords added 26 for the Wolverines, who pulled away in the second half. NC State played without injured All-ACC guard Zoe Brooks.
- The North Carolina-Maryland game was played on Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- The Michigan-NC State game was played on Sunday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The players
Elina Aarnisalo
A North Carolina player who scored 21 points in the Tar Heels' win over Maryland.
Lanie Grant
A North Carolina player who scored 20 points in the Tar Heels' win over Maryland.
Oluchi Okananwa
A Maryland player who scored 21 points but struggled at the free-throw line in the loss to North Carolina.
Olivia Olson
A Michigan player who scored 27 points in the Wolverines' win over NC State.
Syla Swords
A Michigan player who scored 26 points in the Wolverines' win over NC State.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
The takeaway
The victories by North Carolina and Michigan in the women's NCAA tournament second round demonstrate the strength and competitiveness of these programs, which will now advance to the Sweet 16 and continue their pursuit of a national championship.
