Utah upsets No. 22 West Virginia in women's basketball

Utes use long-range shooting and bench production to defeat Mountaineers

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:47am

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The Utah Utes women's basketball team defeated the No. 22 ranked West Virginia Mountaineers 71-64 in a wire-to-wire victory on Tuesday in Salt Lake City. Utah shot 10-of-18 (55.6%) from 3-point range and got 15 points off the bench from LA Sneed to pull off the upset.

Why it matters

This win is a significant upset for the Utah program, as they were able to take down a ranked opponent in West Virginia. The Utes' strong 3-point shooting and bench production proved to be the difference in the game.

The details

Utah never trailed in the game and led by as many as 18 points. In addition to Sneed's 15 points off the bench, the Utes also got double-digit scoring efforts from Lani White (14 points), Chyra Evans (12 points), and Reese Ross (12 points, 10 rebounds). West Virginia was led by Jordan Harrison's game-highs of 18 points, 8 assists, and 7 steals.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, January 28, 2026 in Salt Lake City.

The players

Utah Utes

The women's basketball team from the University of Utah, who pulled off the upset victory over the ranked West Virginia Mountaineers.

LA Sneed

A Utah player who came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points, including 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range.

West Virginia Mountaineers

The women's basketball team from West Virginia University, who were ranked #22 in the country but suffered the upset loss to Utah.

Jordan Harrison

A West Virginia player who led all scorers with 18 points, 8 assists, and 7 steals in the losing effort.

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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

This game showcased Utah's ability to pull off a significant upset over a ranked opponent through their strong 3-point shooting and bench production. The loss for West Virginia raises questions about their ability to bounce back and maintain their ranking in the competitive Big 12 conference.