Gophers' NCAA Tournament Run Ends Against Top Seed UCLA

Minnesota's late-game heroics fall short against the Bruins in the Sweet 16

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:49am

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The University of Minnesota women's basketball team saw its surprising NCAA Tournament run come to an end against top-seeded UCLA. After rallying to win their first two tournament games, the Gophers were unable to keep pace with the Bruins, who pulled away in the third quarter for the victory.

Why it matters

Minnesota's tournament appearance was unexpected, as the team was not projected to make the field. Their run to the Sweet 16 captured the attention of local fans and demonstrated the program's potential under head coach Lindsay Whalen. However, the loss to powerhouse UCLA highlights the gap the Gophers still need to close to compete with the nation's elite teams.

The details

The Gophers used late-game comebacks to win their first two tournament games, rallying from behind to defeat Green Bay and Ole Miss. But they were unable to muster a similar surge against the top-seeded Bruins, who broke open a close game with a dominant third-quarter performance.

  • The Gophers defeated Green Bay in the first round on March 18, 2026.
  • Minnesota edged Ole Miss in the second round on March 20, 2026.
  • The Gophers' season ended with the loss to UCLA in the Sweet 16 on March 25, 2026.

The players

Lindsay Whalen

Head coach of the University of Minnesota women's basketball team.

Maya Battle

Minnesota guard who hit the game-winning shot against Ole Miss in the second round.

UCLA

The top-seeded team that defeated Minnesota in the Sweet 16.

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What they’re saying

“We gave it everything we had, but UCLA is just a really talented team. I'm proud of how far we were able to go this season.”

— Lindsay Whalen, Head Coach, University of Minnesota

The takeaway

Minnesota's tournament run, while ultimately falling short, demonstrated the program's potential under coach Lindsay Whalen and provided a glimpse of what the Gophers can accomplish in the future. The loss to UCLA highlights the work still needed to bridge the gap to the nation's elite teams, but the experience gained this March will be invaluable going forward.