Wisconsin's Cinderella Run in WBIT Ends in Semifinals

No. 4 Columbia defeats No. 3 Wisconsin 67-50 to advance to the National Championship game.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:35am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's college basketball game, with the court, players, and ball broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color.Wisconsin's tournament run ends in the WBIT semifinals as Columbia's balanced attack proves too much for the Badgers' Cinderella story.Madison Today

The Wisconsin Badgers women's basketball team's Cinderella run in the WBIT tournament came to an end in the semifinals, as they fell to the No. 4 Columbia Lions 67-50. After an epic comeback against Harvard in the previous round, the Badgers were unable to pull off another upset, as Columbia led wire-to-wire and shot 31% from the field.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's unexpected tournament success captured the attention of fans, as the team had been on a 10-game losing streak before earning a WBIT bid. Their run to the semifinals demonstrated the program's potential under new head coach Robin Pingeton, but also highlighted the work still needed to compete at the highest level in women's college basketball.

The details

Columbia's Riley Weiss led all scorers with 21 points, while Wisconsin's Destiny Howell had 12 points on 4-14 shooting. The Badgers struggled mightily from the field, making just 31% of their shots and going 5-21 from three-point range.

  • The WBIT semifinals took place on March 31, 2026.
  • Columbia advanced to the National Championship game on April 2, 2026.

The players

Destiny Howell

A senior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers women's basketball team who led the team in scoring in the semifinal loss.

Laci Steele

A junior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers who scored 11 points in the semifinal game.

Riley Weiss

The leading scorer for the Columbia Lions with 21 points in the semifinal victory.

Robin Pingeton

The first-year head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“While this loss stings in the moment, it's important to remember no one ever expected Wisconsin to get to this point.”

— Badgers Wire, Author

What’s next

The Columbia Lions will face the winner of the BYU-Kansas semifinal in the WBIT National Championship game on April 2, 2026.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's unexpected tournament run demonstrated the potential of the program under new head coach Robin Pingeton, but also highlighted the work still needed to compete at the highest level in women's college basketball. The Badgers' Cinderella story came to an end, but the experience will be valuable as they look to build towards the future.