Half of the college women's basketball Sweet Sixteen field is set, after top NCAA tournament seeds tallied blowouts, survived scares, and saw more than a few star performances through the first few days of 2026 March Madness action.
With one more day of second-round play left, all of the bracket's No. 1 through No. 4 seeds remain safe, with No. 1 Texas, No. 2 LSU, No. 2 Michigan, and No. 3 Duke among the standouts advancing to next weekend's third round.
"You want to start playing your best basketball at this time," LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson said. "You want to start clicking — you want everything to look seamless."
It hasn't all been smooth sailing, however, as No. 3 TCU and No. 4 Minnesota both saw close calls before punching their Sweet Sixteen tickets on Sunday.
The Horned Frogs eked out a 62-59 win over No. 6 Washington in overtime, while the Gophers needed a buzzer beater from guard Amaya Battle to defeat No. 5 Ole Miss 65-63.
"She hits those shots every day in practice over our scout guys," said Battle's teammate Mara Braun. "Everyone, I think, knew that it was in."
How to watch March Madness teams vie for the last Sweet Sixteen spots
The second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament continues with No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 3 Louisville at 12 PM ET on Monday, airing live on ESPN.
LSU basketball defeated Tennessee 89-73 on Thursday night, as the No. 6 Tigers celebrated Senior Night with their third consecutive NCAA victory.
The win saw LSU improve to 25-4 overall and 11-4 SEC record, while unranked Tennessee dropped to 16-11 on the season and 8-7 in conference play. The Tigers also extended their winning streak against the Lady Vols to four games, dating back to February 2020.
Junior guard Mikaylah Williams led LSU with 20 points and 10 rebounds, recording her third-career — and second consecutive — double-double alongside five assists and two steals.
“I thought Mikaylah played strong,” Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey said postgame. "She played extremely strong, both on the perimeter and she was taking it in there hard. We all know Mikaylah is one of the best jump shooting mid-range players in the country, but she mixed up what she was doing offensively."
LSU outscored Tennessee 18-6 in the second quarter to take control. The Tigers went on to hold a 43-42 halftime lead before extending the advantage to 70-59 after three quarters and closing out the fourth quarter with a 19-14 edge.
South Carolina transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 18 points in the win, while also tallying six rebounds, three assists, and four blocks to tie her career high. Senior Flau'jae Johnson added 10 points to seal the deal, while freshman ZaKiyah Johnson contributed 14 and Grace Knox added 13 off the bench.
Where to Watch LSU Basketball This Week
LSU closes out the NCAA regular season against Mississippi State this Sunday at 4 PM ET, live on SEC Network.
No. 6 LSU women’s basketball continued their dominant conference run on Monday night, defeating Florida 89-60 behind. The win marks the Tigers' fifth consecutive SEC victory, improving their overall record to 19-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
Sophomore guard Jada Richard led the LSU women’s basketball offense with 20 points, including 12 in the decisive third quarter. She was also efficient from the field, shooting 6-of-10 alongside a perfect 6-of-6 from the freethrow line.
"She figures it out," Coach Kim Mulkey said postgame. "Jada’s IQ with the basketball is something you have to be around her every day to see. Great ones go back and they watch their mistakes. I love that about competitors."
Senior forward Amiya Joyner notched her second straight double-double, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley added 15 points, while Mikaylah Williams dropped 12 and star senior Flau'jae Johnson contributed eight points and six rebounds of her own.
The game remained competitive in the first half, with Florida briefly taking a 27-26 lead before LSU went on a 10-2 run to enter the break with a 36-29 lead. The Tigers broke the game open in the third quarter, registering 11 points while forcing six turnovers.
Interior play also played a significant role with LSU out-rebounding Florida 48-28. The Tigers also forced 15 total turnovers, which they converted into 21 points.
"I would say what this team has done at LSU in the five years I’ve been here is they honestly do things together off the court," Mulkey said.
"They really, really have a chemistry that is very unselfish. They want to all play now, but it’s not destructive in any way... I’ve got a lot of depth, a lot of weapons, I do.”
How to watch LSU women's basketball this week
LSU continues their three-game homestand on Thursday, tipping off against unranked Arkansas at 8 PM ET, live on SEC Network+.
LSU women's basketball star Flau'jae Johnson is gearing up again, with Sole Retriever revealing on Tuesday that the senior guard plans to drop a new Puma player exclusive sneaker next month.
The 22-year-old will take over the Puma All-Pro Nitro 2, pairing a tan and brown camouflage pattern with bright pink and green accents.
Adorned with a custom logo representing Johnson's No. 4 jersey — a four-finger hand image in green — the Tigers standout will see her exclusive logo on both the tongue and bottom sole of the All-Pro Nitro 2.
A major player in Puma's NIL program since 2022, Johnson debuted her first player exclusive colorway in 2024, but this new design will be the NIL star's first PE available on the consumer market.
"They were very intrigued not only [about] basketball, but my music side, too," Johnson told Andscape after signing with the sportswear giant. "That was really important to me, because some people try to box you in. Puma was like, 'Ain't no box. Ain't no cage.'"
How to purchase the Puma All-Pro Nitro 2 Flau'jae Johnson PE sneaker
Retailing at $140, Johnson's Puma All-Pro Nitro 2 PE sneakers will hit both online and brick-and-mortar shelves on February 6th.
The No. 5 LSU Tigers are gearing up for their first big test of the 2025/26 NCAA basketball season, opening conference play against fellow SEC powerhouse No. 11 Kentucky on Thursday.
"There's nothing else that I can learn about this team in a non-conference schedule," LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said following her squad's 109-41 win over Alabama State on Sunday. "What I'm gonna learn is gonna be through these games in the SEC."
Known in recent years for playing a weak non-conference schedule, the Tigers have nonetheless impressed so far, closing out their 14-game slate averaging a 55.4-point margin of victory while scoring more than 100 points in 11 matchups.
Senior guard Flau'jae Johnson and star South Carolina transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley currently share LSU's scoring crown with 15.1 points per game, while senior Amiya Joyner tops the rebounds tally at 7.3 boards per game.
That said, LSU will need all their firepower when they host a Kentucky team hitting their stride under former Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks.
Hokies transfer Clara Strack stars for the Wildcats, leading Kentucky in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks as the team enters SEC play with just one loss — to No. 7 Maryland — on their 2025/26 NCAA record.
How to watch Kentucky vs. LSU on Thursday
The No. 5 Tigers will tip off against the No. 11 Wildcats at 8 PM ET, with live coverage streaming on SEC Network+.
The SEC displayed its basketball dominance on Thursday's courts, as the conference won all four of the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge Day 2 matchups to feature at least one Top 25 team.
No. 2 Texas handled No. 11 North Carolina 79-64 while No. 3 South Carolina and No. 13 Ole Miss survived nail-biters against No. 22 Louisville and No. 18 Notre Dame, respectively.
"I thought [our players] got out and made big plays for themselves in the fourth and building the five-point lead," said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. "It was a turning point for us, whether we were going to succumb to losing the game or fight to get back in it."
No one had a better night than No. 5 LSU, however, as the Tigers faced their season's first Power Four opponent to a 93-77 result over unranked Duke, erasing a 14-point deficit behind six double-digit LSU scorers — led by 18 points from star guard Flau'jae Johnson.
"We scored 93 tonight, and look how poor we played in the first quarter. We were behind. Scoring the ball is not going to be a problem," said Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey. "Our problem is we have to just continue to get better on the defensive end and take care of the ball."
Across the 16 total 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge games, the SEC took 13 victories, with only unranked Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and SMU earning ACC wins — over Auburn, Florida, and Arkansas, respectively — this week.
How to watch Top 25 NCAA basketball this weekend
This weekend's NCAA docket sees the nonconference schedule cool down, with No. 16 USC hosting No. 21 Washington in the only ranked battle.
The Trojans and Huskies will tip off in LA at 8 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage airing on the Big Ten Network.
After setting a new NCAA basketball record by scoring 100+ points in eight consecutive games, the No. 5 LSU Tigers will face their season's first true test when they visit the preseason-No. 7 Duke Blue Devils as part of the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge on Thursday night.
"We don't play nobody in our nonconference schedule," senior guard Flau'jae Johnson told JWS in November. "From December on out, that's when it gets really [exciting]."
With their history-making string of lopsided wins under their belt, the Tigers will try to keep the streak alive against a now-unranked Duke side on a three-game losing skid.
The Blue Devils will rely on leading scorer and rebounder Toby Fournier for a spark, with the sophomore forward averaging 15.8 points per game despite Duke's 3-5 start.
As for LSU, the title-hunting Tigers will look to start undefeated behind Johnson's team-leading 17.0 scoring average, as well as the 16.1 points per game put up by junior star transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley.
"Ballers just want to ball, like hoopers just want to hoop," Johnson said of LSU's quick cohesion this season. "You find different ways to bond and gel with teammates."
How to watch LSU vs. Duke on Thursday
Duke will host No. 5 LSU in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge at 9 PM ET, with live coverage airing on ESPN.
Star LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson knows exactly what she'd get head coach Kim Mulkey for Christmas.
"Blue crabs," she told Just Women's Sports in November, days before DICK'S Sporting Goods declared her Greatest Wrapper in the Game, a holiday campaign touting the college senior's own limited-edition run of wrapping paper and official holiday campaign video. "Me and her, we like to eat blue crab."
Ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll, LSU is never far from the Final Four conversation. But Johnson — who's increasingly brought a personal touch to her leadership role on the Tigers — has ambitions that extend far beyond finishing out her collegiate career on top.
Already an NCAA champion with eyes on next year's WNBA draft, the 22-year-old dynamic guard has cemented her legacy as a multi-talent. She's a decorated musician and rapper, an interdisciplinary studies major with a minor in sports administration, and a menace on the court with a motor that never quits.
"I gotta be me first," she said — and that's the secret to her success.
As LSU's leading scorer, Flau'jae Johnson is off to the races
Johnson knows that the Tigers' nonconference schedule rarely features marquee matchups.
"We don't play nobody in our nonconference schedule," she said. "From December on out, that's when it gets really [exciting]."
Mulkey often schedules a slow start for the team, gradually building towards peak form once LSU enters SEC play in January.
That hasn't stopped the Tigers from showing the country what they're capable of this season. They've scored more than 100 points through all eight matchups so far, setting a new NCAA record for consecutive 100+ point games.
Johnson's progress has featured heavily in every blowout win. She leads the team in points, assists, and three-point percentage per game. But she sees her greatest growth in the intangibles.
Flau'jae Johnson steps up as LSU coach Kim Mulkey's right hand
A self-described loner, Johnson strived to connect with new teammates throughout her four years in Baton Rouge. It's an especially important task as part of an LSU team that thrives through the transfer portal.
The Tigers won the NCAA championship in 2023 — Johnson's freshman year — led by transfer forward Angel Reese, who was then joined the following year by high-profile transfers Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow. This season, former South Carolina Gamecock MiLaysia Fulwiley has entered the mix, with Johnson quickly creating chemistry.
"Ballers just want to ball, like hoopers just want to hoop," she said. "You find different ways to bond and gel with teammates."
When the accomplished hip hop artist's not in the groove working on music, she's trying to extend a hand to the team's freshest faces. "It's been a new job for me as a leader on the team," she said. "It's been easy though, because we just want to hoop."
Year-in, year-out, the Tigers' success relies on picking up instructions and learning schemes quickly, with Johnson — a player very comfortable with Mulkey's system — stepping up to take on the role of team liaison.
"You've just got to read everybody, their emotions, how they're feeling, and you've just got to be there for everybody," she explained. "But that's not hard for me, because I'm an older sister."
Holiday trips and Secret Santas: Flau'jae Johnson's familial drive
Family is everything to Johnson. Being a college basketball star can make the holiday season tough, as the season runs straight through time she'd love to spend back home in Georgia. And with conference play on the horizon, she knows she has to stay focused on the court now more than ever.
"I kind of put that out of my mind, that I won't be with my family until I go pro, because it used to be hard on me seeing my little brothers go trick-or-treating and stuff without me," she reflected, noting how excited she was to use her own DICK'S wrapping paper to shower her family with gifts this year.
Her favorite college holiday memory also involves her family, when her entire family traveled to the team's Thanksgiving tournament in the Bahamas.
"My momma snuck food on the plane — literally the whole Thanksgiving, she cooked it and froze it and put it under the plane," she said, beaming. "And we had a smash Thanksgiving meal in freaking the Bahamas."
This year, Johnson's already looking forward to her team's annual Secret Santa exchange, while also planning to spend her limited time off this winter on a surprise family cabin trip to Colorado The world of NIL has opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for Johnson to spread her growing wealth, and she's taken to those opportunities with easy charm.
Setting sights on No. 1, from Baton Rouge to the WNBA
Far from settling for a decorated college run and lucrative personal brand, Johnson is also locked in on making a smooth transition to the WNBA. The calendar year for rising pros is a physical gauntlet, with the draft taking place just weeks after what LSU hopes will be a deep NCAA tournament campaign.
"I'm so ready to go pro," she said. "I really want to establish myself, to show I could be the number one pick in the draft. I feel like my talent level is there, but I've got to execute."
"The W is fascinating," she added. "It's forever growing, and it's powerful women doing these things. So I'm just excited to be in that group."
Johnson has recently been focusing on her fitness, anticipating increased physicality at the pro level — while also aiming for balance. "They're not going to be swinging me around like I'm a little rag doll," she laughed. "[But] I feel like my mind is the most important part. I want to grow, I want to get better."
Of course, other than committing to winning at all levels, Johnson doesn't know exactly what her future holds. For now, she'll continue to make music, sharpen her game, and stay true to herself. As a player with so many gifts to give, the rest will come naturally.
UConn basketball continues to pile on the preseason accolades, with ESPN's annual Top 25 women's NCAA player rankings listing star Sarah Strong at No. 1 ahead of her sophomore season with the Huskies.
Even more, UConn emerged as the only program with two Top 10 players, as ESPN put Strong's teammate Azzi Fudd at No. 8 entering her final NCAA season.
New UConn transfer Serah Williams also made the cut at No. 18, as the preseason AP No. 1 Huskies attempt to repeat their 2024/25 title despite losing superstar Paige Bueckers to the WNBA.
Last season's Final Four participants No. 2 Lauren Betts (UCLA), No. 4 Madison Booker (Texas), No. 11 Joyce Edwards (South Carolina), and No. 17 Kiki Rice (UCLA) round things out, accompanied by more individual standouts like No. 3 Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and No. 5 Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU).
The lineup also featured big-name offseason transfers, including highly touted newcomers No. 6 Olivia Miles (TCU), No. 7 Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina), No. 14 Gianna Kneepkins (UCLA), and No. 19 MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU).
Freshmen were not eligible for ESPN's preseason rankings, though NCAA debutants can make the updated list as it shifts throughout the year.
How to watch the ESPN Top 25 players in action
The NCAA basketball elite will tip off the 2025/26 season on Monday, with a full slate of games beginning at 11 AM ET.
The ESPN 2025/26 NCAA basketball preseason Top 25 players
1. Sarah Strong (UConn)
2. Lauren Betts (UCLA)
3. Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame)
4. Madison Booker (Texas)
5. Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU)
6. Olivia Miles (TCU)
7. Ta'Niyah Latson (South Carolina)
8. Azzi Fudd (UConn)
9. Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt)
10. Audi Crooks (Iowa State)
11. Joyce Edwards (South Carolina)
12. Mikaylah Williams (LSU)
13. Raegan Beers (Oklahoma)
14. Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA)
15. Kymora Johnson (Virginia)
16. Zoe Brooks (NC State)
17. Kiki Rice (UCLA)
18. Serah Williams (UConn)
19. MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU)
20. Yarden Garzon (Maryland)
21. Talaysia Cooper (Tennessee)
22. Khamil Pierre (NC State)
23. Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)
24. Toby Fournier (Duke)
25. Maggie Doogan (Richmond)
Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is doubling down on NIL, spotlighting the offseason league's deep roster of NCAA talent in its "Future Is Unrivaled" (FIU) collection drop on Tuesday.
The new merch line features FIU-branded sports apparel and accessories alongside one-offs like pleated skirts, button-ups, and jackets, all backed by a social media campaign starring college stars Lauren Betts (UCLA), Sienna Betts (UCLA), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Azzi Fudd (UConn), MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina), Olivia Miles (TCU), Kiki Rice (UCLA), Sarah Strong (UConn), Syla Swords (Michigan), and JuJu Watkins (USC).
After first signing NCAA stars Paige Bueckers and Flau'Jae Johnson in late 2024, Unrivaled added more than a dozen of college basketball's biggest names to its "Future is Unrivaled" Class of 2025 earlier this summer.
While they cannot play in the upstart league prior to turning pro, the NIL signees did participate in July's Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day event in Miami that focused on skill development, content creation, brand building, social media strategy, and community service.
Unrivaled basketball's investment in the next generation of superstars underlines the 3×3 venture's growing influence in the sport, as it becomes a wedge issue in the WNBA's ongoing CBA negotiations while prepping to tip off a second season in January.
How to purchase from the "Future Is Unrivaled" collection
The full merch collection is available now online at Unrivaled.