Texas Women’s Basketball Storms Into NCAA Final Four – Top Plays & Reactions

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team returns to the national spotlight tonight, putting its 33-3 record and No. 1 seed on the line against the surging Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Tipoff from Dickies Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s Elite Eight. Texas riding championship momentum Head coach Vic Schaefer’s squad has looked every bit a title contender this March Madness. The Longhorns swept the SEC regular-season and tournament crowns in their first year in the league, then cruised through the opening rounds by double digits, dispatching Missouri State 92-55 and Oregon 78-61. Senior guard Rori Harmon, back at full strength after the late-season ankle scare, is averaging 16.5 points, 7.0 assists and 3.5 steals in the tournament, while 6-5 center Aaliyah Moore anchors a defense holding opponents below 33 percent shooting. Season series favors Texas Tonight’s matchup is a rematch of the Feb. 9 contest in Austin, where Texas clamped down late to beat Kentucky 64-53 behind Harmon’s 19 points and Moore’s interior dominance. Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy believes her fifth-seeded Wildcats (25-10) have grown since then, winning eight of their last nine and upsetting No. 4 seed Arizona and No. 12 seed Villanova to reach the program’s first Sweet 16 since 2022. Matchup to watch: Tempo vs. toughness Texas ranks top-10 nationally in offensive efficiency and rebounds per game. Kentucky, led by All-SEC guard Maddie Scherr (18.2 ppg), thrives in transition and forces 18 turnovers a night. The Wildcats must control pace and hit perimeter shots to counter UT’s size advantage. Conversely, the Longhorns will test Kentucky’s depth inside; Moore, freshman phenom Madison Booker and forward Taylor Jones combine for 26 rebounds per game. Home-state edge Although neutral-site in name, Dickies Arena is a two-hour drive from the Forty Acres. Longhorn Nation sold out its allotment within hours, and university officials expect a burnt-orange-heavy crowd reminiscent of a home game. Schaefer welcomed the Fort Worth assignment: “We earned the No. 1 line, and our fans earned the chance to help us get to the Elite Eight.” What’s at stake A victory would send Texas to its third Elite Eight in five seasons and keep alive the program’s quest for its first national championship since 1986. For Kentucky, an upset would mark the school’s highest tournament finish ever and bolster the SEC’s bid to place multiple teams in the Final Four. How to watch and stream • TV: ESPN • Streaming: ESPN app / ESPN+ • Radio: Longhorn IMG Sports Network (Austin 104.9 FM) Key numbers • 9-0: Texas’ record this season when forcing 20+ turnovers. • 14-1: Kentucky’s mark when shooting at least 38 percent from three. • 52.3: Combined rebounds per game by Texas, fourth-best nationally. Up next The winner meets either No. 2 seed Michigan or No. 3 seed Louisville on Sunday, with a Final Four berth in Cleveland on the line. Search-friendly recap Texas Longhorns women’s basketball vs. Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, March 28 2026; game time, TV channel, live stream, matchup preview, key players, predictions and bracket implications.