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The UConn women’s basketball Huskies continued their perfect season with a resounding victory, 98-45, over the Syracuse Orange in the second round of the NCAA tournament Monday night at Gampel Pavilion.
This was the third straight NCAA Tournament where the Orange’s season ended at the hands of the Huskies, and Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack let out her frustration with that fact during her postgame press conference.
The Orange made the tournament in 2021, before Legette-Jack took over Quentin Hillsman’s program, where they lost in similar fashion to the Huskies, 83-47. When Legette-Jack took over and ultimately led the Orange to the tournament in 2024, the loss was much closer, 72-64, but again at the hands of UConn.
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Felisha Legette-Jack of the Syracuse Orange reacts during a second round game against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament held at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on March 23, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photos by Sean Elliot/NCAA)
Now, in 2026, after going 24-8 on the season, Legette-Jack feels his team deserved a chance elsewhere. But the selection committee that puts together the bracket for the NCAA Tournament had a potential matchup with the Huskies scheduled on their home court if they both made it out of the first round.
After that, the game was set and the result was ugly as UConn went on a record 31-0 run in the first half, which ultimately put the game out of reach before the start of the third quarter. It was 65-12 at halftime, and legendary Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma took his foot off the gas with his starters in the second half.
So, Legette-Jack expressed his frustrations in a strong opening statement.
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“For us and for what we’ve done, our job, we have to come and play the best team in the country. Geno has this thing going, and I love what he’s done. But I thought we deserved more respect after being in this business for 37 years. To have to come and be in this particular category every year is unacceptable. It’s wrong,” she said.
Legette-Jack even wondered if anyone on the selection committee held a grudge against him, given that one of his previous head coaching stops in Buffalo saw a loss to UConn in the Sweet 16 of the 2019 tournament.
“If you’re on the committee and you’ve been there for more than a year or two – five to ten, fifteen years – you understand what it’s like,” she continued. “I’ve been on these committees to see how it’s done, how you can put people on different lines. Put us on line 10. But for us to continue to come to Connecticut, year after year, is, to me, a personal attack. Because I just think we’re a lot better than what we did today. But I think what you’re going to notice with everyone that comes through Geno and UConn is going to receive the wrath of what they can bring.
Felisha Legette-Jack of the Syracuse Orange looks on during the second round of the UConn Huskies vs. Syracuse Orange NCAA Women’s Championship on March 23, 2026 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT. (Mr. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire)
“I just know that this team here had a strong chance of surpassing this particular level.”
Legette-Jack said she hopes she “doesn’t disrespect anyone” or “shame Syracuse like crying.” [over] spilled milk. »
“But after a while, I’ve never said anything like that before. … I just want my people that are in my locker room to have a fighting chance. I’m grateful to be in the NCAA tournament where we’re from, but I think we’ve earned the right to go anywhere outside of a four-hour radius. That’s all I have,” she concluded.
The NCAA Tournament brackets are established by selecting 68 teams, ranking them from number one to 16 by region, and then placing them with reasonable competitive balance in mind for all four regions.
As the selection committee moves through the stages, geography plays a vital role in where teams stand in the category if they are selected. The committee is looking to place teams close to their first-round matchups. And unlike the men’s tournament, the top 16 seeds host the first and second round matches, which means either their home arena or a nearby venue.
Legette-Jack suggests his Orange team could have been placed elsewhere, but they made the familiar trek to Storrs, Connecticut to face that NCAA Tournament favorite, and the result was not what they had hoped for.
Felisha Legette-Jack of the Syracuse Orange reacts as the UConn Huskies’ lead increases during the third quarter during a second round game of the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament held at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on March 23, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photos by Sean Elliot/NCAA)
Azzi Fudd, playing his final home game, tied a career high with 34 points, totaling eight three-pointers in the victory that sent the Huskies to the Sweet 16 for the 32nd straight time.
The Huskies are scheduled to face the UNC Tar Heels in the Sweet 16, marking only the second time they have faced each other in history in this tournament.
The regional finals for this year’s women’s tournament will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
