ACC Women's Basketball Tournament 2026 Reaches Semifinal Stage
The 2026 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament is currently underway, with teams fiercely competing for the conference championship and a crucial advantage heading into the NCAA Tournament. The event is being held at the Gas South Arena, located approximately 30 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia. This year's competition features a strong field, with the top four seeds receiving double-byes directly to the quarterfinal round.
Top Seeds and Tournament Structure
The Duke Blue Devils, Louisville Cardinals, North Carolina Tar Heels, and NC State Wolfpack entered as the top seeds, benefiting from the double-bye format. As the tournament progresses toward the title game, early-round matchups have already delivered impressive performances and surprising outcomes, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion.
First and Second Round Results
The tournament commenced with the first round on March 4, followed by the second round on March 5. The results from these initial stages are as follows:
First Round (March 4):
- The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Stanford Cardinal with a final score of 83-76.
- The California Golden Bears secured a victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, winning 75-52.
- In an upset, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets beat the 14th-ranked Florida State Seminoles by a score of 72-60.
Second Round (March 5):
- The No. 9 Clemson Tigers triumphed over the No. 8 Virginia Cavaliers, finishing 63-50.
- The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish advanced by defeating Miami with a score of 69-54.
- The No. 7 Syracuse Orange emerged victorious against California, winning 70-59.
- The Virginia Tech Hokies overcame No. 6 Georgia Tech, securing a 62-54 win.
Quarterfinal Outcomes and Semifinal Matchups
The top seeds entered the competition in the quarterfinals and immediately made their presence felt, though not without some surprises.
Quarterfinal Round:
- No. 1 Duke dominated Clemson with a 60-46 victory, showcasing a powerful performance from its frontcourt.
- In a significant upset, No. 5 Notre Dame shocked No. 4 NC State, winning convincingly 81-63.
- No. 2 Louisville cruised past Syracuse with an 87-61 win, featuring five players scoring in double digits.
- No. 3 North Carolina upset Virginia Tech 85-68, thanks to a balanced offensive effort. Lanie Grant contributed a career-high 21 points to secure the win and advance to the semifinals.
The tournament has now reached the semifinal stage, featuring two highly anticipated matchups:
Semifinal Round:
- Duke will face Notre Dame at 12 p.m. ET, broadcast on ESPN2.
- Louisville will take on North Carolina at 2:30 p.m. ET, also airing on ESPN2.
Championship Game Schedule and Tournament Implications
The winners of the semifinals will advance to the conference championship game. The ACC Women's Basketball Tournament final is scheduled for March 8. With several nationally ranked teams still in contention, the event remains wide open. Duke holds the No. 1 seed after winning the regular season, but Louisville, North Carolina, and Notre Dame all appear capable of making a strong run for the title.
As the conference tournament approaches its climax, the stakes continue to rise. Winning the championship not only grants a team conference bragging rights but also enhances its seeding and prospects for success in the NCAA Tournament, fueling the pursuit of March Madness glory.
