The Orange saw their season come to and on Monday night at the hands of top-seeded Connecticut.
The Syracuse University women's basketball program saw its season come to an unceremonious end on Monday night in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.
The Orange were throttled by No. 1 UConn 98-45, ending their season at 24-9 overall. Despite the rough end, it was a great year for SU, who improved from a 12-18 mark in 2024-25. UConn is now a perfect 36-0 and remains the runaway favorite to win the national title.
Nearly nothing went well for Syracuse in the loss, but freshman Uche Izoje did continue her stellar season with a 12-point, six-rebound performance. She also had two steals and two blocks. Laila Phelia was the only other Orange player in double figures with 10.
On the wrong side of history
Syracuse was down 33-8 at the end of one quarter and 65-12 at the end of the half. Within that? A historic run by the Huskies.
Per Alex Phillippou of ESPN:
UConn's 31 unanswered points marks the first 30-0 run in an NCAA tournament game in at least the last seven women’s tourneys (how far back our tracking goes).
The only time it happened on the men’s side in that span? UConn with 30 unanswered vs. Illinois in the 2024 Elite 8
It was just that kind of night for Felisha Legette-Jack's team, but it's hard to be too mad: UConn has beaten 35 of its 36 opponents by double digits. Wins like this are just par for the course for the best program in the sport.
The Orange will be back in 2026-27 and hopefully they can avoid the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament: Syracuse has lost to UConn in its last four tournament runs, something that has Legette-Jack quite upset.
Syracuse Orange center Uche Izoje (44) looks to make a move on UConn Huskies forward Serah Williams (22) during the second half of the second round game of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Gregory Fisher-ImagnAlso on campus
--With new head coach Gerry McNamara now in the fold, the Syracuse men's basketball program is right to work on trying to improve itself after a disappointing 15-17 season. The Orange have missed five consecutive NCAA Tournaments while McNamara is coming off taking his Siena Saints to the NCAA Tournament in just his second year running the program.
Our own Tom Goslowski wonders if another former Syracuse player could now follow in McNamara's footsteps at Siena.
--Spring practice is underway for the SU football team, which went 3-9 in 2025. Standout defensive back Demetres Sameul Jr. is going to be limited for much of the spring, and also has designs on playing more wide receiver next season.
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