Syracuse earned a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a 23-8 season. They'll take on the No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday afternoon. Here's everything you need to know, including a preview of the contest and how to watch.
The Syracuse Orange women's basketball team is preparing for its return to the NCAA tournament this Saturday as it takes on Iowa State in the Round of 64. The game tips off at 5:30 p.m. ET and will be played in Storrs, Conn.
Syracuse finished this season at 23-8, beating California in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament before losing to Louisville in the quarterfinals. Syracuse was 12-6 in ACC play, finishing in a tie for fifth in the league standings. The Orange nearly doubled their win total from a year ago, as they finished 12-18 in 2024-25.
Orange history in NCAA tournament
Dating back to 1971-1972, Syracuse women's basketball has competed as an independent, a member of the Big East and now the ACC. This season marks the 14th time the Orange will play in the NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse had never won a game in the tournament until 2014, when it earned a No. 6 seed and won 59-53 against 11th-seeded Chattanooga.
Ten years ago is the only the time the Orange have won more than one game in a single NCAA tournament. That Orange squad won five consecutive games before losing in the national championship game to UConn
Darius out for Orange
Dominque Darius will not be available for the NCAA tournament after suffering a hand injury in the ACC tournament loss against Louisville. The daughter of former Syracuse defensive back and NFL standout Donovin Darius, Dominique is a senior transfer from USC. She spent three years at UCLA and one with the Trojans.
Darius averaged 12.6 ppg, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists season. She shot 39.8 percent from the floor in 25.7 minutes per game and without her, there are questions about how Syracuse will handle ball pressure and initiate offense.
Scouting the Cyclones
Iowa State will compete in its sixth consecutive NCAA tournament. Excluding the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season in which the tournament was canceled, the Cyclones have only missed the NCAA tournament twice since 2005.
ISU finished the season 22-9 and 10-8 in Big 12 conference play. They were beaten in the Big 12 Tournament by Arizona.
The Cyclones are led by second-team All-America selection Audi Crooks. The 6'3' junior center is one of the most dynamic players in the country and a three-time All-America selection. Her 25.5 points per game place her as the nation's second-leading scorer.
As noted by Iowa State Athletics, she has scored in double figures in 97 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the country. She is also the only player in the nation to post multiple 40-point games this season.
While guarding her will likely be a team effort, it will require a strong individual performance from SU freshman Uche Izoje. The ACC Rookie of the Year averages 15.5 ppg, 9.4 rebounds and nearly three blocks per night.
What they're saying
SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack:
"We are really excited about being here. Anytime that you get an opportunity to have a fourth season, it's always amazing. People think that it's summer, winter, spring or fall. In the Coach's world, it's pre-season, nonconference, conference and postseason.
Obviously last year we didn't have a fourth season and it kind of stuck with us for an entire year. Our team just went after it. We went recruiting and we got some fine players, got some focus, coaches. Now we're here in the fourth season and we could not be more happy.
But one thing is for certain, if I get a fourth season, I'm going to be at UConn. It's the only place I get to go. So I don't know how big the world really is or this country really is because this is where I always end up.
I think Geno wants me on his staff and he just don't know how to ask me. So we'll talk after this, Geno."
(Legette-Jack is referencing that she played against UConn in the NCAA Tournament while a head coach at Buffalo, and Syracuse was sent to Storrs also in 2023-24).
How to Watch Syracuse vs. Iowa State
Syracuse Orange vs Iowa State Information
Game Date: March 21, 2026
Game Time: 5:30 PM ET
TV Channel: ESPN 2
Radio: 97.7 The ESPN Syracuse
Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs Conn.
Live Stream: ESPN App
What if SU wins?: They'll play the winner of No. 1 UConn and No. 16 UT-San Antonio on Monday
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