In a stunning NCAA Tournament upset that will be talked about for years to come, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team toppled the second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes 83-75 in double overtime on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. This dramatic victory not only advanced Virginia to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2000 but also marked them as the first women’s team to move from the First Four to the Sweet 16 in tournament history.
What a game! The Cavaliers, seeded tenth, entered the contest as heavy underdogs—odds-makers had Iowa favored by a hefty 13.5 points. The Hawkeyes, with a formidable 27-7 record and a raucous home crowd of over 15,000, were expected to cruise through. Yet, Virginia had other plans, fueled by a mix of grit, belief, and a refusal to be written off. As Kymora Johnson, Virginia’s star guard, put it, “I think we had confidence going into the Georgia game, going into the Arizona State game. Just coming into March, we’re a confident team, and I think we believe in all the work that we’ve put in. Not a lot of people have. They’ve written us off. We came into March trying to show what Virginia is about.”
The game itself was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, big plays, and clutch performances. Virginia led 28-23 at halftime, with Johnson and Caitlin Weimar combining for crucial points. But Iowa, led by Ava Heiden and Chit-Chat Wright, came out of the break firing, storming ahead with an 18-4 run to open the third quarter and outscoring the Cavaliers 25-11 in the period. Suddenly, Virginia found themselves down by nine with just over eight minutes left in regulation. The Hawkeyes seemed poised to pull away, but the Cavaliers’ resilience shone through.
Paris Clark, who finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, sparked the Virginia comeback with a personal 8-0 run, including two key three-pointers. As the fourth quarter wound down, Iowa went cold, enduring a nearly four-minute scoring drought. Johnson’s three-pointer with 2:11 left tied the game—those would be the final points of regulation as both teams missed multiple opportunities down the stretch. A missed shot by Wright at the buzzer sent the contest into overtime, and the arena buzzed with anticipation.
Overtime brought more drama. Both squads traded blows, each holding brief leads. Iowa nudged ahead by two in the final seconds, but with just 13 seconds left, Johnson delivered again, hitting a running jumper in the paint to knot the score at 65. According to Reuters, “Johnson scored 28 points and forced both the first and second overtime period for No. 10 seed Virginia as it buried No. 2 Iowa 83-75 in the biggest upset of the women's NCAA Tournament thus far.”
Double overtime proved decisive. Virginia surged ahead, scoring 11 of the first 13 points and never looked back. Clark’s layup and free throw with 3:38 remaining put the Cavaliers up for good. Johnson, who played every single minute of the marathon contest, continued to orchestrate the offense and hit clutch free throws. Virginia’s composure at the line was telling—they converted 18 of 23 free throws, while Iowa managed just 8 of 16. By the final buzzer, the Cavaliers had outscored Iowa 18-10 in the second overtime, sealing the 83-75 triumph and sending the home fans into stunned silence.
Statistically, the game was a showcase for individual brilliance and team resilience. Johnson’s 28 points and four assists led the way, while Clark’s 20 points were especially vital—remarkably, 15 of those came after the start of the fourth quarter. Romi Levy added 13 points and Caitlin Weimar chipped in 12, providing balance to the Cavaliers’ attack. On Iowa’s side, Ava Heiden was a force inside with 26 points, Chit-Chat Wright scored 21, and Hannah Stuelke contributed a monster double-double with 15 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists. But in the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome Virginia’s relentless energy and timely shot-making.
Virginia’s head coach, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, who is in her first year at the helm, was visibly emotional after the win. “It means everything,” she said. “That’s why I came to Virginia. I chose Virginia. I had a lot of options. We had a great run at my last school, and I wanted to go to Virginia for many reasons.” Her decision has already paid off in historic fashion, as the Cavaliers now boast a 22-11 record and multiple NCAA tournament victories in a single season for the first time since the turn of the millennium.
The Cavaliers’ journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. They started in the First Four, knocking off Arizona State and then outlasting Georgia in overtime before facing the mighty Hawkeyes. Each game has been a test of their resolve, and each time, they’ve shown the heart and belief of a team on a mission. “It’s March. It’s win or go home,” Clark said after the game. “So we fought, we had to fight, we knew we had to fight, and ultimately get the dub.”
For Iowa, the loss marks a disappointing end to a promising season. The Hawkeyes, who finished 27-7, were expected by many to make a deep tournament run. They had the benefit of home court and a passionate crowd, but could not shake the determined Cavaliers. Iowa’s struggles from the free-throw line and a late-game scoring drought proved costly, and their season now comes to an abrupt close.
Looking ahead, Virginia’s Cinderella run continues as they prepare to face TCU in the regional semifinal on Saturday, March 28. The Cavaliers will carry the lessons and confidence from this historic upset into their next challenge, knowing they’ve already made history but hungry for more. Their remarkable resilience, clutch play, and belief in themselves have captured the imagination of fans and put the rest of the tournament on notice.
As the dust settles in Iowa City, there’s no doubt this game will be remembered as one of the defining moments of the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Virginia’s improbable journey marches on, and with the heart they’ve shown, who knows how far they can go?