Texas
Scouting the women’s NCAA Elite 8 contest between Michigan and Texas
Free Press staff writer Arpan Lobo breaks down the Elite Eight matchup between 1-seed Texas and 2-seed Michigan in the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Fast facts
- Matchup: 1-seed Texas (34-3, 13-3, SEC) vs. 2-seed Michigan (28-6, 15-3 Big Ten); 2026 NCAA Tournament Fort Worth-3 regional final.
- Tipoff: 7 p.m., March 30; Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas.
- TV: ESPN.
- Series: 1-0 Texas. The only other meeting between the two programs was in 2018, when Texas won, 69-52.
At stake: Winner advances to the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3-5.
Michigan women’s basketball: Meet the Wolverines
- Location: Ann Arbor.
- Coach: Kim Barnes Arico (311-150 over 14 seasons at U-M, 487-284 career).
- School tournament record: 15-13 in 13 appearances.
- Past 10 games: 9-1
- Scoring leaders: Olivia Olson, 19.2 points per game; Syla Swords 14.8; Mila Holloway, 12.4.
- Rebounding leaders: Olson, 6.2; Brooke Quarles Daniels, 5.2; Te’yala Delfosse, 4.6.
- Assist leaders: Holloway, 4.8; Quarles Daniels, 2.9; Olson, 2.5.
- 3-point leaders: McKenzie Mathurin, 40%; Macy Brown*, 36.1%; Holloway, 34.9%.
*Out for season.
The buzz: Michigan is back to the Elite Eight for only the second time in program history, with its only other appearance being a loss to Louisville in 2022. They’ve outclassed and outworked their first three opponents in the tournament, most recently overcoming an early deficit against Louisville to run away late in a 71-52 victory in the Sweet 16.
Even after slow shooting starts from stars Olson and Swords in their past two contests, the Wolverines have been able to break down their opponents by deploying constant pressure, picking up ballhandlers deep in their own backcourts. They force turnovers and create easy looks in transition. Olson, a third-team AP All-American, was big in the second half against both North Carolina State and Louisville, and has been Michigan’s leading scorer in the tournament.
Another factor aiding Michigan’s run? Outworking their opponents on the glass. Guard Brooke Quarles Daniels, at all of 5-foot-7, had a whopping seven offensive boards against Louisville. Michigan has won the rebounding battle in all three of its tournament games so far.
The Wolverines haven’t met an opponent like Texas yet, and particularly an individual force like Madison Booker.
Texas women’s basketball: Meet the Longhorns
- Location: Austin, Texas.
- Coach: Vic Schaefer (177-29 at Texas, 478-211 career).
- School tournament record: 58-36 in 38 appearances.
- Past 10 games: 10-0.
- Scoring leaders: Madison Booker, 19.3 points per game; Jordan Lee, 13.5; Kyla Oldacre, 10.4
- Rebounding leaders: Booker, 6.7; Oldacre, 6.1; Breya Cunningham, 5.6.
- Assist leaders: Rori Harmon, 6.1; Booker, 3.8; Lee, 2.5.
- 3-point leaders: Harmon, 45.8%; Bryanna Preston, 44.4%; 43.8%.
The buzz: After a dominating season, the Longhorns find themselves a win away from a second consecutive Final Four appearance. And the team’s biggest star is three-time All-American forward Madison Booker, who’s led the Longhorns in scoring on the way to another deep tournament run.
Booker is more than just a scorer, however, and is able to facilitate in half court. Although her 3-point field goal percentage has dipped compared to her sophomore season, she’s still able to provide spacing for Texas. Against Kentucky in the Elite Eight, she totaled 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists on the way to a 76-54 win for Texas that was never really in doubt.
Although the Longhorns have others with better percentages from deep, guard Jordan Lee is the team’s most willing outside shooter, hitting nearly 36% from range on more than three attempts a game.
Against Kentucky, Texas forced 24 Wildcat turnovers. The Longhorns boasted the third-best turnover margin in the country this season. Against a Michigan team that likes to bring pressure as well, the turnover battle could play a sizeable role in determining which program heads to Phoenix. The matchup represents a styles clash as well — the Wolverines are the eighth-best scoring offense in the country at 83.9 points per game, but Texas owns a top-15 scoring defense, limiting opponents to 56.4 points per game.
The contest is also taking place in Fort Worth, a much shorter trip from Austin than from Ann Arbor. The crowd is likely to be behind the Longhorns.
You can reach Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com
U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico promise to serve all in El Paso
U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico discusses key public issues in Texas during the first stop of his Frontera Tour July 11, 2026 in El Paso.
The two candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas are making stops across the Lone Star State this week.
Democrat James Talarico and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will head to South Texas as the two go head-to-head in the Nov. 3 General Election to replace U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Cornyn lost his reelection bid to Paxton in the Republican Primary Election.
The campaign tour continues for Talarico after hosting townhalls in El Paso and Marfa as part of his “Frontera Tour,” while Paxton is holding a “Rally in the Valley” in McAllen.
Here’s where the candidates will be in Texas.
Paxton heads to McAllen for ‘Rally in the Valley’
Paxton is heading to McAllen for his “Rally in the Valley” event at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. He’ll be joined by National Border Security Council President Paul Perez, TX-28 Nominee Tano Tijerina, and TX-34 Nominee Eric Flores.
The all-ages event will take place at University Draft House Townlake McAllen, 100 West Business 83, and spots can be reserved at eventbrite.com.
Talarico to visit Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Laredo
Talarico continues his “Frontera” tour with a stop in Del Rio on Monday, July 14.
“Gather with your family, friends, and neighbors to hear from James about taking his fight against Big Money and corruption to Washington. Together, we can win back power for working people in a system that’s rigged for the ultra-wealthy,” the event page states, adding that the program will be short and voters can greet Talarico after.
Here are the stops on Talarico’s “Frontera” tour:
Monday, July 13:
- 3 p.m. Memo’s Restaurant, 804 E Losoya St. in Del Rio
- 7 p.m. International Center For Trade, 3295 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass
Tuesday, July 14:
- 6 p.m. La Posada – San Agustin Ballroom, 1000 Zaragoza St. 107 in Laredo
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
Skip to content
Contact Us
-
Politics12 minutes ago
Why Supreme Court Justices Are Asking for More Security
-
Culture42 minutes agoDo You Know These Greek Plays and Poems That Were Turned Into Movies?
-
Lifestyle48 minutes agoWhy your favorite international artist might be reconsidering their next U.S. tour
-
Technology60 minutes agoNintendo’s Switch 2 bundle that includes a game is $50 off
-
World1 hour agoInside Israel’s mission to train civilians to stop the next Oct 7-like terror attack
-
Politics1 hour agoTrump reveals who he’s eyeing to replace Lindsey Graham
-
Health1 hour agoNotable figures who died from the same heart condition linked to Lindsey Graham’s death
-
Sports1 hour agoFolarin Balogun admits that red-card reversal affected USA World Cup teammates: ‘A lot of outside noise’
