Five X-factors that can keep UVA women’s basketball’s Cinderella run going

IOWA CITY, IOWA - MARCH 23: Kymora Johnson #21 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates as Virginia beats the Iowa Hawkeyes in two overtime periods during a second round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Rebecca Gratz/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images For the first time since the year 2000, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team will take the floor in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen. Grateful.

#GoHoos 🔸⚔️🔹 #GNSL pic. twitter. com/eU9msvOkrS — Virginia Women's Basketball (@UVAWomensHoops) March 27, 2026 The ‘Hoos, who have become the talk of the college basketball world this week after shocking second-seeded Iowa on Monday afternoon, are the first women’s team ever to advance past the Round of 32 after starting in the ‘First Four.

In a women’s college basketball landscape that rarely produces a true Cinderella (UVA is the first double-digit seed to reach the second weekend since 2022), the ‘Hoos managed to win three games in five days in the sweltering heat of an AC-less Carver-Hawkeye Arena, relying on an all-time tournament run from superstar point guard Kymora Johnson and some timely performances by a talented cast of unsung heroes. Monday’s upset win over the Hawkeyes on their home floor in Iowa City marked UVA’s first-ever win over a top-four seed when seeded below a three itself. To keep the clock from striking midnight, however, Virginia will have to topple another giant this weekend.

The ’Hoos take on the third-seeded TCU Horned Frogs, led by Big 12 Player of the Year Olivia Miles, on Saturday evening. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM EST with coverage on ESPN. In the meantime, here are five x-factors that will determine whether Virginia can keep its magical March run alive: Kymora Johnson Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first.