IOWA CITY, Iowa โ Virginia rallied from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to stun second-seeded Iowa 83-75 in double overtime before a sold-out crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Monday.
With sound decibels reaching jet-engine levels, the Cavaliers rallied multiple times and held firm on last-second possessions in regulation and overtime, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 26 years. They also became the first No. 10 seed to advance to the Sweet 16 in four years. Virginia will face No. 3 seed TCU in the Sweet 16 at Sacramento, Calif.
Virginia junior guard Kymora Johnson continued her incredible tournament with 28 points and fittingly dribbled out the ball as the final seconds ticked away. She rushed into her teammatesโ arms as the clock expired and the celebration began for the Hoos.
It was an exercise in perseverance for Virginia (22-11). Guard Paris Clark sparked the Cavaliers with a pair of 3-pointers and a jumper on consecutive possessions to shrink the Hoosโ deficit from nine points to one midway through the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes (27-7) then stretched their lead to six points with 3:56 left in regulation but failed to score on their final four possessions.
In the first overtime, Iowa led 65-63 after โChit-Chatโ Wright hit two of four free throws following a flagrant foul. Johnson drove to the basket to tie the score with 14.7 seconds left, and the Hawkeyes failed to score on either of their last two shot attempts. The teams traded buckets to start the second overtime, but Virginia scored on six straight possessions to take a nine-point lead, and Iowa failed to recover.
When Ava Heiden scored and was fouled to put Iowa up 40-34, the decibel reader tied the highest Iโve ever recorded at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The other 119 was Caitlin Clarkโs shot to beat Indiana in 2023.
Itโs incredible how consistently loud it is. pic.twitter.com/mFUCW1KoGy
โ Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 23, 2026
The Hawkeyes continued their abysmal 3-point shooting, which cost them dearly in this game. Iowa was 5-of-29 from 3-point range after a 1-of-13 performance in a 10-point win against Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday. Iowa was also 8-of-16 from the free-throw line, while the Cavaliers were 18-for-23. Johnson was clutch from the free-throw line, sinking 10 of 11 attempts. Clark finished with 20 points for Virginia. Iowa center Ava Heiden scored 26 points but was in foul trouble early and fouled out in the first overtime.
