Arizona State women's basketball has fought its way into the Big Dance for the first time since 2019.
The team, made up of an all-new coaching staff and several transfers, earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid.
On Thursday the No. 10 seed Sun Devils will take on No. 10 seed Virginia in a First Four game in Iowa City.
"They're energized, they're excited, and the reactions when their name was called meant the world to me," head coach Molly Miller said of her team. "So, a little bit of (an) underdog mentality, we talked about, but we're just happy to be a part of it."
If the Sun Devils win, they will advance to the Round of 64 and see No. 7 seed Georgia on Saturday in the Sacramento Regional.
"We have been reaching milestones and breaking records all year, and (I'm) happy that we can add this one as well to our resume," graduate guard Gabby Elliott said. "We just really wanted a chance, and we got it, and that's all we could ask for."
ASU had a team record start to the season, winning 15 games, before finishing 10th in the Big 12.
The group made a final argument for themselves once the Big 12 Tournament rolled around, defeating Arizona and Iowa State before falling to West Virginia, which eventually went on to win the conference.
After the loss to West Virginia, Miller made a closing argument on the team's legitimacy as a deserving contender by recapping everything they'd achieved this season.
"I give Coach Miller a lot of credit," said ASU athletic director Graham Rossini. "I think her press conference after the West Virginia loss had a big effect on today's outcome ... you saw a lot of the national narrative turn that evening."
Now the Sun Devils will look to cap a historic turnaround off with a bang in March Madness.
Edited by Alan Deutschdendorf, Sophia Braccio and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at holtzingerethan@gmail.com and follow @EthanZinger6 on X.
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Ethan Holtzinger is a sports reporter for The State Press who has previously worked for Cronkite News and the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He is in his 2nd semester with The State Press and 5th semester at ASU.Â
