ACC Women's Basketball Tournament Heats Up As Championship Nears
ACC Womens Basketball Tournament Heats Up As Championship Nears...
The 2026 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament has reached its semifinal stage, drawing intense attention from fans and analysts across the U.S. The tournament, held in Greensboro, North Carolina, features powerhouse teams like Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Louisville battling for a conference title and NCAA Tournament seeding.
Interest spiked this week after No. 1 seed Virginia Tech survived a thrilling overtime quarterfinal against Florida State on March 7. The game drew record TV ratings for an ACC women's quarterfinal, reflecting growing national enthusiasm for women's college basketball.
Notre Dame advanced to the semifinals with a dominant 78-62 win over Syracuse on March 8. Star guard Sonia Citron scored 24 points, continuing her standout tournament performance. The Fighting Irish will face Louisville in today's first semifinal at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The nightcap features Virginia Tech against NC State at 2:30 p.m. ET, a rematch of last year's championship game. Both teams feature multiple All-ACC selections, including Hokies center Elizabeth Kitley and Wolfpack guard Saniya Rivers.
Tournament organizers reported sold-out sessions for the semifinals and championship, with secondary ticket prices doubling since the quarterfinals. The ACC's decision to keep the tournament in Greensboro through 2030 appears validated by this year's strong attendance.
Analysts note the tournament's outcomes could significantly impact NCAA Tournament seeding. ESPN's latest bracketology projects six ACC teams making the Big Dance, with Virginia Tech currently holding a No. 1 seed projection. The championship game tips off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Social media engagement around #ACCWBB has increased 40% compared to last year's tournament. Fans particularly responded to Louisville's Hailey Van Lith's 30-point performance in the quarterfinals, which trended nationally on Twitter for several hours.
The tournament's rising profile mirrors broader growth in women's college basketball. Last week's Iowa-Ohio State Big Ten championship game drew 3.2 million viewers, the most-watched women's conference tournament game ever. The ACC appears poised to challenge that record if Virginia Tech and Notre Dame advance to Sunday's final.
