LEXINGTON — Kentucky women's basketball was just one game away from reaching the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 last season. But UK lost, in agonizing fashion, to Kansas State. Playing within the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum, Kentucky lost in overtime — by one point. K-State left town with an 80-79 victory in tow.
Kentucky didn't let history repeat itself Monday, though.
On the road against regional site host West Virginia, UK held on for a 74-73 win in the second round.
Now preparing for a Sweet 16 showdown with top-seeded Texas, here's what you need to know about Kentucky in 2025-26 — as well as the program's March Madness history:
When was the last time Kentucky women's basketball made the NCAA Sweet 16?
This year marks the first time in a decade UK has advanced to the Sweet 16. The last instance was in 2016. Despite playing at Rupp Arena as a 3-seed, Kentucky lost to seventh-seeded Washington, 85-72, to end its 2015-16 season.
How many times has the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball program reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16?
Kentucky's last Sweet 16 triumph was in 2013, when it downed Delaware, 69-62, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
This season marks the seventh Sweet 16 appearance in program history. The Wildcats are 4-2 in their six previous games in the round. But they've lost the last two. Along with the Washington setback in 2016, UK lost by 18 points (90-72) to LSU in 2014.
Has UK women's basketball ever advanced to the Elite Eight? What about the Final Four?
Kentucky has four Elite Eight berths in its history. UK has lost all four regional finals it's appeared in. Only Ole Miss (five) has more Elite Eight bids without reaching the Final Four.
Florida and Missouri are the only other schools in the 16-team SEC without a Final Four appeareance.
Has UK women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks ever made a Final Four?
Yes. UK coach Kenny Brooks led his previous school, Virginia Tech, to the Final Four in 2023. It was the first Final Four appearance in the Hokies' history.
Who are key players on the Kentucky women's basketball 2025-26 roster?
Star center Clara Strack is among the top five in Division I in blocks per game and total blocks. She also leads UK in points (16.9), rebounds (10.3) and steals (1.2) per outing.
Point guard Tonie Morgan enters the weekend tops in the country in assists (279). That figure is a single-season school record. It's also the third most by an SEC player in a single campaign, just 10 behind equaling LSU's Temeka Johnson for second (289 assists in 2003-04).
Forward Amelia Hassett has knocked down 98 3-pointers this season, the top mark in the conference. Teammate Asia Boone isn't far behind, with 94 triples of her own in 2025-26.
Teonni Key, another forward, averages 11.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Fifth-year senior guard Jordan Obi has appeared in all 35 games, making 25 starts. She contributes 9.2 points and 6 rebounds a game.
No other player on the Wildcats' 2025-26 roster averages more than a dozen minutes per game.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky women's basketball March Madness, Kenny Brooks NCAA Sweet 16