Sat Mar 21 19:30:00 UTC 2026: ### Clemson Women’s Basketball Returns to NCAA Tournament After Five-Year Absence
The Story:
The Clemson Tigers women’s basketball team has earned a spot in the Women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. The Tigers, holding a record of 21-11, are seeded No. 8 and will compete against No. 9 Southern Cal (17-13) in the first round on March 21 at 3:30 pm ET. The game will be held at Colonial Life Arena and broadcast on ESPN2.
Head Coach Shawn Poppie, in his second year with Clemson, is making his third appearance in March Madness. He previously led the Chattanooga women’s program to two NCAA Tournament berths. Despite a recent loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals (60-46), Clemson demonstrated their capability by defeating both Duke and Notre Dame during the regular season.
Key Points:
* Clemson women’s basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.
* The Tigers are an No. 8 seed with a record of 21-11.
* They will face No. 9 Southern Cal (17-13) in the first round on March 21 at 3:30 pm ET.
* The game will be played at Colonial Life Arena and broadcast on ESPN2.
* Coach Shawn Poppie is in his second year with Clemson and making his third March Madness appearance.
Key Takeaways:
- Clemson’s return to the NCAA Tournament signifies a resurgence for the program.
- Shawn Poppie’s leadership has quickly yielded positive results for the Tigers.
- The first-round matchup against Southern Cal presents a competitive challenge for Clemson.
- Clemson’s regular-season wins against Duke and Notre Dame suggest they are capable of upsetting higher-seeded teams.
- The location of the game at Colonial Life Arena is a point of interest given the other related news.