Revisiting key moments in Syracuse’s turnaround 2025-26 campaign
Syracuse women’s basketball had a major turnaround in the 2025-26 season, leading to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in two years. Avery Magee | Photo Editor
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If you told anybody outside of the program before the season that Syracuse women’s basketball would be playing a game in Storrs, Connecticut, on March 21, they might’ve called you crazy.
Entering the 2025-26 campaign, Syracuse seemed far from an NCAA Tournament berth. The Orange were coming off a disappointing 12-win 2024-25 season, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack called a “rebuild situation.”
Even then, few could’ve expected the rebuild to come this fast. A year after Boston College eliminated the Orange in the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament First Round, they’re staring down an NCAA Tournament matchup with No. 8 seed Iowa State.
Here are some key moments from No. 9 seed SU’s (23-8, 12-6 ACC) improbable turnaround:
July 11, 2025: Syracuse finalizes roster with addition of Uche Izoje
Way back in July, Syracuse finalized its roster with a little-known freshman prospect named Uche Izoje, a 6-foot-3 center from Nigeria.
Along with Izoje, SU’s new-look crew featured two more future stars in Texas transfer Laila Phelia, who was once a First Team All-Big Ten selection at Michigan, and USC transfer Dominique Darius, who played sparingly in four seasons with the Trojans and UCLA.
After failing to attack the transfer portal the prior offseason, Legette-Jack hit it hard in 2025. It led to a completely new-look team to begin the season in November.
Syracuse began its season with a 14-point win over Stony Brook, portending sustained success and strong performances from new players. Angelina Grevi | Daily Orange File Photo
Nov. 4, 2025: SU opens season with win over Stony Brook
On opening night, Syracuse trounced Stony Brook 74-50. Despite losing games to mid-majors like UAlbany the year before, the Orange’s season-opener was a promising sign.
SU rolled out a starting five of Camdyn Nelson, Darius, Phelia, Sophie Burrows and Izoje. At the time, only Burrows was a proven commodity. Four out of those five players turned out to be major pieces this season.
Nov. 21, 2025: Syracuse picks up first Power Four win over Utah
At the Invesco QQQ Women’s Showcase in Connecticut, Syracuse defeated Utah — a team that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament this year — 61-49 for its first Power Four victory of the campaign.
After beating up on mid-majors in its first four games, SU’s win over Utah was a clear indication the Orange could hang with Power Four programs — something they failed to do in their disastrous 2024-25 season.
Syracuse held Utah to a then-season-low 49 points, while Darius tallied her first double-double of the year with 16 points and 10 boards.
The Orange showed mettle in their overtime triumph against Auburn, overcoming a woeful 0-for-16 3-point shooting clip. Leo Gensler | Contributing Photographer
Dec. 3, 2025: SU defeats Auburn in OT at the JMA Wireless Dome
In the ACC/SEC Challenge, Syracuse overcame a pitiful day from beyond the arc to defeat Auburn in overtime. Despite trailing for most of the game, SU separated in overtime, outscoring the Tigers 14-8 in the additional period. It was SU’s first overtime win in over a year.
The Orange shot a horrendous 0-for-16 from deep, the worst 3-point shooting game in school history but dominated inside to secure the win.
While the Tigers didn’t end up having a great season, it was a victory that showed SU’s resilience and ability to win in different ways.
Dec. 7, 2025: Orange prevail over SMU for first ACC win
Four days after the barn burner against Auburn, Syracuse traveled to Dallas for its first ACC contest against SMU. Behind Burrows’ hot hand, the Orange emerged with a 78-69 win.
After a brief slump to start the season, Burrows shot the cover off the ball against the Mustangs, making five 3-pointers and totaling 22 points. Overall, the Orange knocked 11 eight triples in the win.
Syracuse dominated the first quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 25-9. It paved the way for SU to start rediscovering its ACC success.
Sophia Burke | Digital Design Director
Dec. 19, 2025: Syracuse destroys Mercyhurst, ties best start in program history
While Mercyhurst was the worst team on Syracuse’s schedule this season, the Orange took care of business when the Lakers came to town in December. It was a 106-40 win, which brought the Orange to 11-1 and put a dominant touch on the joint-best start through 12 games in SU history.
Syracuse couldn’t miss on the offensive end, igniting for a season-high in points on 59% shooting from the field. It gave the Orange some momentum to close their nonconference slate.
Jan. 11, 2026: Laila Phelia’s 38 points bring Orange first Quad 1 win at Virginia
After splitting its first few contests in the bulk of ACC play, Syracuse nabbed its biggest win of the season on the road at Virginia. Phelia ignited for a career-high 38 points to lift SU to a 79-60 win.
The Orange trailed by six at the half to the Cavaliers but exploded for 51 second-half points to secure the win.
The victory proved to be Syracuse’s only Quad 1 win of the regular season.
Dominique Darius ended Syracuse’s triple-overtime thriller with a dagger 3-pointer to push the Orange past Cal. Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
Jan. 15, 2026: Dominique Darius’ game-winner ices 3OT victory over Cal
In one of the craziest games ever played in the Dome, Syracuse emerged victorious over Cal 90-87 after 40 minutes of regulation and three overtimes. The Orange led by as much as 21 but crumbled late, allowing the Golden Bears to force it to overtime three times.
Thankfully for SU, Darius canned an isolation 3-ball to give it a lead with two seconds remaining, a shot — and opportunity — Darius waited five years for. It sealed the win in a wire-to-wire classic.
Jan. 18, 2026: With Phelia out, Orange hold on to beat Stanford
In the second overtime of the Cal game, Phelia picked up a lower-body injury that kept her sidelined for SU’s Sunday matinee against a dangerous Stanford team. Even without its leading scorer, Syracuse found a way to control the game and defeat the Cardinal 69-58.
It was the first game that any of Syracuse’s top three scorers — Darius, Phelia and Izoje — missed. But with Darius out for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, the Orange will need to channel this magic again to go on a run.
Syracuse all but booked its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a win against Clemson, staying ahead in a narrow game. Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
Feb. 15, 2026: Syracuse virtually secures NCAA Tournament bid with win over Clemson
In a chance to prove itself in the final few games of the regular season, Syracuse rose to the occasion for a hard-fought 68-64 win over Clemson at the Dome. SU trailed for less than a minute, although the Tigers kept it tight all afternoon.
While the Orange were 20-5 entering the game, they didn’t have an incredibly strong resume, with just one Quad 1 win. The victory over Clemson, albeit Quad 2, virtually punched SU’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
It kicked off a stretch of three straight Quad 1 and 2 games at the tail end of the regular season, but SU failed to beat NC State or Notre Dame to snag another key win.
March 3, 2026: Uche Izoje named ACC Rookie of the Year
After a stellar first regular season, Izoje was named ACC Rookie of the Year March 3, just the second player in program history to take home the award.
Izoje started all 29 regular-season games for SU as a freshman and averaged 15 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game on 55.3% shooting from the field. Izoje also totaled 13 double-doubles on the year, notably tallying 27 points and 12 boards against North Carolina and hauling in a career-high 17 rebounds to pair with 21 points against Florida State Jan. 1.
Legette-Jack repeatedly hailed Izoje as a generational talent, and she showed it in her freshman season.
March 5, 2026: SU beats Cal in ACC Tournament First Round
In a rematch with the Golden Bears in the first round of the ACC Tournament in Duluth, Georgia, Syracuse survived a late scare and held on for a 70-59 win. It marked Legette-Jack’s first conference tournament win with the Orange.
For a bit, March’s meeting was almost identical to the two squads’ first game in January. SU led by 21 at halftime after dominating early. Cal then pulled within four at one point in the final frame, before Izoje took over to will the Orange to victory.
SU eventually lost in the second round to No. 2 seed Louisville, in part due to the absence of Darius, who was injured in the win over Cal. Nonetheless, the Orange came home with their first conference tournament win in over four years.
March 15, 2026: Syracuse earns No. 9 seed in NCAA Tournament
On Selection Sunday, Syracuse heard its name called early for an 8-9 matchup against Iowa State in Storrs. The winner, in all likelihood, gets top overall seed UConn in the second round.
It’s SU’s second NCAA Tournament berth of Legette-Jack’s tenure and 14th in program history.
