Players to watch in the 2026 Women’s NCAA March Madness Tournament
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg and Meghan Hall give a few of their favorite players they will be keeping an eye on in the women’s March Madness tournament.
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Laura Ziegler and the third-seeded Louisville women’s basketball team begins March Madness with a first-round game against the 14th-seeded Vermont Catamounts on March 21. The Cardinals entered the NCAA Tournament with a 27-7 record after finishing second in the ACC.
Ziegler, a senior forward, averages 11.1 points per game to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 3 assists. Here’s what to know about the Herlev, Denmark native.
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Laura Ziegler 2025-26 Stats
All stats as of Selection Sunday (March 15)
Points per game: 11.1Rebounds per game: 6.8Assist per game: 3.0Field Goal Percentage: 45.6%
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Laura Ziegler NCAA records
Before transferring to Louisville last year, Laura Ziegler established herself as a star player at St. Joseph’s. She was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman after tying the program’s first-year rebound record with 271. She went on to earn first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors her sophomore and junior seasons.Her junior year was historic, as she scored a career-high 43 points against Loyola Chicago – the most by a player in a single game in St. Joseph’s program history. She also became just the third player in program history to record 500-plus points, 200-plus rebounds and 100-plus assists in a single season.
Ziegler has played in 18 countries
A native of Herlev, Denmark, Ziegler began competing for Denmark’s youth national team at 13 years old. She made her debut in the Kvindebasketligaen, the top club championship in Denmark, at 16. By 18, she was playing for Denmark’s national team. Ziegler also competed for IK Eos Lund in Sweden’s top division, gaining valuable international experience. Over the years, she has played in 18 different countries and with Spain and Japan ranking among her favorites.
How has Ziegler fit with Louisville?
Ziegler made an immediate impact at Louisville. In her debut as a Cardinal, she had a double-double with 16 points and a career-best 18 rebounds against No. 1 UConn. Her rebounds were the most in a game by a Louisville player since Myisha Hines-Allen in 2018 – and the most by an opposing player against UConn since the 2002-03 season.Just three weeks later, Ziegler hit 1,500 career points in Louisville’s win over East Tennessee State University.Last season, she led the Atlantic 10 in rebounding and was second in the league in scoring. This year, she leads Louisville in both total points and rebounds.
When is the Women’s Final Four?
The 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament tips off on Friday, April 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix and Arizona.
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full scheduleMarch 18-19: First FourMarch 20-21: First RoundMarch 22-23: Second RoundMarch 27-28: Sweet 16March 29-30: Elite 8April 3: Final FourApril 5: National Championship
Ansley Gavlak contributed to this story