The first two matchups between the Arizona and Arizona State women’s basketball teams provided great theater.
So why not an encore?
Arizona guard Sumayah Sugapong (3) battles against ASU’s Amaya Williams (1) during their game at McKale Center, Feb. 14.
The Wildcats and Sun Devils will meet for a third time this season when they clash in the opening round of the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. No. 15 seed Arizona will face No. 10 seed ASU at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Arizona (12-17, 3-15 Big 12) was locked into the No. 14 or 15 seed in the 16-team, double-bye tournament after defeating Houston in the home finale this past Tuesday. The Wildcats could have clinched the No. 14 seed by beating Utah on Saturday, but the Utes prevailed 81-67.
That opened the door for UCF to leapfrog Arizona. The Knights accomplished that objective by defeating Houston 72-62 on Sunday.
Arizona and UCF both finished with 3-15 records in conference play, but the Knights beat the Wildcats 58-55 on Jan. 10 to secure the head-to-head tiebreaker. That was the first game Arizona played without leading scorer Mickayla Perdue, who suffered a career-ending wrist injury leading up to the game.
ASU forward Heloisa Carrera (14) fouls Arizona guard Noelani Cornfield (4) during their game at McKale Center, Feb. 14, 2026.
ASU (22-9, 9-9) could have surpassed BYU for the No. 9 seed, but the Sun Devils lost at No. 20 Texas Tech on Sunday. BYU defeated Colorado on Saturday. The Sun Devils and Cougars both finished with 9-9 league marks, but BYU swept the season series.
ASU swept Arizona, but both games could have gone the other way.
In the first meeting, on Jan. 28 in Tempe, Arizona opened the second half with a 13-0 run and held a 43-35 lead with 4:08 left in the third quarter. The Sun Devils rallied for a 68-61 victory in a game played in front of 6,121 fans — the largest crowd to see a Wildcats-Sun Devils women’s basketball game at ASU.
In the rematch on Feb. 14 in Tucson, Arizona held a 61-57 lead with less than a minute to play before ASU rallied to force overtime. The Sun Devils won 75-69 in front of 8,766 fans at McKale Center.
The winner of UA-ASU will face No. 7 seed Iowa State at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The Cyclones feature Big 12 Player of the Year candidate Audi Crooks and former UA point guard Jada Williams. ISU defeated Arizona 90-65 on Jan. 24 in Ames.
TCU (27-4, 15-3) is the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament after winning the regular-season title for the second straight season.
