Kentucky Women's Basketball Takes Another Step Forward Under Kenny Brooks with Sweet 16 Appearance
The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team concluded its 2025-26 season with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, signaling continued progress in the program's revival under head coach Kenny Brooks. The Wildcats' journey ended on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, with a 76-54 loss to their Southeastern Conference (SEC) rival and top-seeded Texas Longhorns. While the defeat was disappointing, the achievement marked Kentucky's first Sweet 16 appearance in a decade and only the seventh in the history of the program.
This milestone represents a tangible step forward for the Wildcats, who have been steadily improving since Brooks took over the program two seasons ago. Kentucky's 2024-25 season ended with a second-round loss at home to Kansas State, but the team advanced one round further this year. The 2025-26 Wildcats finished with 25 wins-an increase of two victories compared to Brooks' inaugural season in Lexington-and have thus demonstrated an upward trajectory after Kentucky had fallen to the bottom of the SEC before his arrival.
Exceeding Preseason Expectations
Kentucky's run to the Sweet 16 exceeded the preseason expectations set for the team. At the start of the season, the Wildcats were ranked No. 20 in the USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 preseason poll. Meanwhile, during the SEC Tipoff media event, the league's preseason forecast predicted Kentucky would finish eighth in the conference standings.
The Wildcats concluded the regular season with an 8-8 record in SEC play, which placed them in a four-way tie for sixth place. However, tiebreakers pushed Kentucky down to the No. 9 seed for the SEC Tournament. Despite this relatively average conference finish, Kentucky's overall performance demonstrated considerable growth and resilience.
Season Highlights and Historic Wins
Kentucky's 2025-26 season featured several memorable victories and milestones that highlighted the program's resurgence. The Wildcats defeated longtime in-state rival Louisville by 10 points for the second consecutive season, marking the first time since the 1999 and 2000 seasons that Kentucky beat Louisville by double digits in back-to-back meetings.
Perhaps more impressively, Kentucky secured two wins over AP top-five teams during the regular season-a first in the program's history. On January 1, the Wildcats defeated LSU, and shortly thereafter, on January 11, they triumphed over Oklahoma, both ranked in the nation's top five. Additionally, Kentucky recorded three wins over AP top-15 opponents in the same season for the first time since the 1982-83 campaign. Along with LSU and Oklahoma, the Wildcats also knocked off No. 14 Ole Miss on February 15.
Individual Standouts Fuel Team Success
The Wildcats' team success was fueled by outstanding individual performances from several key players. Junior center Clara Strack emerged as the team's star, leading Kentucky in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals per game. Strack joined an elite group of SEC players, becoming only the second athlete after Tennessee legend Candace Parker to accumulate at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 150 blocks, 125 assists, and 50 steals within her first two collegiate seasons. This milestone underscores her versatility and impact on both ends of the court.
Transfer point guard Tonie Morgan, who joined Kentucky from Georgia Tech, also had a historic season. Morgan set a new single-season assists record for the Wildcats with 286 assists in 2025-26, breaking the mark set just the previous year by Georgia Amoore (216 assists). Morgan's total ranks as the third highest single-season assist total in SEC history. Only Texas A&M's Curtyce Knox (304 assists in 2016-17) and LSU's Temeka Johnson (289 in 2003-04) posted higher numbers in league history. Morgan's playmaking ability was a critical component of Kentucky's offensive success.
Three-point shooting was another strength for the Wildcats. Forward Amelia Hassett led the entire SEC in three-point field goals, draining 99 triples-a new single-season program record for Kentucky. Guard Asia Boone also excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 96 three-pointers herself, surpassing the previous program record of 84 set by Rhyne Howard during the 2019-20 season. The sharpshooting of Hassett and Boone provided Kentucky with a potent long-range threat that complemented their inside presence.
Looking Ahead: Building on Momentum
Kentucky's performance in the 2025-26 season under Kenny Brooks signals that the program is firmly on the rise. After years of struggling to compete in the SEC, the Wildcats have not only improved their win total but also demonstrated the ability to contend with top-ranked teams nationally. The Sweet 16 appearance-the program's first in ten years-represents a significant achievement and a stepping stone for future success.
Brooks' leadership and the emergence of talented players such as Clara Strack, Tonie Morgan, Amelia Hassett, and Asia Boone have laid a strong foundation. The combination of inside dominance, playmaking, and perimeter shooting makes Kentucky a formidable opponent in the SEC and beyond.
While Kentucky fell short against Texas in the Sweet 16, the experience gained in this deep tournament run will be invaluable for the returning players and the program's continued development. The Wildcats have shown they can compete at the highest level and will likely aim to build on this momentum in the coming seasons.
For now, Kentucky fans can celebrate a season of historic wins, individual excellence, and a renewed sense of optimism under Kenny Brooks. The Wildcats are no longer an SEC afterthought but a rising contender in women's college basketball.
Contact and Credits
For further coverage of Kentucky men's basketball and football, Ryan Black can be reached at rblack@gannett.com and followed on X at @RyanABlack.
This summary is based on an article originally published by the Louisville Courier Journal titled "UK women's basketball in Sweet 16 was another step under Kenny Brooks."