As the 2026 NCAA Tournaments in women's and men's college basketball inch closer, it's time to reflect on what the Syracuse programs achieved a decade ago.
In the 2016 Big Dances, the Orange journeyed to the Final Four on both the women's and men's sides, and the women's team reached the national championship game. It was a glorious March (and early April) for the 'Cuse, and this coming weekend, Syracuse women's basketball will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its beautiful run in 2016.
The Orange will honor its 2016 national runner-up group on Sunday, March 1, when Syracuse women's basketball (21-6 overall,11-5 in ACC) will host Boston College at the JMA Wireless Dome in the 2025-26 regular-season finale. This Atlantic Coast Conference clash is scheduled to tip off at 2 pm EST, with coverage on the ACC Network Extra.
Relive the magic of when Syracuse defeated Albany at The Dome to reach the program’s first NCAA Sweet Sixteen ✨🍊
— Syracuse Women's Basketball (@CuseWBB) February 25, 2026
Join us this Sunday when we welcome back the 2015-16 National Finalists to celebrate the 10-Year Anniversary of their magical postseason run. pic.twitter.com/PHlTRzOQiF
This season, the 'Cuse is expected to hear its name called on Selection Sunday, and it would be wonderful to see the team and its fabulous head coach, Felisha Legette-Jack, experience another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Nearly 10 years ago, Syracuse women's basketball went to the national title game.
In the 2015-16 term, the Orange tallied a school-record 30-8 overall record, and that included a program-best 13-3 mark in conference play and a journey to the ACC Tournament championship game for the first time.
Join us this weekend as we honor the 2016 National Runner Up squad that led us to our first NCAA title game in program history🍊🏆
— Syracuse Women's Basketball (@CuseWBB) February 24, 2026
🎟️https://t.co/N9o87HyH3i pic.twitter.com/tbIY1tv2Li
SU would earn a No. 4 seed in the Big Dance. Syracuse women's basketball would go on to defeat No. 13 seed Army, No. 12 seed Albany, No. 1 seed South Carolina, No. 7 seed Tennessee and No. 7 seed Washington in the Final Four. Making its first-ever appearance in the national championship game, the Orange lost to No. 1 seed Connecticut, 82-51.
The Orange's roster in the 2015-16 season was stacked, with standouts such as guard Alexis Peterson, guard Brittney Sykes, guard Brianna Butler, center Briana Day and guard Cornelia Fondren, among others.
Syracuse women's basketball boasted a smothering defense that term, allowing just 60.1 points per contest while forcing 23.9 turnovers per game, which was No. 1 in the country, per SU Athletics. This is staggering: In all six of its encounters during the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the 'Cuse forced at least 17 turnovers.
On Sunday, the Orange will hold a halftime ceremony to honor the 2016 squad, with members of the team being recognized on the court. That will be a stellar sight to see.