With two games left on the regular season schedule, the Utah women’s basketball team is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life.
Heading into Saturday’s seemingly must-win game against BYU, Utah was listed as the first team out in ESPN’s latest bracketology, with Big 12 foes Colorado and Arizona State just ahead of it in the bubble.
Then came the 86-74 loss to the rival Cougars at the Huntsman Center.
The Utes’ second loss of the year to the Cougars undoubtedly damaged their March Madness hopes.
But it apparently hasn’t diminished head coach Gavin Petersen’s belief.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars guard Delaney Gibb (11) as Utah hosts BYU, NCAA basketball in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
“I think nothing changes from our program’s perspective,” Petersen said of the NCAA Tournament. “I told the team after the game, I expect nothing but their best and their focus. They’ve shown it all season long. They’re a resilient group, and we’re going to just get back after it and try to get a win in Boulder.
“We’re not going to deter from that. We’re going to try to go 1-0 and come back here for senior night.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars guard Delaney Gibb (11) as Utah hosts BYU, NCAA basketball in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
Utah still has a chance to extend its streak of four straight tournament appearances, though.
The program still has two big wins against No. 12 TCU and No. 19 West Virginia on its resume.
Utah is now 17-11 and sits ninth in the conference standings.
“To be honest. I think the coaching and the teams in this conference, it’s no joke,” Petersen said. “I think it’s one of the best conferences in the country, hands down, from top to bottom. I mean, just look at all those records. We’re beating up on each other, and it’s just a log jam.
“Don’t penalize the Big 12 for that. The Big 12 is a great conference, and any team — including ourselves — that can get into the NCAA Tournament, they’re going to be somebody to have to contend with."
The Utes will still need more to keep themselves in the March Madness conversation.
First, the Utes will have to beat Colorado (a quadrant-one opportunity) on the road on Feb. 24, then return home on Feb. 28 to do the same against Arizona, which is currently second-to-last in the Big 12 standings.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The MUSS, Utah fans as Utah hosts BYU, NCAA basketball in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
A loss to either could be the final nail in the coffin to Utes’ NCAA Tournament hopes. Petersen and Utah’s business doesn’t end there, though. They’ll need to win a game or two (maybe even three) to solidify their spot in the 64-team field.
Utah’s chances at earning a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid remain in jeopardy in the meantime.