The University of Louisville women’s basketball team just wrapped up a statement-making West Coast swing - and they did it in style.
With Sunday’s 71-59 win over Cal in Berkeley, the Cardinals not only completed a rare road sweep of the Bay Area schools, but they also extended their winning streak to 14 games. That’s not just a hot streak - that’s a team hitting its stride at exactly the right time.
Louisville, now 21-3 overall and a perfect 11-0 in ACC play, becomes just the third women’s team to pull off the Stanford-Cal sweep in back-to-back games. Only Duke earlier this season and North Carolina last year have managed the same feat.
And let’s be clear - this isn’t your average road trip. Beating Stanford and Cal on their home courts in the same weekend is a serious test of depth, focus, and resilience.
Louisville passed with flying colors.
After a dominant 84-66 win over Stanford on Thursday night, the Cardinals followed it up with a wire-to-wire performance against Cal, leading for nearly 35 minutes. They shot a blistering 64% from the field in the second half, pulling away late and building a lead that stretched to as many as 18 points.
The offense was clicking, but it was the balanced attack that really stood out. Three players hit double figures, and each brought something different to the table.
Taj Roberts was the engine once again, pouring in 21 points to go with five assists and four rebounds. She was efficient - 7-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc - and clutch, scoring 15 of her points after halftime when the Cardinals needed to put the game away.
Elif Istanbulluoglu continued her strong play with 15 points and seven boards, doing the dirty work inside and helping Louisville control the glass. And Laura Ziegler stepped up in the second half, scoring 10 of her 14 points after the break and adding five rebounds of her own.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Louisville is showing the kind of poise and depth that championship-caliber teams are built on. They’re defending, they’re sharing the ball, and they’re finishing games strong.
Next up? A showdown with Duke on Thursday at home.
Both teams are unbeaten in ACC play at 11-0, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s a battle for the top of the conference, and if this past weekend is any indication, Louisville is more than ready for the spotlight.