“Twenty-two years into this, there's nothing I'm married to,” Roussell said. “There’s nothing in order of business, of how I do this. You're supposed to be a lifelong learner in every business. That’s in college basketball to a T.”
Since Virginia women’s basketball decided to part ways with Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, the program currently finds itself in a state of flux ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“This is going to be a sustained excellence program,” Roussell said. “How we go about things, how we handle ourselves, the perception of our women's basketball program will matter.”
“We are well aware of the rich history and tradition of this program, and we look forward to putting the U.Va. program into the nation’s elite on a consistent basis,” Roussell said.
“A national search will begin immediately,” Virginia Athletics said in a press release Saturday.
This March, Virginia women’s basketball stopped asking for permission to dominate and simply started taking it, one unflinching possession at a time. Next season, some jersey numbers will change, but the standard of relentless fight, unshakeable resilience and audacious belief is now permanently woven into the program’s DNA.
If Virginia’s season ends here, though, it will likely have little effect on how its historic run will be remembered. The Cavaliers have nothing to lose — and everything to gain. A program that went 5-22 four seasons ago is now one game away from the Elite Eight.
These three seniors — with no eligibility remaining — have unearthed an extra level of strength, determination and grit that has lifted the Cavaliers to glory.
Virginia’s band of heroes smiled. Aching, bloodied and exhausted, they celebrated with vigor. This did not look like the energy one would expect for a plucky darling of the NCAA Tournament that had to win three games in five days.
With Johnson at the helm, the stage is set for a program-defining collision. The Cavaliers have spent over three years building toward this moment. If they follow the same heartbeat that led them here, it could push the program to historical heights.
By advancing to the second round, Virginia recorded multiple NCAA Tournament wins for the first time since 2000.
“Tomorrow's not promised,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “I think every game now we have an opportunity to reach that. I think our kids are getting hungrier … We have a lot left in our tank.”
Johnson’s clutch three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining — and double-double performance alongside graduate forward Caitlin Weimar — stamped Virginia’s ticket to secure its first seed in the NCAA Tournament after an eight-year drought.
The Cavaliers face Arizona State Thursday for the chance to earn a No. 10 seed and play No. 7 Georgia Saturday.
“Everybody wants to compete for national championships and being in that field is just a blessing,” Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said. “I'm just really happy for our players that we were able to do enough to get there.”
Three beat writers discuss Virginia’s regular-season and postseason outlook, as the Cavaliers await the selection committee’s decision on Selection Sunday, March 15.
“It's just … a full-circle moment, which is nice because last year was very unpredictable with what basketball was going to be for me,” Weimar said.
“I’m hopeful that the season is not over, and that we will be in the NCAA Tournament, because I think we deserve to [be in the bracket]” Agugua-Hamilton said.
Virginia lost to the Hokies because this is who they have been all year long — a team that fights back, but cannot sustain control when the lights shine the brightest.
Virginia now turns its attention to postseason play — as the No. 8 seed in the standings — where the Cavaliers will need that kind of urgency from the opening tip, not just when their backs are against the wall.
