It was clear on Monday night that Texas and Michigan women's basketball were on two different levels.
The Longhorns look ready to compete for a national championship. They were a Final Four team a season ago, and it showed. Their defense was incredible. Michigan simply couldn't score, around the bucket or from the 3-point line in a 77-41 loss in the Elite 8.
It was a crushing way for the season to end, what could easily be called the greatest season in Michigan women's basketball history. The Wolverines tied a school record with 28 wins. They also advanced as far as any Michigan women's team ever has in the NCAA Tournament.
And, Michigan did it with sophomores leading the way, as that class scored 56 of the 71 points in the Sweet 16 victory over Louisville.
Michigan took tremendous steps forward this season. Every game they lost was to a ranked opponent, but in order to take the next step, the Wolverines need to get better in those games.
Syla Swords finished just 3 of 15 from the field against Texas. She had eight points. Olivia Olson managed 11 but was also just 2 of 13. Mila Holloway was 4 of 14. It was a learning experience. One they will grow from.
The loss to Texas also highlighted what Michigan is missing: a legitimate interior presence and a consistent presence on both ends of the floor.
How Michigan women's basketball can take the next step
The Wolverines struggled with dominant interior teams all season. Texas ranked 50th in blocks and 51st in 2-point defense, but the Horns suffocated Michigan with their size. It's not the first time it happened as Michigan struggled with Iowa's bigs, getting bullied both times. UCLA, too, although who doesn't struggle to guard Lauren Betts?
Swords, Olson, Holloway, and Te'Yala Delfosse are an incredible starting point. Brooke Quarles Daniels is the only true rotation player graduating. Her defense and rebounding will be missed.
Alyssa Crockett and Ally VanTimmeren are also out of eligibility. Kim Barnes Arico will have a couple of spots available to address a glaring weakness inside, although the Michigan women's head coach has also added an impact player via high school recruiting, signing 6-foot-5 Fope Ayo back in November, who is ranked 45th overall in the 2026 recruiting class.
"Fope is different than anyone we have," Barnes Arico said. "She's 6-5 and has tremendous length. She's going to be a great complement to the other pieces that we have in our program and the dynamic guard play that we have. She can protect the paint. She can affect the game on both sides of the ball, and her inside presence is just something that we haven't had in a minute.
That's a positive development. Barnes Arico has shown a knack for getting young players ready to contribute, too. However, it would behoove the Wolverines to target a legitimate center in the transfer portal.
That's what this team needs if it's going to reach the Final Four next season, which should be the goal for Michigan women's baskeball in 2026-27. The Wolverines have an incredible core. There aren't many head coaches who wouldn't gladly traded rosters with Barnes Arico for the next two years.
Of course, Michigan has to retain Swords, Olson, and Holloway. But, if you have heard any of Swords' post-game interviews, you get the sense she would never leave Michigan. These young women are on a mission.
Monday night was a bump in the road. It was a learning experience, like Michael Jordan losing to the Pistons. Sometimes, you have to lose before you can win, especially in women's college basketball, where the best teams have players who should be in the WNBA but can't leave college early.
It's difficult to crack that elite echelon. Michigan is knocking on the door. If the Wolverines could add an all-conference center, who can provide some interior scoring and some rim protection, this team might be able to win the Big Ten, and who knows, it might be the first team in Michigan women's basketball history to make the Final Four.