Harvard women’s basketball will play Columbia in the semifinals of the 2026 Ivy League Tournament on March 13. The game, set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, marks the second meeting between the teams in less than a week and continues a recent rivalry.
The matchup is significant as both teams have been strong contenders in the league, with Harvard finishing the regular season at 17-10 overall and 10-4 in conference play, while Columbia posted a 20-7 record and went 11-3 in Ivy games. Their last encounter saw Harvard overcome a 16-point deficit to defeat Columbia, denying them a share of their fourth consecutive Ivy League title.
Karlee White led Harvard’s comeback with a team-high 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. Olivia Jones contributed with 11 points and no turnovers during her career-high minutes on the court. Saniyah Glenn-Bello added key points and defensive plays, while Katie Krupa provided assists and solid defense. Harvard forced Columbia into one of its highest turnover totals this season.
Several Crimson players received year-end honors. Olivia Jones was named unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year after earning nine Rookie of the Week awards during her first season. Karlee White earned First Team All-Ivy recognition for averaging a team-best 15.4 points per game on efficient shooting percentages, while Abigail Wright was selected for Second Team All-Ivy after stepping into a leading role alongside White.
Harvard has participated in every Ivy Madness tournament since its inception in 2017 and won its first title last season as a non-No.1 seed, highlighted by Harmoni Turner’s record-setting performance against Princeton and another win over Columbia for the championship. The Crimson are known for their strong third-quarter performances this season and have staged multiple comebacks against Columbia.
The winner of Friday’s semifinal will advance to face either Princeton or Brown on March 14 with an NCAA Tournament berth at stake.
