2026 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 8, 2026

Mark Campbell

Marta Suarez

Olivia Miles

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TCU Horned Frogs

Postgame Press Conference

West Virginia - 62, TCU - 53

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by TCU head coach Mark Campbell and All-Tournament team members Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez.

MARK CAMPBELL: Congratulations to West Virginia, Coach Kellogg. They played an awesome game today. They did a heck of a job defensively, and they just outplayed us today. So credit them.

We've had great battles with them over the last couple of years. And today, they were the better team. It's just an opportunity, guys. It's March. This group has been on a special run, and they have fought and won a Big 12 championship and then got to this game and had a chance to win another championship. So I'm incredibly proud of our group, how far they've come, the way that they battle and compete.

Today we just didn't have it, we didn't have it. And that happens. And one thing I'll say, this group always has bounced back and have grown and improved and gotten better. And I know we'll continue to use this as a great learning experience.

We get a week -- and they've earned this -- to recharge, to get refreshed and then the real thing begins. And we're going to do everything we can to make sure we don't feel this pain for a while. And hopefully we can have a magical run.

Q. Obviously they're a great defensive team. What is it about their scheme that makes this match-up so tough for you guys? And what can you guys learn and take from this as you get ready to face some of these quality teams in the NCAA Tournament?

MARK CAMPBELL: Yeah, well, we won four straight. So I think we've done pretty well against them. Tonight, they outplayed us. I thought they had more physicality. I thought they won the 50-50 balls.

And there's sometimes, guys, this group's 29-5. And it hasn't happened very often, but we just didn't quite have it tonight. We didn't have the juice. And they did it. And credit them.

I'll tell you what, in competition, too, when you beat a team twice, man, they were hungry. So obviously I'll take the blame. I've got to do a good job in making sure our team's ready to go. And so, ultimately, it falls on me. So this will be a great learning experience.

But I think Coach Kellogg is one of the best defensive coaches in the country. If you watched the game before, against Colorado, I don't think either team got to 50. So it's not like they did something tonight that's different. It's really hard to score on these guys, and they do a really good job. So they deserve the credit.

Q. Olivia, can you talk about the fact that you are a very experienced player, and I know it's disappointing today, but just everything you're going to be able to take into the NCAA Tournament, including the experience of playing a team as tough defensively as West Virginia three times?

OLIVIA MILES: I think the biggest lesson I learned is never get too high and never get too low. I think wins and losses come, but there's lessons in both. They just have different feelings.

So I can only speak for myself and my experience that I've had in my college career, but I'll try to do my best to try to lead the young ones and lead the ones who haven't been far in March and take this postseason and use these feelings of, you know, maybe regret or maybe disappointment and turn it into fuel and motivation in some way.

Q. Coach, can you talk about you're going to host again. So two years in a row doing that. Again, forgive me, because I know there's disappointment today, but just the fact that you're going to be hosting for the tournament for the second year in a row?

MARK CAMPBELL: As painful as this is and this sucks, the body of work that this group has accomplished is incredible. I believe we're right there between a 2 or 3 seed. Again, we'll learn next Saturday. But what they've accomplished, with 10 new players, is one of the best resumés in college basketball.

So obviously we're going to get to host. The question is whether or not we get an opportunity to play at Dickies Arena at a regional site. And we've been chasing that. This group has been chasing that. We've been darn near flawless. It's hard to put together a resumé that's 29-5.

So this sucks and the feeling hurts, but gosh dang, I am so proud of what our program has accomplished this season, and we've done it from scratch. So trust me, it's not lost on me. I don't want to get emotional, because I'm proud of these guys.

Q. Marta, you've talked about coming here to play in games like this and how this was so important for to you get to these moments. Obviously taking this one hard, but can you take a moment to kind of reflect on getting to this point and obviously having a chance to host and to make another deep run, and what that means to you guys going forward?

MARTA SUAREZ: Yeah, it's amazing, and to do it with this group of people. And at the end of the day, that's what I transferred for. I was looking somewhere to go deep into March. I'm excited that we get such an incredible opportunity. I'm excited to learn from this loss and to grow from this loss.

We were watching film on BYU and K-State, and two months ago we looked like a completely different team.

I just know we're going to look very different a month from now, too. So I'm excited about that.

Q. Marta, obviously y'all know you all have more games to play. You've experienced some of this before. But just can you explain just what some of your emotions now are just because obviously you're taking this loss a little bit?

MARTA SUAREZ: Well, it sucks. I haven't been in this position to compete for a championship in college basketball yet. So it sucks, but just kind of, to be honest, just a little bit disappointed at myself. I think I showed up in my role a little bit too late today.

They're a phenomenal team. We came in not humble enough, not hungry enough. And so it's just tough. That's what it is. That's what losing is. I'm just excited about practice.

Q. Olivia, several games I think throughout your career, just fouls, you have to play through it. Is there going to be an adjustment for you moving forward with those games and just playing through those fouls to make sure --

OLIVIA MILES: You want me to say no, I'm going to keep fouling? I'm not trying to foul. But, yeah, sometimes dumb stuff happens. And, you know, I'm upset at myself that I put myself in that position. But I know Coach trusts me at the end of the day. He doesn't sit me for too long.

It's just being smart. My fouls, I kind of shot myself in the foot because it ruined my flow a little bit. I don't foul a lot, ever. These last two games, I don't know what has been going on. But definitely going to make an adjustment there for sure, help my team out.

Q. Mark, despite the result, you guys got some great moments from Tay, from Veronica and even Taliyah today. Those type of performances, what can that do for this team as you guys get ready for the NCAA Tournament?

MARK CAMPBELL: Yeah, the group all year, every one of these kids, they've been ready when their number's been called, and we have a group that works so hard, you guys, that love being in the gym, and they all individually work on their craft.

Again, we have really good players on this team. And not everybody gets to play the role or have the minutes they want, but they're a group that they trust each other.

Especially for those, some of those young kids, for Talia and for Clara, just being in this environment as a freshman and sophomore, and compete for championships, and to understand how hard it is.

It is so stinking hard to win a championship. The regular season, that's two and a half months of grinding 18 games, and we did that. And then to get back here and take everybody's best shot. This group has been been able to do that. So these young kids on our roster are getting to see it and feel it and taste it. And it is, you guys, it's exhausting, and it's hard. And this group has done a heck of a job. We just didn't do it enough today.

Kansas City, amazing job here. You guys here in the city, it's our third time here. It's just first class. And the venue, hotels, everything, our program has absolutely loved it.