Clemson Women’s Tennis Earns NCAA Tournament Bid: 3-Seed in Auburn Regional, Set to Face Wisconsin in Opening Round

The roar of the Tiger is echoing once more — this time on the tennis courts.

For the first time since 2014, the Clemson Tigers women’s tennis team is heading into the NCAA Tournament with national relevance and legitimate momentum. Slotted as the 3-seed in the Auburn Regional, the Tigers will open their postseason journey against the University of Wisconsin Badgers in the first round — a matchup that highlights Clemson’s return to national prominence under head coach Christy Lynch.

It’s more than just a tournament berth for Clemson — it’s a statement of arrival. And for a program that has been fighting to reclaim its standing among college tennis elites, this moment feels earned.

The 2024–2025 season has been one of resurgence for Clemson. The Tigers posted a 17–9 overall record and went 9–3 in ACC play, one of the most competitive conferences in women’s tennis. From their early non-conference victories to their gutsy performances in ACC showdowns, the Tigers consistently proved they could hang with — and defeat — some of the best teams in the country.

Coach Christy Lynch, now in her third season at the helm, has completely transformed the program’s trajectory. When she arrived, the Tigers were coming off multiple sub-.500 seasons and hadn’t earned an NCAA bid since the mid-2010s. Her approach — focused on player development, recruiting international talent, and fostering team unity — has paid dividends.

“We’ve talked all year about controlling what we can control,” Lynch said after the team’s selection to the tournament. “This group has bought into that message and worked relentlessly to get to this point. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come — but we’re not done.”

Clemson’s charge into the NCAA Tournament has been powered by a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars.

At the top of the lineup, senior Natalija Popovic has been a force. Known for her tactical baseline play and fiery competitiveness, Popovic has anchored the Tigers’ singles play all season, regularly taking on the opponent’s top player. She’s posted a team-best 16–5 singles record and formed the foundation of the Tigers’ on-court identity.

Junior Isabelle Johnson, an All-ACC second-team selection, has also played a vital role. Whether in singles or doubles, Johnson has become the team’s emotional heartbeat — calm under pressure, fierce in tiebreaks, and relentless in rallies.

Freshman Arina Kucherova, a top recruit out of Ukraine, has provided a jolt of energy and consistency in the middle of the lineup. Kucherova, with her aggressive net play and deceptive topspin, has surprised many ACC opponents and will be one to watch against Wisconsin.

In doubles, the Tigers have relied on a steady duo in Johnson and sophomore Maria Volokhova, who have gone 11–3 in dual matches this season. Their chemistry and aggressive poaching have often given Clemson an early 1-0 edge in match play, setting the tone for team success.

Clemson’s first-round opponent, Wisconsin, enters the NCAA Tournament as a 2nd-place finisher in the Big Ten West Division. The Badgers posted a 14–11 overall record and earned an at-large bid thanks to a strong non-conference showing and quality conference wins over Northwestern and Iowa.

Tactically, Wisconsin poses a contrasting challenge for Clemson. While the Tigers emphasize power from the baseline and aggressive doubles tactics, the Badgers often employ a grind-it-out, defense-first approach. Their top player, junior Leah Heim, has built a reputation for dragging opponents into long, grinding rallies and mentally fatiguing them before delivering the knockout shot.

Wisconsin also features an international flair, with five players from Europe and Asia. That global experience translates to a wide variety of playing styles — from Spanish clay-court grinders to Eastern European power hitters. Clemson will need to stay tactically flexible and emotionally poised to withstand the challenge.

“This is going to be a battle of wills,” Coach Lynch said of the matchup. “Wisconsin plays with tremendous discipline. We need to match that intensity from the first point and dictate the tempo.”

If the Tigers advance past Wisconsin, they’ll likely face the host and top seed Auburn Tigers, who enter the tournament ranked No. 12 nationally and winners of the SEC Tournament. Auburn features one of the deepest lineups in college tennis and has multiple players ranked in the ITA top 100.

But Clemson isn’t intimidated. In fact, they see Auburn as a measuring stick — a chance to prove just how far they’ve come.

“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” said Johnson. “We respect Auburn, but we’re not backing down from anybody. We’ve earned our spot here.”

Rounding out the Auburn Regional is 4-seed Florida International, a dangerous mid-major program that has quietly built a 21-win season and features the Sun Belt Player of the Year. If FIU upsets Auburn and Clemson gets through Wisconsin, the bracket could be thrown wide open.

While Clemson fans are thrilled about the tournament berth, this moment means something deeper for the program. It marks a turning point — the culmination of years of struggle, rebuilds, and near-misses.

Tennis isn’t the biggest sport on Clemson’s campus — that title belongs to football. But those close to the program know the hard work and tradition that underpin women’s tennis at the university. In the 2000s, Clemson was a perennial NCAA contender under coach Nancy Harris, reaching multiple Sweet 16s and producing All-Americans. This current team is beginning to write the next chapter.

“I remember coming here on my visit and hearing stories about what this program used to be,” Popovic said. “I wanted to be part of bringing that back. And now, here we are.”

For Coach Lynch, the success is personal. A former collegiate player herself, she’s used her own experiences to connect with her athletes. Her emphasis on academic excellence and character-building, alongside athletic success, has made her a favorite among players and parents alike.

“We don’t just want to win,” Lynch explained. “We want to build leaders. We want to represent Clemson the right way — on and off the court.”

Every tournament has its Cinderella team — the unseeded or under-the-radar group that catches fire and shocks the bracket. While Clemson is technically a 3-seed in their regional, many experts believe they have the ingredients to be a dark horse in the national bracket.

Their late-season momentum is real. After dropping three straight matches in March, the Tigers closed the regular season on a 6–1 tear, including statement wins over ranked foes Miami and Georgia Tech. That form carried over into the ACC Tournament, where they pushed No. 8 Duke to the brink in the quarterfinals before narrowly falling 4–3.

If Clemson can replicate that level of play, they’ll be a tough out for anyone — even the top national seeds.

While the focus is on this NCAA Tournament run, it’s hard not to look ahead and see a bright future for Clemson tennis.

The Tigers return the bulk of their roster next season, with only two seniors graduating. A top-15 recruiting class is also set to arrive in the fall, including Georgia’s top-ranked high school player and a blue-chip recruit from Germany.

That means this NCAA appearance might not be a one-off — it could be the beginning of a new era.

“We’re building something sustainable,” Lynch said. “This isn’t just about this year — it’s about the future of Clemson women’s tennis. And we’re just getting started.”

Clemson’s passionate fan base, more accustomed to tailgating at Death Valley than tennis courts, has slowly but surely turned its attention to the courts. Recent home matches drew record attendance numbers, and the program’s social media engagement has skyrocketed since the tournament announcement.

On-campus support from Clemson’s athletic department and other programs — including the football and softball teams — has helped elevate the women’s tennis profile. Clemson’s own marketing team launched a “Roar to the Courts” campaign, encouraging fans to support the team’s tournament run with social media graphics and watch party announcements.

“It means the world to us,” said Popovic. “To know that people are watching, supporting us — it’s special. We want to make Clemson proud.”

As the Tigers prepare to face Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the sense around the program is clear: this is more than just a match. It’s the product of belief, work, and perseverance.

For Clemson tennis, this isn’t just a season to remember — it’s the season that changed everything.