The Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida, is stacked with powerhouse programs, top seeds, and elite talent. Unlike previous tournaments, there are no Cinderella stories this year, as No. 1 seeds South Carolina, UCLA, and Texas are joined by second-seeded UConn, which has been the most dominant team over the past month. The Huskies secured their spot by defeating top-seeded USC, which was without its best player.
Defending champion South Carolina, led by coach Dawn Staley, is making its fifth consecutive Final Four appearance and is just two wins away from becoming the first repeat champion since UConn’s dominant run from 2013-16. The Gamecocks will take on fellow SEC team Texas, marking their fourth meeting this season. Meanwhile, UConn and UCLA will battle in the other semifinal.
The Huskies, appearing in their record-extending 24th Final Four, are led by star guard Paige Bueckers, who hopes to deliver coach Geno Auriemma his 12th national title the first since their four-year championship streak ended in 2016.
Top overall seed UCLA is making its first Final Four appearance in the NCAA era. The Bruins previously won a national title in 1978 before the NCAA took over women’s basketball, led by legendary Ann Meyers Drysdale. However, their success in that era hadn’t translated to the modern tournament until now.
Auriemma’s Huskies hold the record for most national championships (11) and once made 14 straight Final Fours before that streak was broken in 2023. Now, they’re back on the big stage, aiming to reclaim their dominance.
Final Four Matchups
South Carolina vs. Texas
These teams are familiar foes, having faced off three times this season. They split their regular-season matchups, each winning at home, before South Carolina claimed the SEC Tournament title with a convincing 17-point victory.
The Gamecocks have battled through tough postseason tests, winning both games in the Birmingham Regional by four points against Maryland and Duke. A key factor in their success against Texas has been defense when they won, they held the Longhorns to under 30% shooting. In Texas’ lone victory, they shot 44%.
Texas coach Vic Schaefer acknowledged the challenge of facing Staley’s squad again. “They’re tough, aggressive, physical,” he said. “If you don’t bring an edge to the fight, it won’t be much fun.”
Both teams boast star talent: Texas is led by Rori Harmon and Madison Booker, while South Carolina features Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
This marks Texas’ first Final Four since 2003. Schaefer, who previously guided Mississippi State to back-to-back national championship games in 2017 and 2018, becomes just the fifth coach to take multiple programs to the Final Four.
UConn vs. UCLA
UCLA’s hopes rest heavily on dominant post presence Lauren Betts, a 6-foot-7 center who has been a force in the tournament. She posted back-to-back 30-point, 10-rebound performances in the second round and Sweet 16 and followed that up with a 17-point, seven-rebound, six-block effort in the Elite Eight, despite battling foul trouble.
Slowing down Betts will be UConn’s top priority. However, no player has been more locked in than Bueckers, who is on a mission to cap her storied college career with a national title. She’s had key support from Azzi Fudd and standout freshman Sarah Strong, who has put together one of the most impressive first-year campaigns in UConn history.
With championship pedigree, historic programs, and elite talent across the board, the stage is set for an electrifying Final Four.
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