The Women’s Final Four field is set and the teams still alive will battle in Phoenix on Friday, April 3 for a spot in the 2026 national championship game. It’s all No. 1 seeds left in this year’s women’s Final Four. The last time that happened was back in the 2018 NCAA tournament when Notre Dame took home the trophy.
The first semifinal matchup is UConn vs. South Carolina, with tip off set for 7 p.m. ET. UCLA takes on Texas in the second game, set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Both games will air on ESPN.
The Gamecocks will be looking to avenge their national championship loss against UConn last season, when they fell to the Huskies 82-59 in Tampa, Florida.
This is the first time this season South Carolina will face UConn, as the two programs have often met during the regular season in the past.
When asked about the differences between last year’s national championship game and South Carolina’s upcoming semifinals matchup, fifth year senior and star defender Raven Johnson spoke about how this team looks different and was also candid about her memories from last April.
“I just remember getting beat by 20, honestly,” Johnson said. “We got new players. This is their first time experiencing the Final Four. I think Coach Staley, and the other coaches, are doing a good job of keeping the main thing the main thing and keeping us ready when the moment is here.”
South Carolina will be facing not one, but two Player of the Year finalists in Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd.
“When you think of UConn you think about the dynasty they have, you can’t even count on your hand how many championships they have,” Johnson said. “Inspirations like Diana Taursi, Sue Bird, Sarah Strong too, she’s an inspiration too at her young age and the things she’s doing.”
Fudd and Strong have combined for a total of 1,352 points this season. One of the main keys for South Carolina’s success on Friday night will be containing UConn’s stars. However, the Huskies do remain a well balanced team and have seen sparks from others throughout the NCAA tournament. Freshman forward Blanca Quiñonez, who has put up double digit points in each 2026 NCAA tournament game so far, has been a great postseason player for the Huskies. A key for the Gamecocks will be how they can maintain UConn’s stars and not let other role players take over too much.
As Johnson pointed out, the Huskies will be facing a different team then they did a year ago. Fudd agreed with that sentiment on Thursday in Arizona, stating how it is a completely different situation this time around.
“This South Carolina team is really talented, Fudd said. “They are playing really well individually, but also as a team. Their transition game, they are playing more confident and more together. It’s going to be a tough game.”
One main difference for this South Carolina team is the addition of Ta’Niya Latson, a senior guard who transferred from Florida State last season.
“Latson is a really skilled guard and really hard to guard,” Fudd said. “She does a little bit of everything, so she helps spread the floor for them and makes things difficult for us on the defensive end, she gives us more to worry about.”
Overall, South Carolina is a well-balanced team, with at least five players averaging double digits points per game this season. The Gamecocks also have an advantage in size against the Huskies and rebounds and foul trouble will be a main key for UConn to keep the game in control.
“Obviously this is a different South Carolina team than the one we played last year,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said. “Our two wins against them last year don’t really mean anything going into (Friday)…They have added some really key pieces. I think they’re a much better team than they were last year. Really hard to prepare for. They’ve shot the ball exceptionally well this year. They’ve added the size that is hard to match up with. Defensively we have our challenges with them.”
UConn ultimately leads the head-to-head series 11-5. However, South Carolina is equally a team with depth and talent too, which should make this matchup a must-watch.
Back in the Final Four again for the second consecutive season, the Texas Longhorns are looking for a sweet ending this time around after falling in the semifinals last year to SEC opponent South Carolina.
Texas and UCLA battled back in November. In that game, the Longhorns defeated the Bruins 76-65 and were able to control UCLA star Lauren Betts.
Texas is on a 12 game win-streak since falling to Vanderbilt in conference play back on Feb. 12. Led by stars junior Madison Booker and fifth-year senior Rori Harmon, Texas stated at Thursday’s media day that scout preparation is key to its success in the semifinals. Like every team that has to take on UCLA, there is focus on how to contain the Bruins’ main weapon Betts.
“We talk about guarding 30 feet out from the rim, playing team defense, not necessarily just leaving it up to our five players to guard her alone,” Harmon said.
The Longhorns will lean on center Kyla Oldacre and forward Breya Cunningham to be disruptive to Betts, who is averaging 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and two blocks per game. Along with defensive success, Texas will have to stay out of foul trouble as well.
“It’s not just Lauren Betts, they have a great overall team and that’s what makes them dangerous and that’s why they are here and a 1-seed. To make them unsuccessful we have to put pressure on (their guards),” Harmon said. “They are the best team on offensive efficiency and I would say we are pretty good defensively, so we really need to put pressure on that offense.”
On Thursday, Harmon and other teammates explained how the squad has shifted its mentality this season compared to last to better prepare for when the lights are the brightest.
“There is nothing in March you can really do to win games besides making sure your team is collected, high-energy and making sure you are actually hot, and that’s the one thing I really took away from last year,” Booker, the Longhorns’ scoring leader this season, said. “Hopefully this year we are still hot and high-energy, but I think we are,” Booker said laughing.
The Bruins, along with their opponent Texas, know what it’s like to almost taste a national championship game, as UCLA fell to the eventual champion UConn last year in Tampa, 85-51.
“I think what we learned last year has been a motivating factor this whole year in the sense that we have taken what we learned last year and applied it to this year,” senior guard Gabriela Jaquez said. “Being here and having the experience is going to help us…It does feel different, I feel more calm and I am more prepared for what’s to come.”
As Texas will have its eyes on Betts, the center will be looking for a stronger performance this time around against the Longhorns. The senior was held to just eight points and seven rebounds during their regular season meeting.
“I think the biggest difference looking back at the film is just creating opportunities to get the ball as much as I can,” Betts said. “I think just creating easier catches. [Texas] is a really amazing defensive team. I think as the guards are getting pressured on the perimeter, just trying to become so open that they just can’t like not give me the ball. I think trying to help out my teammates as much as I can. It’s not one person versus Texas, it’s a full team.”
Undoubtedly, the level of competition, talent and play should be very high come Friday evening in Arizona. As the sport continues to grow, sees increased ratings and revenue, this 2026 Final Four could be historic and memorable for many reasons.
