The girls’ final four is set to showcase some of the sport’s most renowned programs and standout athletes.
The teams competing in Phoenix this weekend include the No. 1 Connecticut Huskies, No. 1 UCLA Bruins, No. 1 Texas Longhorns, and No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks.
Intense matchups are anticipated in the final rounds, with the Huskies pursuing a record 13th championship, while Lauren Betts and the Bruins aim for their inaugural title. Each team features high-caliber players, including UW’s Azi Fudd, Longhorns’ Madison Booker, and South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards.
Let’s delve into how each of these teams secured their place in the Final Four.
Connecticut Huskies
In an impressive showing, the Huskies advanced to the Final Four for the fifth time in six seasons. UConn dominated its tournament matches, winning every game by a margin of at least 18 points, notably with a staggering 43-point victory over No. 9 Syracuse in the second round.
The team’s success can be attributed to the dynamic duo of senior guard Azi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong, who collectively averaged 35.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during the tournament. Their versatility poses significant challenges for opposing defenses, with the pair capable of scoring from various areas on the court.
Having secured five titles in seven years during the 2010s, UConn is eager to establish a new dynasty by clinching its 12th national championship, following last season’s triumph. Head coach Geno Auriemma, at 72, remains fiercely competitive, and the Huskies have become the team that others strive to overcome.
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins showcased their resilience by coming from behind to defeat No. 3 Duke in the Elite Eight, ensuring their progression to the Final Four. Senior center Lauren Betts played a pivotal role, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to help UCLA overturn an eight-point halftime deficit.
Now in her third season with the Bruins after starting at Stanford University, Betts is recognized as one of the top players in the nation. She has averaged 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 3.2 assists per game throughout the tournament. Betts has received strong support from a trio of guards—Kiki Rice, Gabriella Jaques, and Gianna Kneepkens—who are all contributing double-digit points.
This marks UCLA’s second consecutive Final Four appearance and only the second in the program’s history. For Betts and head coach Cori Close, this moment is significant, especially after losing to the Huskies in the semifinals last year. The Bruins are looking for a chance at redemption as they aim to go where no women’s team has gone before.
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns finished the season with an impressive 35-3 record, placing second in the SEC before dominating the tournament. Texas has achieved an average margin of victory of 35.5 points in the postseason, including a notable 36-point win over No. 2 Michigan State in the Elite Eight.
A formidable pairing of third-year forward Madison Booker and sophomore guard Jordan Lee has propelled the Longhorns’ success. Booker, who has earned the Cheryl Miller Award as the nation’s best small forward for the second consecutive year, is averaging 22.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, including a striking 40-point game against No. 8 Oregon. Lee has also made significant contributions, scoring an average of 14.5 points per game in the last four matches.
This will be Texas’s second consecutive appearance in the Final Four and the fifth in program history. After experiencing a tough loss to South Carolina in last year’s semifinals, Booker and her teammates are motivated as they prepare for their journey in Phoenix.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Unlike previous seasons, the University of South Carolina did not finish atop the Associated Press poll this year. However, the Gamecocks remain contenders for their fourth national championship under head coach Dawn Staley.
Following a 17-point defeat to fellow No. 1 seed Texas in the SEC Tournament championship game on March 8, South Carolina quickly rebounded, defeating tournament opponents Southern (by 69 points), Southern California (by 40 points), and Oklahoma State (by 26 points). They most recently triumphed over TCU with a score of 78-52 in the Elite Eight.
Five Gamecocks are contributing double-digit scoring, led by forward Joyce Edwards, who averages 19.6 points per game. The team boasts an impressive average of 87.4 points per game and ranks seventh in the nation for shooting percentage from three-point range, effectively keeping opponents on the defensive. With prolific 3-point shooter Tessa Johnson, who hits 45 percent from beyond the arc, and forward Madina Okot contributing 10.9 rebounds per game, South Carolina is capable of winning games through various strategies.
A victory in Friday’s national semifinal would pave the way for Staley to guide her team to their fourth national championship game in the last five seasons.
