UConn Men and Women Both Reach Final Four

Paige Bueckers reacts to historic accomplishment for Huskies basketball programs.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:18pm

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The undefeated UConn women's basketball team and the UConn men's team have both advanced to the Final Four of their respective NCAA Tournaments. Paige Bueckers, who led the UConn women to the national title last year, commented on the Huskies' success and the significance of both programs reaching the Final Four in the same year.

Why it matters

This marks the 15th time in history that the same university has had both its men's and women's basketball teams reach the Final Four in the same year. UConn has accomplished this feat multiple times, becoming the first school to win the men's and women's national titles in the same year in 2004 and 2014.

The details

The undefeated No. 1 UConn women's team will face the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four on Friday. The No. 2 UConn men's team upset Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, to advance to the Final Four, where they will face No. 3 Illinois on Saturday.

  • The UConn women's and men's teams both reached the Final Four in 2026.
  • The UConn women will face South Carolina on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The UConn men will face Illinois on Saturday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Paige Bueckers

The former UConn women's basketball star who led the team to the national title in 2025 and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who has led the Huskies to 11 national championships.

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team, who has led the Huskies to back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who is seeking revenge against UConn after the Huskies denied the Gamecocks a back-to-back championship last year.

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What they’re saying

“It's really fun. I mean, it's just, like, they're backing up the statement that we're the basketball capital of the world in Storrs, Connecticut. We didn't get to have a duo year. We were close, but we would love to do that this year.”

— Paige Bueckers

“I feel like they've had some close games, and the way that they've responded to the adversity and the closer first halves. For me, it's always like, I'm scared [for] other teams coming out for the third quarterback because I know what Coach [Geno Auriemma] is saying at halftime. So, the response and resilience and the togetherness, I think, has stood out for sure.”

— Paige Bueckers

What’s next

The UConn women's team will face South Carolina in the Final Four on Friday, April 4, 2026, while the UConn men's team will face Illinois on Saturday, April 5, 2026. The winners of those games will advance to the national championship games.

The takeaway

The simultaneous success of the UConn men's and women's basketball programs underscores the school's status as a powerhouse in college basketball. The Huskies' ability to consistently field elite teams on both the men's and women's sides is a remarkable accomplishment that cements their reputation as the 'basketball capital of the world'.