ASU Athletic Department Gears Up to Host Women's Final Four

The Phoenix area has hosted major sporting events before, and Arizona State has been instrumental in many of them.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Arizona State athletic department will be the host institution for the upcoming NCAA Women's Final Four, which will be held at Mortgage Matchup Center from April 3-5. ASU has served as the host institution for several national championship events in the past, including the NCAA Men's Final Four in 2017 and 2024, as well as the men's and women's NCAA golf championships from 2021 to 2023. The school's athletic department is preparing by having a dozen or so members currently working on the lead-up to the event, with another two dozen working once the teams arrive in town.

Why it matters

Hosting major sporting events like the Women's Final Four is an important opportunity for Arizona State and the Phoenix area to showcase their ability to successfully organize and execute high-profile events. It also helps attract future events to the region, which can provide economic benefits and increased visibility for the local community.

The details

ASU's athletic department will be responsible for various aspects of the Women's Final Four, including media relations, statistics crews, sports medicine and training teams, and serving as liaisons for the visiting teams. The school's personnel will be stretched thin as spring sports will also be in full swing, but Rossini says it's a good problem to have and something the department has handled before.

  • The NCAA Women's Final Four will be held at Mortgage Matchup Center from April 3-5, 2026.
  • ASU has previously hosted the NCAA Men's Final Four in 2017 and 2024, as well as the men's and women's NCAA golf championships from 2021 to 2023.

The players

Graham Rossini

ASU athletic director.

Mike Chismar

ASU senior associate athletic director for operations and facilities.

Christina Wombacher

ASU senior associate athletic director and women's administrator.

Doug Tammaro

ASU senior associate athletic director for media relations.

Molly Miller

ASU women's head basketball coach.

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What they’re saying

“We've done these before, and many of the people who have been involved with those past events will be instrumental in this one too. They understand how the NCAA works, what all goes into putting on something like this. It's always fun, and it's great for the community.”

— Graham Rossini, ASU athletic director (azcentral.com)

“We schedule out. We're lucky to know these things are years in the making. As it gets into the year, you protect time and energy knowing that come April we're going to spread a little thin in terms of the activities, but again, it's all for a purpose. It's important that we play a role in giving back time and energy to help recruit these events to the valley and make sure they're performed well, knowing that when we host these events and do it well, it gives us a better chance of getting future events as well.”

— Graham Rossini, ASU athletic director (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The NCAA Women's Final Four will be held at Mortgage Matchup Center from April 3-5, 2026, with Arizona State serving as the host institution.

The takeaway

Hosting major sporting events like the Women's Final Four is an important opportunity for Arizona State and the Phoenix area to showcase their ability to successfully organize and execute high-profile events, which can help attract future events to the region and provide economic and visibility benefits for the local community.