Two Veteran Coaches Face Off in Final Four

UCLA's Cori Close and Texas' Vic Schaefer meet in NCAA semifinal with Final Four experience on their side

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:36pm

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The NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four matchup between the UCLA Bruins and Texas Longhorns features a clash of two experienced head coaches, Cori Close and Vic Schaefer, who have each led their teams to the national semifinals in consecutive seasons.

Why it matters

Both Close and Schaefer have over 350 career wins but are still seeking their first national championship. This high-stakes showdown will determine which coach can finally break through and advance to the title game.

The details

Cori Close has been the head coach at UCLA since 2011, setting the program's all-time wins record last season. Vic Schaefer, on the other hand, had to wait 15 years between his first and second head coaching jobs before finding success at Mississippi State and now Texas. Schaefer has made four Final Four appearances, while Close is in her second straight.

  • Close has led UCLA to back-to-back Final Four appearances.
  • Schaefer has made the Final Four in consecutive seasons, first with Mississippi State and now with Texas.

The players

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins since 2011, Close has led the program to new heights, including consecutive Final Four appearances.

Vic Schaefer

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns, Schaefer has over 350 career wins and has made four Final Four appearances, first with Mississippi State and now with Texas.

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What’s next

The winner of the UCLA-Texas matchup will advance to the national championship game, where they will face the winner of the other Final Four game.

The takeaway

This Final Four showdown features two of the most accomplished and experienced coaches in women's basketball, both seeking their first national championship. The outcome will determine which program can break through and reach the pinnacle of the sport.