Same Women's Basketball Teams Reach Final Four Again, Driven by Money

Parity is rising in women's college basketball, but the top teams continue to dominate due to massive spending on their programs.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:03am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a women's basketball game, with the court and players broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant blue, orange, and green hues, conveying the competitive imbalance in the sport.The financial divide between elite and mid-major women's basketball programs is reflected in the widening gap between championship contenders and the rest of the field.Charlotte Today

For the second time in NCAA women's basketball tournament history, the same four teams - UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina - have reached the Final Four. While parity has increased across the sport, the top teams have separated themselves through massive investments in their programs, spending over $9 million each on operations in 2025. Coaches from smaller programs have called for more resources to be able to compete at the highest level.

Why it matters

The continued dominance of the same elite programs in women's basketball, despite rising parity elsewhere, highlights the growing divide between the haves and have-nots in college sports. Schools that invest heavily in their women's basketball programs are reaping the rewards, while others struggle to keep up. This raises questions about the long-term competitiveness and accessibility of the sport.

The details

The 2026 women's NCAA Tournament Final Four will feature the same four teams as last year - UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina. This marks the second time in tournament history the same four teams have made back-to-back Final Fours, the first being in 1996. While parity has increased across women's college basketball, with more teams ending long tournament droughts, the top programs have continued to separate themselves through massive financial investments. Data shows UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA each spent over $9 million on women's basketball operations in 2025, far outpacing many of their competitors. Coaches from smaller programs have publicly called for more resources to be able to recruit top talent and compete at the championship level.

  • The 1996 women's NCAA Tournament Final Four was held in Charlotte, North Carolina - the only time the event has been played in that state.
  • The 2026 women's NCAA Tournament Final Four will take place on April 3 in Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Arena.

The players

Pat Summitt

The legendary former head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who won 8 national championships during her career.

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn Huskies, who has led the program to 12 national titles.

Andy Landers

The former head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, who led the team to multiple Final Four appearances.

Tara VanDerveer

The head coach of the Stanford Cardinal, who took a year off to focus on the Olympic team but still led Stanford to the Final Four in 1996.

Michelle Marciniak

The star player for the 1996 national champion Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

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What they’re saying

“The parity in our game right now is at an all-time high. I think the support, the fan bases across the country, the crowds that schools are drawing, but I think the parity is what really jumps out at me.”

— Vic Schaefer, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

“In this day and age, we've got to have more resources to be able to fund a team. I have no idea what LSU's cap is or what their total amount is for their team, but ours is probably an eighth of it, if that.”

— Krista Gerlich, Head Coach, Texas Tech Lady Raiders

“You're going to need continuous support. There's got to be an investment in your sport, because it's changing. It really is.”

— Kenny Brooks, Head Coach, Kentucky Wildcats

What’s next

The 2026 women's NCAA Tournament Final Four will take place on April 3 in Phoenix, where the four No. 1 seeds - UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina - will compete for the national championship.

The takeaway

The continued dominance of the same elite programs in women's college basketball, fueled by massive financial investments in their programs, raises concerns about the long-term parity and accessibility of the sport. While parity has increased across the middle of Division I, the gap between the haves and have-nots appears to be widening, with coaches from smaller programs pleading for more resources to be able to compete at the highest level.