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Women's Final Four preview: Why each team can win in Phoenix
UConn, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA are the top four teams headed to the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:00pm
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The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four features the top four teams in the country - UConn, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA. Each team has a path to winning the national championship, but they also have potential flaws that could derail their title hopes.
Why it matters
This is the fifth time in NCAA history that all four No. 1 seeds have made it to the Final Four, underscoring the dominance of the top programs in women's basketball. The matchups feature some of the biggest brands and most talented rosters in the sport, setting up an exciting conclusion to the 2025-26 season.
The details
UConn is led by likely national player of the year Sarah Strong and boasts the nation's top-ranked defense. South Carolina has a dynamic duo in Joyce Edwards and Ta'Niya Latson, but lacks Final Four experience outside of its senior backcourt. Texas has ridden a physical, suffocating defense to the Final Four, but struggles with 3-point shooting. UCLA has the best offense in the country, led by 6-7 center Lauren Betts, but must overcome memories of an early-season blowout loss to Texas.
- The Final Four takes place on Friday, April 4, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
- The national championship game is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026.
The players
Sarah Strong
The likely national player of the year, Strong is UConn's defensive anchor and a do-it-all threat on both ends of the floor.
Joyce Edwards
South Carolina's leading scorer at 19.7 points per game, Edwards has stepped up as the Gamecocks' go-to option this season.
Vic Schaefer
The Texas head coach is making his second Final Four appearance with the Longhorns, seeking his first NCAA title.
Lauren Betts
The 6-7 senior center is the most talented player over 6-4 in the country and has been dominant in the NCAA tournament for UCLA.
Kiki Rice
The UCLA point guard must regain her form as a facilitator and 3-point shooter for the Bruins to win their first NCAA championship.
What they’re saying
“She doesn't think about what she's doing. She just does. She wants you to know that she's impacting the game. But she's not worrying about, 'What if I miss this shot, what if I turn the ball over' ... that, to me, is the secret of being really good.”
— Geno Auriemma, UConn Head Coach
“Gotti is the X factor of this team. She's the silent killer. She's not afraid. She's not afraid of nobody. And I think her confidence is through the roof ... She went off against TCU. That's the Gotti we know. And that's who is going to get us that title.”
— Raven Johnson, South Carolina Guard
“We do those drills every day, and they really require maximum exertion. You can't stop dribble penetration unless you get your nose on the ball. And there's an old saying as a coach: If you can't run faster than a ball can be dribbled, we've got a problem.”
— Vic Schaefer, Texas Head Coach
“It was our first time playing at that stage. It was super exciting, great for us to get there, but I do think that now our mindset is going to be a little bit different. We're going to know how to prepare, we're going to know what it will take to be really focused and have success at that level.”
— Kiki Rice, UCLA Guard
“One of our three core values is having a growth mindset. It's more rewarding to watch the steps of growth that lead to [winning]. Winning is a by-product.”
— Cori Close, UCLA Head Coach
What’s next
The national championship game is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026 in Phoenix.
The takeaway
The 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four features an elite quartet of programs - UConn, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA - that have dominated the sport this season. Each team has a clear path to cutting down the nets, but they also have potential weaknesses that could be exploited. The matchups promise an exciting conclusion to the season as the biggest brands in women's basketball compete for the title.
