Expert Picks, Predictions and Players to Watch for the Women's Final Four

UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina headline this year's Final Four field

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:50pm

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The final weekend of the women's NCAA tournament is almost upon us and there is a bit of déjà vu with this year's Final Four. UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina were all in last year's Final Four, but they weren't all No. 1 seeds like they are this time around. Our writers and editors make their picks and a few other predictions for this weekend's action in Phoenix.

Why it matters

The Women's Final Four is one of the most anticipated events in college basketball, showcasing the top talent in the women's game. This year's field features several powerhouse programs with a chance to win the national championship, setting up what should be an exciting and competitive tournament finale.

The details

UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina are the No. 1 seeds in this year's Final Four, with all four teams having made it to last year's tournament as well. The writers and editors at Sports Illustrated have made their picks and predictions for the upcoming games, highlighting key players to watch and making bold forecasts about the outcome.

  • The Women's Final Four will take place in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend.
  • The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026.

The players

Madina Okot

A 21-year-old Kenyan forward for South Carolina who has established herself as an automatic double-double threat this season.

Blanca Quiñonez

A freshman standout for UConn who provided a spark off the bench in the Huskies' win over Notre Dame, recording 20 points and 8 rebounds.

Allie Ziebell

A UConn guard who went off for 10 3-pointers in a blowout win over Xavier, showcasing the Huskies' depth at the guard position.

Agot Makeer

A South Carolina forward who has been efficient in the NCAA tournament, making 55% of her shots since the start of the SEC tournament.

Lauren Betts

The UCLA center who will have a tough matchup against Texas' physicality in the paint.

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What they’re saying

“Kymora Johnson's floater to send No. 10 Virginia to double overtime against No. 2 Iowa. A great shot on its own—but add it to the fact that she also hit the three to send this one to the overtime, and was the only player to be on the court for all 50 minutes of this program-swinging win for UVA, and was the hometown kid whose recruitment helped set everything in motion here in the first place, and it's all the better.”

— Emma Baccellieri, Sports Illustrated Writer

“Madison Booker's 40-point outburst against Oregon. Not only did this mark a new career high for Booker, but it also set the program's single-game NCAA tournament scoring record. Booker is an elite playmaker, an efficient shooter, and a generational talent, and she has seized her time to shine on the biggest stage. The Longhorns star embodies the fun of March: top players meeting the moment and garnering national attention.”

— Clare Brennan, Sports Illustrated Writer

“Amaya Battle's game-winning shot to send Minnesota to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. That Ole Miss–Minnesota contest had pretty much everything one could hope for from a March Madness thriller. A mythic fan (Blanket Lady) spurring the hometown crowd on. A local roster that stuck together. A fourth-quarter comeback that ended in the most dramatic way possible. Even though the Golden Gophers lost in the following round, Battle's shot is what the Big Dance is all about.”

— Dan Falkenheim, Sports Illustrated Writer

“Hannah Hidalgo's winning assist against Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16. It wasn't as dramatic as the Duke and Minnesota game-winners, but it was such a brilliant play by Hidalgo: Leaping to grab a pass, then dribbling to draw a defender before making the wrap-around bounce pass to Cassandre Prosper for a layup. It was a great illustration of Hidalgo's brilliant basketball mind.”

— Michael Rosenberg, Sports Illustrated Writer

What’s next

The Women's Final Four will take place this weekend in Phoenix, with the championship game scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026.

The takeaway

This year's Women's Final Four features a familiar field, with UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina all returning from last season. The tournament has showcased some standout individual performances, and the writers at Sports Illustrated have made their picks and predictions for who will emerge victorious. Regardless of the outcome, the final weekend of the NCAA women's basketball tournament is sure to provide high-level, exciting basketball.