Live updates at the 2026 Women's Final Four in Phoenix
How the nation picked these Final Four teams
With all No. 1 seeds reaching Phoenix, just under a quarter of Women's Bracket Challenge Game entries went 4 for 4 in picking the Final Four teams.
In fact, 104,010 — or 23.95 percent — of brackets had UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina making the national semifinals. The largest group hit on three teams, with 38.80 percent of brackets getting that many correct.
Here's the breakdown:
- 4/4 teams: 23.95%
- 3/4 teams: 38.80%
- 2/4 teams: 20.43%
- 1/4 teams: 11.29%
- 0/4 teams: 5.53%
Not surprisingly, UConn was the most popular Final Four team, as 81.69 percent of brackets had the undefeated, defending national champs in Phoenix.
Now let's go even further.
Of the 104,010 that got all four Final Four teams, how did those brackets pick their champion? Yet again, UConn is the runaway choice.
- UConn: 61.49%
- UCLA: 16.33%
- South Carolina: 12.95%
- Texas: 9.23%
What's interesting to note is these brackets are even more sided with the Huskies. When we looked at all Women's Bracket Challenge Game entries once brackets locked, "only" 47.92 percent had UConn as their champion.
The Final Four is TODAY
Good morning from Phoenix!
We're here providing on-site coverage all weekend for this year's Final Four. It's a powerhouse group — we have all four No. 1 seeds and the same four national semifinalists from a year ago. It's the first time all No. 1 seeds are in the semifinals since 2018 and just the fifth time ever.
Today's games begin at 7 p.m. ET, with UConn taking on South Carolina. We then shift to the other semifinal of UCLA vs. Texas, which will tip around 9:30 p.m. (approximately 30 minutes after the first game ends). Gates open at Mortgage Matchup Center at 5:30 p.m.
UConn is looking to become the 11th undefeated title team and secure the program's first unbeaten crown since 2016. The Huskies entered March Madness undefeated in both 2017 and 2018 but twice lost in the semifinals (to and ) in dramatic fashion.
UConn is also looking to add to its record haul of trophies — the Huskies' 12 championships are the most in the nation. Meanwhile, South Carolina is looking for its fourth (all since 2017), while Texas is hoping to win its second (1986). UCLA has yet to win it all, as the Bruins' first Final Four appearance was only a season ago.
📺 How to watch Friday's semifinals
🗓️ Date: Friday, April 3
⏰ Time:
- (1) UConn vs. (1) South Carolina, 7 p.m. ET
- (1) UCLA vs. (1) Texas, 9:30 p.m. ET
📺 TV: ESPN and
📍 Location: Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
📊 Follow: Live scores and stats
We will be live blogging the game on-site here on krikyalotto.com.
How last year's Final Four finished
The 2025 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla. featured the same quartet of UConn, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA. With all four running it back in 2026 it marks just the fifth time in NCAA tournament history that all four No. 1 seeds reached the semifinal and just the second group of four in NCAA tournament history — men's or women's — to make back-to-back Final Fours.
Let's take a look at how things went down last season with these four programs.
UConn dominated UCLA in semifinal
UConn opened the national semifinals with a commanding 85-51 win over UCLA. The Huskies never trailed, using a second quarter run to build a 20-point lead and control the game throughout.
Sarah Strong led the way with 22 points, while Azzi Fudd added 19 and Paige Bueckers scored 16. UCLA, in its first Final Four appearance, was led by Lauren Betts’ 26 points but could not overcome UConn’s depth and efficiency.
South Carolina advanced to title game
South Carolina secured the other spot in the championship by beating Texas 74-57, continuing a dominant stretch under head coach Dawn Staley. The then-reigning champions used their defense and physicality to carry them back to the title game as they pursued another championship in an already historic run.
Joyce Edwards excelled with 13 points and 11 rebounds in her Final Four debut.
UConn wins 12th national championship
In the championship game, UConn defeated South Carolina 82-59 to claim its 12th national title and first since 2016.
Fudd was named Most Outstanding Player after scoring 24 points, while Strong added 24 points and 15 rebounds. Bueckers finished with 17 points in her final collegiate game, capping off an illustrious career.
Head coach Geno Auriemma became the oldest coach to win a major college basketball title, as the Huskies ended a nine-year championship drought.
Some context for the defending champs: Undefeated teams rarely finish the job. Since undefeated UConn and Notre Dame met in the 2014 title game, seven teams have entered March Madness unbeaten, but only two — 2016 UConn and 2024 South Carolina — went on to win the championship. This year's Huskies team would be the third.
🐦🔥 Welcome to Phoenix: How each team made it to the final weekend
For the second straight season, South Carolina, Texas, UCLA and UConn advanced to the Women’s Final Four, validating preseason expectations as the nation’s preseason top 4 teams. The quartet has combined for a 143-7 record, with no tournament game decided by fewer than 12 points. It marks just the second time all four teams returned to the Final Four and the fifth time all No. 1 seeds advanced.
UConn
The Huskies are riding high on a nation-leading 54-game win streak, having not dropped a contest since last February. While it's not always as simple to say the best team with the best player is likely to win, National Player of the Year Sarah Strong sure does make a compelling case for the 47.92 percent of brackets that had UConn holding the trophy on Sunday.
- First round: No. 1 UConn 90, No. 16 UTSA 52
- Second round: No. 1 UConn 98, No. 9 Syracuse 45
- Sweet 16: No. 1 UConn 63, No. 4 North Carolina 42
- Elite Eight: No. 1 UConn 70, No. 6 Notre Dame 52
- Final Four: No. 1 UConn vs. No. 1 South Carolina, 7 p.m. | ESPN
Texas
The Longhorns had arguably the most dominant tournament run among the four, highlighted by a 36-point win over Michigan in the Elite Eight. Texas is also responsible for UCLA's lone loss and two of South Carolina's three. Star Madison Booker also posted 40 points on 21 shots in the 42-point win against Oregon in the second round.
- First round: No. 1 Texas 87, No. 16 Missouri State 45
- Second Round: No. 1 Texas 100, No. 8 Oregon 58
- Sweet 16: No. 1 Texas 76, No. 5 Kentucky 54
- Elite Eight: No. 1 Texas 77, No. 2 Michigan 41
- Final Four: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 UCLA, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
UCLA
The Bruins are led by star forward Lauren Betts, whose consistent interior dominance has powered UCLA through the nation's toughest schedule. UCLA did have to come back to beat Duke in the Elite Eight, but have navigated the season largely unscathed.
- First round: No. 1 UCLA 96, No. 16 California Baptist 43
- Second round: No. 1 UCLA 87, No. 8 Oklahoma State 68
- Sweet 16: No. 1 UCLA 80, No. 4 Minnesota 56
- Elite Eight: No. 1 UCLA 70, No. 3 Duke 58
- Final Four: No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 1 Texas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
South Carolina
The Gamecocks are now in their sixth consecutive Final Four. Dawn Staley's group has won the four tournament games by a combined 161 points as returners Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson continue to overwhelm opponents.
- First round: No. 1 South Carolina 103, No. 16 Southern U 34
- Second round: No. 1 South Carolina 101, No. 9 USC 59
- Sweet 16: No. 1 South Carolina 94, No. 4 Oklahoma 68
- Elite Eight: No. 1 South Carolina 78, No. 3 TCU 52
- Final Four: (1) South Carolina vs. No. 1 UConn, 7 p.m. | ESPN
The national semifinals feature a rematch of last year’s championship between UConn and South Carolina, while Texas faces UCLA in a rematch of an early season meeting where the Longhorns won 76-65.