How To Watch Women’s March Madness Final Four And Championship
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Phoenix, AZ - April 02: The NCAA Women's Final Four logo adorns the outside of Mortgage Matchup Center on Thursday, April 2, 2026 in Phoenix, AZ. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesThe Women’s March Madness Tournament’s Final Four is officially set with four No. 1 seeds (UConn, Texas, UCLA, and South Carolina) vying for the 2026 National Championship.
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Friday, April 3 all four teams will face off in hopes of earning their spot in the national title game. UConn will face South Carolina at 7:00 pm EST on ESPN, followed by UCLA and Texas at 9:30 pm EST on ESPN.
The two winners of the Friday night games will compete for the trophy and the title on Sunday, April 5 at 3:30 pm on ABC.
Key Takeaways for UConn vs. South Carolina
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 06: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies raises the trophy after beating the South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 to win the National Championship of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesIn the first game on Friday, UConn comes into the matchup undefeated and playing a familiar opponent. UConn trounced the Gamecocks in the national title game in 2025, 82-59. This is a chance for South Carolina to get a long awaited revenge.
Last year, UConn was able to stifle the Gamecock offense holding all their players to 10 or less points. However, this year’s roster is different. South Carolina has more height in the interior.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Joyce Edwards #8 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots the ball during the second half of an Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesDespite the loss of forward Chloe Kitts, who is out with a season-ending injury, the Gamecocks have sophomore forward Joyce Edwards (6’3"), and senior center Madina Okot (6’6"). The Gamecocks also have senior forward Maryam Dauda (6’4") and freshman forward Alicia Tournebize (6’7") that can come off the bench and provide meaningful minutes.
Further, the Gamecock offense ebbs and flows by the experienced leadership of their guards. Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson, who was the NCAA point leader in 2025 has averaged 15 points per game across the tournament. They also have weapons in junior guard Tessa Johnson (averages just over 12 ppg) and has held an impressive 47% shooting from the field, and 45% from beyond the arc for the season.
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 16: Raven Johnson #25 of the South Carolina Gamecocks dribbles the ball against Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies during the first quarter of an NCAA women's basketball game at Colonial Life Arena on February 16, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. The UConn Huskies won 87-58. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesLastly, South Carolina is anchored by senior guard Raven Johnson. Johnson, averaged 10 points per game for the tournament, but was named Most Outstanding Player of the Sacramento Four region.
Furthermore, Johnson is known for her defense and the ways she makes it hard for her opponents best player to score. Johnson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a high honor in the most competitive basketball conference, and a finalist for the Dawn Staley award.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 02: WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew (L), Sarah Strong #21 of the Connecticut Huskies (C), and head coach Brandon Schneider of the Kansas Jayhawks (R) pose for a photo after awarding Strong with the WBCA Wade Trophy during a press conference ahead of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesFor UConn, there is a reason the team is undefeated and are extremely hard to beat in the tournament. The Huskies have won 12 national titles and competed in 24 Final Fours, for a 67.6% winning percentage.
UConn has the best player in college basketball, who is only a sophomore. Sarah Strong, recently named Forth Worth Region One Most Outstanding Player, the WBCA Wade Trophy winner, and Naismith Player of the Year has averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and is shooting 59.4% from the field.
Strong also is the third fastest Husky to 1,000 points, behind UConn legend Maya Moore and former teammate Paige Bueckers. Her stats this year also mirror Moore, who went on to win two national titles for the Huskies.
The Huskies also have the scoring threats of graduate guard Azzi Fudd, the predicted No. 1 overall 2026 WNBA pick, and of freshman forward Blanca Quiñonez, named Big East Sixth Player of the Year. Fudd and Quiñonez have averaged 16 and 17.3 ppg respectively in the tournament.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Blanca Quiñonez #4 of the UConn Huskies takes a shot against the Notre Dame Fighting Irishf during the first quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThus, for South Carolina, they have to stop a three-headed offensive snake. Take away Strong in the paint, Fudd and Quiñonez can punish you with a mid-range jumper or three.
Currently, UConn ranks second in the NCAA as an offense and South Carolina ranks third, but the Huskies are the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, and South Carolina ranks 26.
Key Takeaways for UCLA vs. Texas
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Head coach Vic Schaefer of the Texas Longhorns and his team pose for a photo after defeating the Michigan Wolverines in an Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Dickies Arena on March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesFor the second game on Friday, it is the tale of the newcomers. UCLA is making their second Final Four appearance in program history. In comparison, this will be Texas’ fifth appearance in the Final Four, but only the second time since 2003.
UCLA and Texas are evenly matched when it comes to offensive power. The Longhorns rank sixth in the country with an average of 85 ppg, where UCLA is seventh with a razor thin margin between them of 0.1. However, Texas ranks No. 12 in scoring defense, whereas UCLA ranks 21.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 29: Lauren Betts #51 of the UCLA Bruins takes a shot against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesUCLA’s bread and butter is their power on the inside with senior center Lauren Betts. The Bruins rank No. 9 in the country in rebounds per game, in large part due to Betts who averages 8.6 a game. Betts is also a threat in the paint as she averages 17.2 ppg, and has averaged 24 points in the tournament thus far.
However, Betts isn’t the only offensive weapon, three other players average in double digits in senior guards Kiki Rice (15.2 ppg), Gabriela Jaquez (13.4), and Gianna Kneepkens (12.8). UCLA also ranks second in assists per game, behind only UConn.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 29: Kiki Rice #1 of the UCLA Bruins reacts with Charlisse Leger-Walker #5 of the UCLA Bruins against the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesParticularly, Rice has increased her production since last year, in large part due to the offense being directed by guard and transfer Charlisse Leger-Walker. Leger-Walker averages 5.8 assists per game, and her presence has allowed Rice to play off the ball and score more at will than last season (15.2 vs. 12.8 ppg).
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Madison Booker #35 of the Texas Longhorns attempts a shot in the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesFor Texas, the team wins and losses by their big three, in forward Madison Booker, Rori Harmon, and Kyla Oldacre. Booker, a junior is averaging 19.3 ppg, but in the tournament, she is averaging 30.7. She was named Most Outstanding Player for Forth Worth Region Three after a 19 point, seven rebound performance against Kentucky in the Elite Eight.
What makes Booker unique is her efficiency, especially during the tournament. Booker has averaged 52.3% shooting for the season, but in the tournament she has ramped up to 57%, and is coming off a 61.5% shooting rate in the win over Michigan in the Elite Eight.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Rori Harmon #3 of the Texas Longhorns brings the ball up court in the Elite Eight round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns at Dickies Arena on March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
ISI Photos via Getty ImagesThe offense for Texas is led by senior guard Harmon, who is averaging 6.2 assists this season, her best season yet in a Longhorns uniform. Harmon will look to feed not only Booker, but Oldacre in the paint for Texas.
Oldacre, a senior center for the Longhorns is having her best season. She is averaging 10.2 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals. As the player with the most length, she will most likely get the assignment of defending and stopping Betts.
Texas, does have one x-factor to consider. Sophomore guard Jordan Lee is a threat from beyond the arc. She has averaged 14.5 ppg in the tournament, but has only averaged 20.8% from three. However, over the last two seasons, Lee is shooting 36.9% from deep range and her stroke will be needed to combat the offensive power of the Bruins.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Jordan Lee #7 of the Texas Longhorns dribbles the ball while being guarded by Brooke Quarles Daniels #5 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesOne thing is guaranteed in the Final Four over the weekend, fans in the arena and at home will see the best teams compete for the national championship. This is the first time since the 1995-1996 season that the same four teams have returned to the Final Four two years in a row.
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com