Women’s Final Four Preview: Breaking Down UConn vs. South Carolina, UCLA vs. Texas

It’s a repeat Final Four for just the second time in women’s NCAA Tournament history, although the matchups are different.

Blanca Quiñonez (#4) of the UConn Huskies defends against Elina Aarnisalo (#17) of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the fourth quarter of a Sweet Sixteen game at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 27, 2026. Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Before the Men’s Final Four tips off in Indianapolis on Saturday, the women’s NCAA tournament will take center stage.

The 2026 Women’s Final Four begins Friday in Phoenix, as the nation’s fifth-most populous city hosts the event for the first time. It’s all chalk for the women, as all four No. 1 seeds advanced to the semifinals: UConn will face South Carolina in the first matchup, followed by UCLA against Texas in the second. Here’s a look at those two games.

1 UConn (38-0) vs.  1 South Carolina (35-3) – 7 p.m. ET

This is a rematch of last year’s national title game, which the Huskies dominated for a 23-point victory. The Huskies have won 54 straight games, with all but one—a three-point November win over Michigan—coming by double digits. For all of the great UConn teams that Geno Auriemma has coached, this could be his best ever as its two-way domination is unparalleled in the sport.