South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley celebrates her team's victory over Texas in the Southeastern Conference tournament final on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In an exciting twist, the Women's NCAA Final Four is set with three No. 1 seeds vying for a spot in the championship game. South Carolina, Texas, UCLA, and UConn will face off for a chance to claim the coveted title.
South Carolina has made its mark again, securing a spot in the Final Four for the fifth consecutive year. The Gamecocks narrowly defeated Duke 54-50, with their eyes on becoming the first back-to-back NCAA champions since UConn's incredible four-year streak from 2013 to 2016. South Carolina will go head-to-head with Texas on Friday in an all-SEC battle. These teams are no strangers to each other, having split their regular-season matchups, with South Carolina emerging victorious in the SEC Tournament by a 17-point margin.
On the other side, UCLA advanced to its first-ever women's Final Four after a hard-fought 72-65 victory over LSU. The Bruins owe much of their success to their star player, 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts, who dominated the game with 17 points, seven rebounds, and six blocks. Despite sitting out the second quarter, Betts played a key role in pushing UCLA to the next level. The Bruins will face UConn, the tournament's overall favourite, who clinched their 24th Final Four appearance with a 78-64 win over USC.
The Final Four matchups are thrilling. Texas (35-3) will challenge South Carolina (34-3) at 7 p.m. Eastern, and UCLA (34-2) will take on UConn (35-3) at 9 p.m. Eastern on Friday. These matchups promise to be intense, with both Texas and South Carolina eager to make their mark, and UCLA relying on Betts' standout performance. UConn, with players like Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, is looking to secure another title and build on its legacy.
Every game of the women’s tournament will be broadcast on ESPN’s networks and streaming platforms, with the championship game set for Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern. Last year, the women’s title game broke records, drawing more viewers than the men’s game for the first time, with 18.9 million watching South Carolina claim victory over Iowa and Caitlin Clark.
The favourites heading into the Final Four are UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA, as predicted by BetMGM Sportsbook. The road to the championship has been paved by automatic bids to 31 conference champions and 37 at-large picks from the NCAA selection committee.
As the games unfold, fans can look forward to the thrilling competition and watch the drama of the Final Four on ESPN and streaming platforms, culminating in a championship battle on Sunday.
