Women's Final 4 predictions: Who will advance to 2026 national championship?
Women's Final 4 predictions: Who will advance to 2026 national championship?
Heather Burns, USA TODAY Tue, March 31, 2026 at 5:30 AM UTC
0
Yes, the Women's Final Four will feature the same teams as last season.
But the four No. 1 seeds — UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina — all made it clear with several statement wins in the Women's NCAA Tournament, they belong in Phoenix.
The No. 1 overall seeded Huskies won their four March Madness games by an average of 25 points each and are riding a 54-game winning streak dating back to last season as defending national champions. The remainder of the field has seven total losses this season.
UConn will play South Carolina, a rematch of last season's national title game, in the first semifinal on April 3 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). UCLA will follow against Texas, the only team to best them this season, in the second semifinal (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
USA TODAY Sports will have comprehensive coverage this week leading into Friday's national semifinals, but before we get to Phoenix, here's a look at our initial Final Four predictions:
2026 Women's Final Four predictions: Who advances to national championship?
1 / 0See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities
The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.
UConn vs. South Carolina prediction
Heather Burns: UConn. The result will be the same as last year's championship game between the two teams, but let's hope for closer contest. UConn's deep roster and experience in big game situations should help it to prevail. Yes, the Huskies offense runs through Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd but players like Blanca Quiñonez, KK Arnold and Allie Ziebell have all proven they can take over a game offensively. South Carolina doesn't have the depth to go player for player with UConn.
Megan L. Hall: UConn. Despite having seven players on the roster who have played in a Final Four, only two South Carolina players have won a championship. On the other side, UConn has six players who were on last year's championship team and understand the level of play it takes to win the title. With a trip to the national title game on the line, I'm concerned about South Carolina melting under UConn's suffocating defensive pressure, causing them to falter when the lights are the brightest.
Cydney Henderson: UConn. UConn’s depth and experience make them dangerous. Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd are UConn’s go-to for offensive production, but Blanca Quiñonez has been a difference maker for the Huskies. Quiñonez dropped 20 points in UConn’s Elite Eight win over Notre Dame. South Carolina won’t be able to stop everyone.
Mitchell Northam: South Carolina. There are two areas in which UConn has shown some vulnerability this season: rebounding and defending the 3-pointer. South Carolina is elite in both areas, ranking fourth nationally in 3-point shooting percentage this season and inside the top 15 in seven different rebounding statistics. It's also hard to imagine there's going to be a player on the floor on Friday night more motivated to win than Gamecocks point guard Raven Johnson, who is playing in her fourth Final Four and looking to avenge a loss to UConn in last year's title game.
Advertisement
1 / 0March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament
Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in the NCAA women's basketball tournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.
UCLA vs. Texas
Heather Burns: UCLA. The Bruins have lost one game all season and it was to the Longhorns. But, if UCLA does what it does best and continues to go inside-out, looking first for Lauren Betts, it should avenge the Texas defeat. The Bruins have to take care of the basketball, if they have 20 turnovers -- like in their first meeting with the Longhorns -- all bets are off.
Megan L. Hall: UCLA. The lone loss on UCLA's schedule this season is to Texas. The Bruins are a much different team since that moment and will not let Texas beat them twice. The Bruins will lean on its six WNBA draft prospects to get them back to the Final Four. Lauren Betts will lead the charge with a 25-point double-double.
Cydney Henderson: Texas. The Bruins have gotten off to several slow starts in the tournament and they can't do that against a Texas team that is rolling. Madison Booker and Rori Harmon are playing inspired basketball, but the team’s defense has been even more impressive. It’s hard to beat a good team twice, but Texas will hand UCLA its second loss of the season.
Mitchell Northam: UCLA. UCLA showed in its win over Duke that, while it is an elite 3-point shooting team, it doesn't need to rely on long-range shots to win. The Bruins hammered the Blue Devils inside with 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts and let their veteran guards shine. Texas is a great defensive team -- and the only team to beat UCLA this season -- but the Bruins have too much talent, too many weapons and too many ways it can beat an opponent to allow a second loss to the Longhorns.
Where is the Women’s Final Four? -
Location: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix)
The Final Four of the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball tournament will be held at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, the home venue of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
It will be the first time the state of Arizona has ever hosted the Women's Final Four, though it has previously hosted the men's twice, most recently in 2024 when it was played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Final Four dates -
Dates: April 3-5
The two national semifinals of the Final Four will be held on Friday, April 3. The winners of those matchups will then advance to face off in the national championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Final Four schedule
All times are Eastern.
No. 1 UConn vs. No. 1 South Carolina, 7 p.m.
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 1 Texas, 9:30 p.m.
If the field looks familiar, that's because it is. For the second straight season, the four teams left standing in the women's bracket are UConn, South Carolina, UCLA and Texas.
The Final Four will tip off with a between No. 1 seeds UConn and South Carolina at 7 p.m. ET. Both programs will be looking to add another historic chapter, as the Huskies will be playing in their 25th Final Four and the Gamecocks make their eighth appearance under Dawn Staley and fifth consecutive.
Following that up will be another clash of No. 1 seeds UCLA and Texas in a rematch from their Nov. 26 meeting in which the Longhorns handed the Bruins their only loss of the season. Since then, UCLA has won 29 straight.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women's Final 4 predictions: Who will advance to 2026 national championship?
Source: “AOL Sports”
