2025 Women’s Final Four Preview

The last four teams remaining in the 2025 NCAA Women’s basketball tournament will play in the Final Four on April 4th at Amailie Arena in Tampa, Florida. 

Game #1:

In the first game of the 2025 Final Four, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN, No. 1 South Carolina (34-3) will face off for the 4th time this season with No. 1 Texas (35-3).

What’s at stake for South Carolina:

The Gamecocks lead the season series 2-1 with the most recent win happening in the SEC Women’s Tournament Championship Game (64-45). South Carolina is back in familiar territory with its 5th consecutive Final Four appearance and seeking to win back-to-back NCAA WBB titles. For Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley, this will be her 7th Final Four appearance since arriving in Columbia, and she will be looking to secure a 4th national title. 

What’s at stake for Texas:

For Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer, this will be his 3rd overall (2 with Mississippi State) Final Four appearance and his 1st since taking over at Texas. It’s been 22 years since the Longhorns made it to the Final Four back in 2003. They will be seeking their to win their 1st national title since 1986. Texas is one of the only three teams to beat the reigning national champs, South Carolina, this season, when they defeated the Gamecocks 66-62 on February 9th in Austin, Texas. They will look to have this series evened at 2-2 by the end of Friday night, to advance to the National Championship game.

#Game 2:

In the second Final Four matchup, No. 1 UCLA (34-2) and No. 2 UConn (35-3) will face off at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN.

What’s at stake for UCLA:

The Bruins are playing in the Women’s Final Four for the first time in program history. Prior to this season, the closest UCLA came to making the Final Four was two defeats in the Elite 8 in 1999 and 2018. Bruins head coach Cori Close has led UCLA to a program record 34 wins this season and will look to get past the UConn Huskies on Friday night to advance to the National Championship game. 

What’s at stake for UConn:

There’s not a coach with more women’s Final Four appearances than UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who will be coaching in his 24th Final Four on Friday. This is the Huskies 4th appearance in the last five years. Coach Geno will look to guide UConn to a win on Friday night over No. 1 UCLA to have a shot at winning a 12th National title.