NCAAW March Madness: Final Four preview

The stage is set for the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four, with UConn vs UCLA and South Carolina vs Texas vying for those coveted spots in the national championship.

As the tournament powers on, the world of women's basketball has seen dynamic plays, heartbreaking updates as well as history in the making.

The Huskies punched their ticket to the Final Four with a commanding 78-64 victory over No. 1-seeded USC in the Elite Eight. UConn capitalized on the absence of Trojans’ superstar Juju Watkins, who suffered a torn ACL earlier in the tournament.

Without Watkins, who averaged 27.3 points per game, USC struggled to generate offense against the Huskies' stifling defense.

Paige Bueckers led UConn with 24 points, while Aaliyah Edwards controlled the paint, adding 18 points and 12 rebounds. The victory sends UConn back to the Final Four for the first time since 2022, where they will meet UCLA in a highly anticipated showdown.

UCLA secured its spot in the Final Four with a dramatic 72-65 win over LSU. Kiki Rice delivered in the clutch performance while standout star Lauren Betts delivered in all the best ways.

The Bruins are making just their second Final Four appearance in program history and will look to slow down a surging UConn team.

Top-seeded South Carolina remains on top after sneaking past Duke 54-50 in the Elite Eight. The Gamecocks, led by head coach Dawn Staley, are looking to return to the national championship game.

Their opponent, Texas, is making its first Final Four appearance since 2003. The Longhorns stunned TCU 58-47 eliminating Hailey Van Lith and the Frogs, Texas has emerged as a formidable challenger to South Carolina’s title hopes.

The semifinal matchups will take place Friday night, with South Carolina and Texas tipping off first, followed by UConn and UCLA. The winners will meet in Sunday’s championship game, with a national title on the line.

With a blend of historic programs, rising stars and redemption arcs, this year’s Final Four promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in women’s college basketball history.

Brooke Casey is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact her email: bec5457@psu.edu