Women's Final Four predictions

Generally speaking, women’s March Madness brackets are more predictable than the men’s tournament, but this year, there are just too many elite teams to predict the Final Four.

\UConn Huskies

The Huskies are currently undefeated, and it looks like they could take Final Four-level play to even make them flinch.

The team that has gotten closest to this seemingly untouchable UConn team was Michigan back in November.

Since then, they’ve racked up dominant ranked wins against USC, Iowa, and Tennessee. UConn is as close to a lock as a team can be for the Final Four, especially with the added motivation of a back-to-back title.

UConn is going to be the team to beat this March, but it seems highly unlikely that any team will be able to match up competently with the likes of Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd or the rest of this deep Huskies squad.

South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina has gotten the two losses that they needed to motivate them to a top-four finish in the country.

They fell to SEC opponents Texas and Oklahoma, who were ranked in the top ten at the time of the Gamecocks’ losses. They have since beaten Texas in their rematch, winning other ranked matchups against Tennessee and LSU.

It’s usually impossible to count out a team coached by Dawn Staley any year in the NCAA Tournament, and this year seems no different.

Sophomore forward Joyce Edwards is currently averaging 20 points per game on a loaded South Carolina roster that has four other players who are averaging over ten points per game.

The Gamecocks look not only prepared for the Final Four but also a potential championship game rematch against UConn.

UCLA Bruins

This is the Bruins’ last year to capitalize on the presence of star center Lauren Betts. This isn’t to say that this is UCLA’s last chance at a championship in the next couple of years, but it’s certainly their best chance.

Betts also isn’t a one-woman show; she plays alongside three other players who average over ten points per game: Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, and Gianna Kneepkens.

UCLA’s head coach, Cori Close, is now in her 15th season with the Bruins and has plenty of experience, but she’s never had the luxury of coaching a roster quite as talented as the team she has at her disposal this year.

The Bruins’ one potential flaw is if their star point guard, Kiki Rice, struggles at any point because of how heavily UCLA relies on her playmaking and leadership to control the pace of the game and manage her teammates.

UCLA seems to be a favorite for the Final Four, but they haven’t proven themselves to be on the same level as UConn and South Carolina yet.

Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 6, but this team is built for championship play. They’re the team that got the closest to beating UConn when they lost by three points back in November.

This Michigan team making the Final Four would be an upset, but not an unreasonable one.

With sophomores Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, and Mila Holloway leading the Wolverines in all statistical categories, Michigan making the Final Four would be a great way to lead into their star players’ next two years of eligibility.

If Michigan becomes one of the last four teams standing, it will likely be over Texas, which is currently ranked No. 4, and while they’ve had a solid season, they’ve shown vulnerability recently that indicates a lack of NCAA tournament readiness.

Honorable Mentions

While there are only four teams that can make the Final Four, as the name suggests, there are two teams right on the bubble of making it, and should they play well come March, they could spring an upset and be one of the last four teams left.

Those two teams are Vanderbilt and Duke; they are led by a young core that is hungry, and while they’ll surely be in the national championship conversation next year, there’s a possibility that they start that conversation early.

Vanderbilt is led by one of the best players in the nation in sophomore Micayla Blakes, who averages 26.3 points per game, the most in the country. They also have freshman of the year frontrunner Aubrey Galvin, who leads all freshmen in assists on a loaded Power 5 roster.

Duke is led by Toby Fournier, a sophomore who first popped onto the basketball scene when a video of her dunking in high school went viral. Fournier is an electric player who contributes to one of the best defenses in the country on this young and talented Blue Devils roster.

Gwen Evans is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email her at gme5218@psu.edu.