No Clear Favorite Amid Thrilling Final Four in Women’s NCAA Tournament

TAMPA, Fla. — The 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is poised for an exciting climax with the Final Four featuring three No. 1 seeds and a No. 2 seed, none of which are clear favorites. The matchups will take place on Friday night at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, showcasing the intensity of March Madness.

This year’s tournament saw few upsets, with only six lower seeds overcoming higher seeds; however, this has not diminished the excitement leading to the Final Four. Fans can look forward to a thrilling lineup reminiscent of the 2018 tournament, where all four No. 1 seeds faced off, resulting in two overtime games and a buzzer-beater that decided the championship.

As the tournament progresses, four teams stand out in anticipation of their semifinals. The teams include:

1. UConn (Original seed: No. 2)

The UConn Huskies, reaching their 16th Final Four in 17 years, have emerged as a dominant force. In their Elite Eight matchup against USC, freshman Azzi Fudd played a pivotal role, leading the team with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Notably, star player Paige Bueckers has scored 31 points and made six assists in the same game, bringing her total to 105 points over the tournament’s last three games, a record for any player in UConn history.

“We are just focused on playing our game and taking it one step at a time,” Bueckers said after the win over USC.

Next up, UConn faces UCLA on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

2. UCLA (Original seed: No. 1)

The Bruins have made their first Final Four appearance since 2003, largely due to the impressive performances of freshman Lauren Betts and junior Gabriela Jaquez. In their Elite Eight game against LSU, Jaquez scored 18 points, helping UCLA overcome a tough second-half performance while dealing with Betts’ foul trouble.

“We just shot the ball well when it mattered most,” Jaquez remarked about their performance. “Defense and working together were key for us.”

UCLA’s game against UConn will prove challenging as they will need to find ways to create shots beyond the arc, having averaged only 27.1% of their points from 3-point shots in the regular season.

3. South Carolina (Original seed: No. 1)

Defending champions South Carolina are back in the Final Four for their fifth consecutive year, though this journey has been their toughest yet, with an average margin of victory of only 6.3 points in the last three games. In a close contest against Duke during the Elite Eight, the Gamecocks rallied with a late surge, with Brea Beal and Aliyah Boston combining for 26 crucial points.

“We fought our way in,” head coach Dawn Staley expressed. “This team has shown grit and determination throughout the tournament, and we’re here to defend our title.”

South Carolina will face Texas on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

4. Texas (Original seed: No. 1)

Texas has shown notable defensive strength under head coach Vic Schaefer, allowing no opponent to score more than 61 points in the NCAA tournament. A dominating performance against TCU, where they forced 21 turnovers, sent the Longhorns to their first Final Four since 2003.

Schaefer noted the importance of their defensive strategy, saying, “Physicality and intensity are what we strive for, and this team has delivered.”

The Longhorns’ match against South Carolina poses a significant challenge, having previously lost two of three encounters this season. Texas aims for better offensive execution to turn the tide.

As the countdown to the Final Four continues, excitement builds. Fans and analysts alike anticipate which team will emerge victorious in Tampa, Florida, on Friday night.