The NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Texas will face South Carolina for the fourth time this season, followed at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET by UConn vs. UCLA.
What are the latest injury reports for each team heading into tonight’s national semifinals? See below.
South Carolina vs. Texas Injury Report
The defending champion Gamecocks (34-3) take on the Longhorns (35-3) for the fourth time this season. The teams split two regular season SEC matchups, with the Gamecocks winning at home just after New Year’s, 67-50, and Texas responding with a win of its own at home in February, 66-62. South Carolina then took the third match in the SEC Conference Tournament Championship game, 64-45.
This is the Gamecocks’ seventh trip to the Final Four under Staley, including the team’s fifth straight. South Carolina won titles in 2017, 2022 and 2024. The Longhorns are making their first trip to the Final Four since 2003. The school won its lone national title under legendary coach Jody Conradt in 1986.
Here is who will not be available for tonight’s contest:
Texas
Laila Phelia, Sr., G, OUT
Aaliyah Moore, Sr., F, OUT
Phelia, a Cincinnati native who transferred from Michigan ahead of the season, suffered a detached cornea early and has not played since a Dec. 11 blowout over Southern. It was a big hit as Phelia, a two-time All-Big Ten selection who averaged more than 16 points each of her last two years in Ann Arbor, was expected to contribute heavily.
Moore started all 19 games she played in for the Gamecocks this season. Her last appearance was an 80-76 victory over Tennessee in January. She suffered a knee injury and has not returned. Phelia was averaging 6.1 points per game.
South Carolina
Ashlyn Watkins, Jr., F, OUT
South Carolina lost Watkins for the season to a torn ACL suffered against Mississippi State in a 95-68 win over the Bulldogs in early January. Considered the Gamecocks’ top interior defender, Watkins was averaging 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks at the time.
UConn vs. UCLA Injury Report
Coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies, the lone regional No. 2 seed in the national semifinals, take on Final Four newbie UCLA. Both squads are relatively healthy for this evening’s contest. See who will not be playing below.
UConn
Morgan Cheli, Fr., G, OUT
Cheli has carved out a reserve role for the Huskies, averaging 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 24 games. Her last appearance came in a 77-40 rout of Providence in February when she had two points and four rebounds.
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Auriemma doesn’t know when she hurt it, but Cheli underwent season-ending ankle surgery less than two weeks after the game against the Friars.
UCLA
N/A
The Bruins have no injuries listed on their latest report going into tonight’s contest with UConn.
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