The Women’s NCAA Tournament begins this week, and March’s madness is heating up. With a field stacked with talent, the race to the Final Four in Tampa is wide open. No. 1 seeds UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and USC lead the pack, but surprises and tough draws could shake things up. Who will reach the Final Four?
Top Teams That With A Final Four Shot
The selection committee set the stage with UCLA grabbing the No. 1 overall seed after dominating the Big Ten tournament.
South Carolina, the reigning champs, landed at No. 1 in Birmingham-2 but missed the top spot after a 29-point loss to UConn and a head-to-head defeat to UCLA.
Texas and USC rounded out the No. 1 seeds, while Notre Dame’s late-season slide dropped them to a No. 3 seed.
If these teams advance, the Final Four could see UCLA facing USC in a cross-L.A. showdown, while South Carolina and Texas clash in an SEC battle. These matchups would mark the fourth meeting this season for each pair. History favors the favorites—11 of the last 12 national titles went to a No. 1 seed.
South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, eyeing her fourth ring, has her Gamecocks primed despite a slight seeding snub. Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley spark the offense, while Chloe Kitts has stepped up since Ashlyn Watkins’ injury.
USC, the Spokane-4 No. 1 seed, isn’t thrilled either. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb sees a potential Elite Eight clash with UConn as a brutal early test. The Trojans beat the Huskies earlier this season, but UConn’s Azzi Fudd wasn’t at full strength then.
Trojans JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen give Southern Cal an edge, especially against a UCLA team that faltered in stretches during the Big Ten title game.
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UConn, a No. 2 seed in Spokane-4, brings superstar Paige Bueckers to the party. Her team is perfect in the Final Four when she plays. Freshman Sarah Strong and a resurgent Jana El Alfy bolster a roster that could topple USC or UCLA. It’s a familiar vibe from 2022 that ended with a Huskies title.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s path is rocky. The No. 3 seed in Birmingham-3 could face No. 2 seed TCU in the Sweet 16 after losing to them earlier in the season.
The odds currently tilt toward UCLA, South Carolina, USC, and UConn reaching the Final Four. But with TCU, Texas, and Notre Dame lurking, the road to Tampa is still very uncertain.
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