The 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament has reached its climax, with the Final Four tipping off in Tampa, Florida, on April 4. Top seeds UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and UConn have dominated, advancing to the national semifinals.
The road to this stage saw thrilling performances from stars like Paige Bueckers (UConn), Hailey Van Lith (TCU), and Lauren Betts (UCLA).
Women’s March Madness Final Four Predictions & Key Matchups
Defensive strength propelled South Carolina, Duke, and Texas, while USC managed to push forward despite JuJu Watkins’ absence. LSU also found unexpected contributors. The Elite Eight featured three matchups between No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, along with one No. 1 vs. No. 3 battle, delivering the marquee clashes expected since Selection Sunday.
With the field narrowed, all eyes turn to the highly anticipated Final Four showdowns.
As the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament reaches its climax, the Final Four matchups are set to provide thrilling action in Tampa. With UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA all vying for the ultimate prize, here’s a breakdown of what to expect from each game.
UConn vs. UCLA
UConn enters the Final Four as the lone non-No. 1 seed, but they remain one of the most formidable programs in women’s basketball. Charlie Creme predicts a narrow victory for UConn, highlighting the incredible performances of Paige Bueckers, who has been sensational with 25-plus-point games.
“Her great play combined with a sense of urgency in her final season will be enough for the Huskies to win a close one,” Creme said.
However, UCLA is no slouch. The Bruins’ offensive prowess, led by Lauren Betts, has been a key factor in their run. Michael Voepel points out that UCLA’s strength lies in its ball movement. The Bruins average 20.4 assists per game, fourth in Division I.
“Defense is the other key,” he adds, noting Bueckers’ shooting dominance at 58.7% during the tournament.
A well-executed defensive strategy from coach Cori Close could slow down Bueckers and swing the game in UCLA’s favor.
Texas vs. South Carolina
The other Final Four matchup features two defensive juggernauts in Texas and South Carolina.
The Gamecocks, led by head coach Dawn Staley, are seeking a rare repeat championship to further cement their place in history. Creme, Philippou, and Voepel all predict South Carolina to advance.
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Defense will be the focal point once again in this matchup. South Carolina has already proven its dominance over Texas, notably in the SEC tournament, where the Gamecocks handed the Longhorns a crushing 64-45 defeat. Expect this game to be another low-scoring affair, where defense and shot selection will be pivotal. As Philippou notes,
“Only one opponent of each team in the NCAA tournament has scored more than 60 points.”
With the Gamecocks’ defense and experience on their side, they remain the favorite to reach the national title game.
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