WHO WILL STAND ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN?

Four teams, four unique stories, four chances to make history. Our five month women’s college basketball journey ends at the Final Four!

In the first matchup, we have a rematch between the last two National Champions. South Carolina captured the title in 2024 while Connecticut won it all in 2025. For Connecticut, they had to go through South Carolina in order to do it.

In fact, the win was so resounding that in postgame, head coach Dawn Staley kept it real:

A year later, these teams meet again. However, the past will have no bearing on this clash of titans tonight.

"I wouldn't say chip on the shoulder,” South Carolina’s Raven Johnson said. We have one goal, that's to get to the national championship. They're in our way of getting to the national championship. I think that's how we're thinking of it. It wouldn't matter if they were UConn, if they were Benedict College, it doesn't matter. They're in our way."

For South Carolina to get over and through Connecticut, they will need to dominate the rebounding category. The Gamecocks were seventh in the country in rebounding this year, led by Madina Okot in the middle. If SC is able to control the boards and create extra possessions on offense, it will help keep Connecticut at bay and force them into playing their style. Jana El Alfy helped Connecticut on the boards against Notre Dame and don’t be surprised if Geno Auriemma turns to her again to help counter South Carolina’s size.

For Connecticut, they will look to beat the Gamecocks from deep. The Huskies are second in the nation in three point percentage at 38.7 percent and take almost 24 three pointers a game. Although South Carolina is fourth in three point percentage, they only take 16 three pointers a game. South Carolina’s offense has reached new heights this season, and if this turns into a high scoring affair, they will be prepared to adjust.

Led by two iconic coaches, UConn and South Carolina set the standard for college basketball. They’re the last two champions and will remain contenders going forward. With the stakes at its highest, we’ll see who presses the right buttons to get their team into the Final on April 5.

In the nightcap, Texas will take on UCLA. Even though the Longhorns were a one seed, they dealt with their share of adversity this season. Following a disappointing loss to Vanderbilt, head coach Vic Schaefer called out his team, questioned their heart, etc. It was a tough time for the Longhorns and their lowest point of the season.

Since then, the team has righted the ship. They’ve won 12 straight games and are peaking at the right time. Schaefer’s words have driven the team and is pushing them to be even better.

"I feel like everyone on this team was kind of just mad," Texas forward Madison Booker told CBS Sports. "We didn't like the words that he said and thought of us, so we went and changed it. We made sure that he would never, ever have to say through his mouth, through his lips, that this team has no heart. Because we honestly do."

That heart and toughness will be essential against an experienced UCLA ballclub. Led by their six seniors, the Bruins have been dominant throughout the season and made a case to be the number one overall seed in the Tournament. Their only loss this season came to Texas during the Players’ Era Tournament in Las Vegas. The defeat taught UCLA some valuable lessons that they hope to apply to the rematch.

“It’s not one person versus Texas, it’s a full team.,” UCLA center Lauren Betts said. “You know, we as a team are trying to beat them. So, I think, just coming out with a certain level of aggression is going to be really important, and I’m going to make sure that I do that from the very beginning.”

For Betts, that starts with making the paint her home. She only scored eight points in the first meeting, but has been excellent otherwise throughout the regular season and in the NCAA Tournament. She has shot at least 60 percent from the field in each Tournament game and has blocked ten shots in her last two games. Kyla Oldacre will have the tall task of slowing Betts down one more time, and if she’s successful, it will throw a big wrench in Cori Close and UCLA’s plans.

History will be made tonight. It’s been 40 years since Texas last played in a National Championship game while UCLA has never made it to an NCAA final. For as momentous as the moment will be for the winner, they’ll have one more mountain to scale on Sunday afternoon.

With so many rich storylines to discuss, our Erica L. Ayala is on the scene in Phoenix and joined a special Final Four edition of We Need to Talk with Alicia Jay, Lisa Leslie, and Renee Montgomery!

The season has built to this moment. These were the top four teams entering the season and they’re the last Four standing.

It should be a fantastic Final Four and we can’t wait to watch the game’s greats take center stage.

Here’s what you need to know today:

🌪 Exodus in Ames
Iowa State is at a moment of truth following the departure of their superstar.

🗽 Laying the groundwork
The WNBA offseason is starting soon, and the New York Liberty have some key players ready to return.

💰 Money moves
Connecticut’s investment in basketball continues to pay off.

The Iowa State Cyclones will look radically different going forward

Audi Crooks has been an institution in the state of Iowa. An Algona, IA native, she has been a staple in the community and one of the best players in Iowa State history. However, she has decided to start over.

On April 2, Alexa Phillippou of ESPN reported that Crooks placed her name in the transfer portal. Crooks is the eighth player on the 2025-2026 team to enter the portal this offseason. The Cyclones had gotten off to a tremendous start earlier in the year, but steadily lost their footing and were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

It was a frustrating end to another fantastic season for Crooks. However, she is grateful for her time and will always call Iowa home.

"I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I've done that here,” Crooks wrote in her goodbye message. “It's why I want you to hear from me directly that I have decided to enter the portal and explore what it means to take root again in new ground."

For Iowa State, they have to rebuild quickly. Their Athletic Director, Jamie Pollard, posted a video on social media and discussed the departures across the program

Head coach Bill Fennelly thanked his departing players in a message and promised ISU fans that they will have a team that they can remain enthusiastic about. It’s a hard task, but one he and the University will have to get right if they want to be competitive next season and beyond.

Audi Crooks has reached a critical moment. She’s one of the best players in the game. Now, she’s looking to find a team where she can succeed & boost her WNBA draft odds. She has a lot of pressure on her shoulders and will have all eyes on her.

What will she do? Time will tell.

THE LIBERTY HAVE SOME STARS SET TO RETURN

We don’t know when WNBA free agency will begin, but the New York Liberty won’t have to worry about two of their best players leaving town.

Breanna Stewart removed any sense of doubt when she announced on her podcast, Game Recognize Game with Stewie and Myles, that she was going to stay with the Liberty.

“I’m not planning on taking any free-agency meetings even though I am an unrestricted free agent,” Stewart said on the show.

“My family is set up here. We’re solid here. … I’m gonna be back here in New York, and that’s all there is to it. So good luck to everyone else in free agency, but I’m not a part of that.”

While at Team USA camp in Phoenix, Sabrina Ionescu mentioned that she’s where she’s supposed to be and will be returning to the Liberty as well.

"I feel like that's something that we can kind of hang our hats on and knowing we obviously have a new coaching staff that's coming in, which is going to be a lot of new change, but I think being able to understand we have our core coming back and continuing to add new pieces is going to be really exciting as well, to see how we can continue to get back to a championship team," Ionescu said.

As we discussed in the most recent episode on Gotta Get Up, the Liberty have a lot of questions they need to figure out this off-season as they enter the new season with Chris DeMarco as head coach.

The Liberty hope to get back to contention. As they enter a new era, they hope the foundation they’ve built helps them adjust to the new WNBA.

Having Stewart and Ionescu returning will go a long way in helping New York return to the top of the WNBA mountain.

A CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE PLAY?

As the Connecticut Huskies look to capture championships in women’s and men’s basketball, the school’s level of investment in basketball has come under focus.

Chantel Jennings of The Athletic reports that in 2025, UConn spent $34.5 million on its basketball programs compared to $20.5 million for the football program. It’s a refreshing change of pace compared to the rest of the NCAA landscape as college football and the college football playoffs have been the driving factor behind much of the conference realignment of the 2020s. Football is king in the United States and every other entity is fighting for the funds left over. Fortunately, there are some institutions that believe in prioritizing other sports and will properly invest in them across the board.

Success begets success, and UConn’s excellence on the court has translated to the box office. From Jennings’ report:

“On the women’s side, UConn’s $8.5 million revenue leads the way among Final Four teams and, per Sports Business Journal, it’s nearly double the Huskies’ revenue from 2023.”

Connecticut was also one of the leaders in the nation in attendance at 12,375, trailing only South Carolina and Iowa. With their home arena set to undergo renovations, there’s a chance the attendance and revenue will rise even higher.

When you invest in a good product, good things happen. That support gives the talent room to focus and do their best.

Connecticut’s investment in basketball continues to pay off and with a chance at two championships this weekend, they can remain one step ahead of their peers.

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