The 2021 NCAA Women’s Final Four tips off on Friday evening. Three number one seeds have advanced and one three seed rounds out the final four teams. South Carolina, UConn and Stanford are the three one-seeds. Arizona is the three seed that made it this far. On Friday, two of these teams will advance to Easter Sunday’s National Championship game.
The Stanford-South Carolina match-up pits the two one-seeds against each other. This game could be the best of the tournament so far. But the UConn-Arizona game could be a pivotal game, especially for the Huskies, who have been on a roll.
The entire 2021 NCAA Tournament has been filled with controversy. From missed calls to the weight room issues in team hotels, this tournament will be remembered for many things. But there are only three games remaining in the season.
NCAA Women’s Final Four Preview
South Carolina-Stanford
The Gamecocks and Cardinal face off on Friday at 6 pm Eastern time on ESPN. Both of these teams have dominated their way to the Final Four. South Carolina held off Texas 62-34 in the Elite Eight. In that win, the Gamecocks held Texas scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Stanford took down two-seed Louisville 78-63 in the Elite Eight to advance. Entering the tournament, the Cardinal were the heavy favorite to win it all. The team finished the regular season ranked number one. Headed to the Final Four, the Cardinal are 29-2 on the season.
Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley will give her team numerous ways to attack the Cardinal at both ends of the floor. This game is sure to be one to watch on Friday. A berth in the title game is on the line for these two prestigious programs. The South Carolina-Stanford game should be the National Championship game, but the selection committee had other ideas for this year’s tournament.
UConn-Arizona
The Wildcats have made an improbable run to the Final Four. So far, Arizona has defeated Texas A&M, BYU, Stony Brook, and Indiana. The team defeated the Hoosiers 66-53 in the Elite Eight. While Arizona may be an unlikely pick, they have a good match-up against the Huskies.
UConn remains one of the top programs in all of women’s college basketball. The Huskies are a dominant team that has allowed under 75 points in every game in the tournament. On Monday, the Huskies took down Baylor 69-67 in a controversial ending. Leave no doubt, UConn is here to prove they can win another title.
While this game may be the more dominant of the two match-ups, Arizona might be able to hang around with the Huskies. This is a Wildcats team that has surprised the critics all season. Now, they have a chance to take down one of the game’s best and advance to the title game.
Arizona is in their first Final Four in program history. Can the Wildcats do the unthinkable and advance to their first title game? Friday is the tell-all day for a team that wasn’t supposed to make it this far in the tournament.
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