Phoenix Bound: UConn and UCLA Secure Sunday Seats in the Final Four

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The 2026 Women’s Final Four field is halfway set as powerhouse programs UConn and UCLA secured their spots in Phoenix with convincing Elite Eight victories on Sunday, March 29. While the Huskies relied on their trademark defensive suffocations, the Bruins showcased their depth to overcome a rare halftime deficit.

Fort Worth Region: (1) UConn 70, (2) Notre Dame 52

In a matchup of storied rivals, Geno Auriemma’s top-seeded Huskies proved once again why they are the gold standard of March. UConn dismantled the Fighting Irish with a clinical defensive performance at Dickies Arena.

Defensive Lockdown: The Huskies held Notre Dame to just 25 points in the first half and effectively neutralized everyone not named Hannah Hidalgo.
Hidalgo’s Heroics in Defeat: Notre Dame’s star junior Hannah Hidalgo put up a valiant effort, finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and added three steals. In the process, she became the only player in NCAA history (men’s or women’s) to record over 200 steals in a single season.
Balanced Huskies: UConn used a balanced scoring attack and superior interior play to stretch a 7-point halftime lead into a double-digit cushion that the Irish could never threaten.

Sacramento Region: (1) UCLA 70, (2) Duke 58

At the Golden 1 Center, the UCLA Bruins punched their ticket to a second consecutive Final Four, though they had to fight through a sluggish start to do it.

The Turnaround: For a rare moment this season, the Bruins found themselves trailing at the half. However, they dominated the second half, outscoring the Blue Devils 39–27 over the final 20 minutes.
Betts Dominates: 6’7″ center Lauren Betts was the centerpiece of the comeback, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Her presence in the paint forced Duke into difficult contested shots and anchored the Bruins’ transition game.
The Record: With this win, UCLA improves to a staggering 35-1 on the year, continuing their run as one of the most dominant teams in program history.

Final Four Outlook

UConn and UCLA will now head to the Footprint Center in Phoenix, where they will await the winners of Monday’s Elite Eight matchups (South Carolina vs. TCU and Texas vs. Michigan).