If the 2026 Final Four in Phoenix gives college basketball fans a feeling of déjà vu, it’s not because we’ve woken up in The Matrix. No, the NCAA women’s basketball tournament really does have the same four teams still standing as the ones that reached this point last year in Tampa.
This time, UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina are all here as No. 1 seeds. It’s just the second time in Women’s March Madness history that the Final Four is a complete repeat from the previous year. And despite chalk typically dominating the tournament, it marks only the fifth time the Final Four consists entirely of No. 1 seeds.
Defending champion UConn enters looking to finish off its sixth perfect season and 13th national championship under coach Geno Auriemma. Senior guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong, winner of the Naismith Award as national player of the year, will open against the same South Carolina team it beat in the 2025 championship game. This year, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks feature guard Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring last season when she was an All-American at Florida State.
Watch Women’s Final Four live on Fubo (free trial)
South Carolina had to go through Texas last year to reach the final, but this season the two new SEC rivals’ roles have switched. It was Vic Schafer’s Longhorns who won the SEC tournament championship grudge match in 2026, thanks in large part to junior All-American Madison Booker. Texas lost three of four games against the Gamecocks in 2025; to get a shot at true revenge, they would need to play for the program’s first title since 1986.
First, though, they have to take down superstar center Lauren Betts and UCLA. Granted, the Bruins’ lone loss of the year came in November at the hands of the Longhorns, a 76-65 beatdown in Las Vegas in which Rori Harmon led the way with 26 points. Cori Close’s team has won by fewer than 10 points just twice in the 29 games since.
Here’s everything you need to know about the games, including start time, TV schedule and streaming information:
Who is in Women’s Final Four?
All four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Here are the matchups:
What channel is Final Four on today?
Both games in the Women’s Final Four will air on ESPN with a courtside MegaCast alternative available on ESPN2. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo will call the games in Phoenix with Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines and rules analyst Dee Kantner on standby.
UConn vs South Carolina start time in Final Four bracket
South Carolina and defending champion UConn will play the first Final Four game of the night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
UCLA vs Texas start time in March Madness bracket
Texas and UCLA will play the second Final Four game of the night about 30 minutes after the conclusion of UConn vs. South Carolina.
UConn women’s basketball schedule 2026
Below are the past five games of the Huskies’ 2025-26 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.
South Carolina basketball schedule 2026
Below are the past five games of the Gamecocks’ 2025-26 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.
UCLA basketball schedule 2026
Below are the past five games of the Bruins’ 2025-26 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.
Texas basketball schedule 2026
Below are the past five games of the Longhorns’ 2025-26 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What channel is Women’s Final Four on today? Time, TV schedule
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
