The 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Phoenix is less than a year away, and with the official countdown clock now hanging at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, excitement is growing.
And it’s never too early to think about which teams could potentially end their season on April 3 and April 5 at PHX Arena.
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While the likelihood of Juju Watkins and the USC Trojans coming to Phoenix is low due to her ACL injury during the last NCAA tournament, there are still several big names and programs that could come through Phoenix.
UCLA
The Bruins are a heavy favorite to return to the Final Four after making their first trip in program history last season.
Most of the team from the Final Four run will be returning, including star 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, guard Kiki Rice and guard Gabriela Jaquez, the team’s top three scorers.
Longtime head coach Cori Close added more depth to the roster through the recruiting trail and transfer portal, adding 6-foot-4 forward Sienna Betts, the No. 2-ranked recruit in the country and Lauren’s sister. The Bruins added four-star Croatian guard Lena Bilic, who averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
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In the portal, Close added Utah’s leading scorer, Gianna Kneepkens, who averaged 19.3 points for the Utes in her senior year.
Betts is one of the most exciting players in college basketball, becoming the first UCLA player with 600-plus points, 300-plus rebounds and 100-plus blocks in a season. Her multiple 30-point and 10-rebound performances in the NCAA tournament has only been achieved by greats Elena Delle Donne and Brittney Griner in the last 25 years.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 09: Lauren Betts #51of the UCLA Bruins celebrates during the 72-67 win over the USC Trojans in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament – Championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 09, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
South Carolina
No matter what happens each year, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks cannot be counted out of the Final Four. Even after losing the national championship to UConn and seeing dynamic guard Milaysia Fulwiley join rival LSU, South Carolina still found ways to win.
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To address Fulwiley’s departure, the Gamecocks added Florida State‘s and the NCAA’s top scorer Ta’Niya Latson. Latson carried FSU into the second round of the tournament and averaged 29.0 points in the tournament. In the season, Latson’s 25.2 points per game led the country.
The Gamecocks also found a rim protector in Mississippi State center Madina Okot, who stands at 6-foot-6. Okot showed growth in her first year of college basketball and could turn into the defensive disruptor that the Gamecocks needed.
South Carolina will also return forward Joyce Edwards, forward Chloe Kitts and guard Tessa Johnson, three of last season’s top five scorers.
Ta’Niya Latson 00, George Mason takes on Florida State in the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament in Baton Rouge, LA. Feb 25, 2025
UConn
The argument for South Carolina’s place in the Final Four is the same for UConn.
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The Huskies lost guards Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn Chen from the national championship team as both were drafted to the WNBA, but several key players remain.
Forward Sarah Strong will return after becoming the team’s second leading scorer with 16.4 points in her true freshman campaign. Strong’s first season proved that she’ll likely take over the reins as UConn’s next star after Bueckers left.
Feb 16, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) looks to shoot over South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel (1) and forward Joyce Edwards (8) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
But the Huskies still have guard Azzi Fudd returning for her fifth and final season. Fudd made her long-anticipated return to the tournament last year after working back from an ACL injury from 2023. Fudd averaged 13.6 points per game last year and will help the Huskies aim for a repeat championship in her swan song.
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The Huskies will also return guard Ashlynn Shade, guard KK Arnold and center Jana El Alfy, all of whom appeared in 40 games last season.
LSU
The Tigers lost six players to the portal, but still have a shot to go far with the players that coach Kim Mulkey and her staff picked up.
Along with Fulwiley, the Tigers made a splash with center Kate Koval, who was one of many Notre Dame players to leave South Bend following the season. Koval has the place to earn big minutes for LSU and can grow even more.
Fulwiley adds dynamic guard play to the Tigers, along with helping returning guards Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams and Kailyn Gilbert.
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Oklahoma
The Sooners made a splash during the last tournament, and not just because of the team’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2013.
During the tournament, the top-ranked women’s basketball recruit in the country, Aaliyah Chavez picked Oklahoma as her destination over Texas, Texas Tech, LSU, South Carolina and UCLA.
The 5-foot-9 point guard and Gatorade Player of the Year bolsters a team on the rise that includes the veteran core of center Raegan Beers, forward Sahara Williams and guard Payton Verhulst. Oklahoma also didn’t lose many players in the portal.
Playing in the SEC against South Carolina, LSU and Texas isn’t going to be easy, but it definitely prepare the Sooners for another potential tournament run.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who will be in the 2026 Women’s Final Four? Early predictions
