The Arizona State athletic department will be front and center in about a month. The school is the host institution for the NCAA Women’s Final Four, which will be held at Mortgage Matchup Center from April 3-5.
It is not an unusual role for the Arizona State personnel. The school has served as the host institution for several national championship events. That alone should make for a smooth event.
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ASU served as host institution for the NCAA Men’s Final Four in both 2017 and 2024. Those events took place at State Farm Stadium. The Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale hosted the men’s and women’s NCAA golf championships from 2021 to 2023.
“We’ve done these before, and many of the people who have been involved with those past events will be instrumental in this one too,” ASU athletic director Graham Rossini said. “They understand how the NCAA works, what all goes into putting on something like this. It’s always fun, and it’s great for the community.”
A kickoff event was held at the venue on Feb. 24. Among those on hand were Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. The NCAA was represented by Vice President of Women’s Basketball Lynn Holman and NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Amanda Braun.
Rossini was among the ASU administrators on hand. Also present were Mike Chismar, senior associate athletic director for operations and facilities; Christina Wombacher, senior associate athletic director and women’s administrator; and Doug Tammaro, senior associate athletic director for media relations.
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ASU women’s head coach Molly Miller was also present. Her team sits on the bubble and would likely make the field if the season ended today.
Rossini said there are a dozen or so members of the athletic department currently working the lead-up to the event, with another two dozen working once the teams get to town. ASU personnel will be most active in the media relations and statistics crews, as well as the sports medicine and training teams. They will also have personnel serving as liaisons for the visiting teams.
The athletic department will be stretched a bit thin, given that spring sports will be in full swing at the same time. Rossini said it’s a good problem to have, and it isn’t an issue the school hasn’t faced before.
“We schedule out. We’re lucky to know these things are years in the making,” Rossini said. “As it gets into the year, you protect time and energy knowing that come April we’re going to spread a little thin in terms of the activities, but again, it’s all for a purpose. It’s important that we play a role in giving back time and energy to help recruit these events to the valley and make sure they’re performed well, knowing that when we host these events and do it well, it gives us a better chance of getting future events as well.”
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The field for the 68-team tournament will be announced at 6 p.m. on March 15. UConn (29-0) sits atop the national ranking right now, with UCLA (27-1) at No. 2, and perennial power South Carolina (27-2) third.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State athletic department ready to host Women’s Final Four
