The GIST: The sun is shining, women’s March Madness viewership numbers are skyrocketing, and the women’s Final Four is the hottest ticket in Tampa. Just another day in women’s sports.
- We’ll be back in your inbox with a championship preview on Sunday, but until then, let’s break down tonight’s semifinal tilts.
No. 1 seed Texas vs. No. 1 South Carolina — 7 p.m. ET: The defending champ Gamecocks aren’t the undefeated juggernaut they were last year, but South Carolina’s still hooping for their third title in four years. And though they don’t boast a bonafide superstar like the other Final Four contenders, this squad is deep: Seven different players have led the team in single-game scoring this season.
- But points will be hard to come by against a Longhorns squad that hangs its hat on relentless defense. In fact, Texas’ D held both No. 5 Tennessee and No. 2 TCU to almost 30 points below their season averages in the last two rounds. Stifling.
- Tonight’s game is the third meeting of these SEC foes this season: All-American Madison Booker led the Longhorns to a hotly contested 66–62 regular-season dub in February, but South Carolina dominated in the conference championship in March. Rubber match ready.
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 1 UCLA — 9 p.m. ET: The Huskies boast the country’s best offense: They have the best field goal percentage, the third fewest turnovers, and hit threes like it’s their day job. Not to mention, everything runs through a little someone named Paige Bueckers, who’s hoping to add an elusive national championship to an already impressive collegiate résumé.
- As for the Bruins, their MO is letting six-foot-seven superstar junior Lauren Betts cook in the paint — and she’s as good a passer as she is a scorer, meaning the Huskies’ lack of size could be a serious problem down the stretch in this one.
