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The NCAA women’s basketball tournament has wrapped up its second full weekend of play and we are ready to move on to the national semifinals. The field for the 2021 Final Four is set, and it’s a loaded one. The Elite Eight featured a mix of favorites and upstarts competing for the four final weekend berths, but it’s mostly favorites competing for the national title.
Here’s a look at the four teams and how they reached this prestigious spot in the tournament.
Final Four teams
UConn Huskies: No. 1 seed River Walk Region
The Huskies are headed to their 13th straight Final Four, and their 21st overall, looking to win their 12th national title. UConn beat No. 2 Baylor 69-67 in the Elite Eight to advance. Prior to that, UConn beat No. 5 Iowa 92-72 in the Sweet 16, No. 8 Syracuse 83-47 in the second round, and No. 1 High Point 102-59 in the first round.
Arizona Wildcats: No. 3 seed Mercado Region
The Wildcats are headed to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Arizona beat No. 4 Indiana 66-53 in the Elite Eight to advance and will face UConn in the national semifinals. Prior to the Elite Eight, Arizona beat No 2 Texas A&M 74-59 in the Sweet 16, No. 11 BYU 52-46 in the second round, and No. 14 Stony Brook 79-44 in the first round.
South Carolina Gamecocks: No. 1 seed Hemisfair Region
USC looks for their second national championship under Dawn Staley and will face Stanford in the national semifinals. The 26-4 Gamecocks have won every game in the tournament by at least 11 points, and with Zia Cooke and Aliyah Boston they’ll have as good an inside-outside combo as anyone in women’s college basketball.
Stanford Cardinal: No. 1 seed Alamo Region
The Cardinal stormed back from a 14-point deficit to defeat No. 2 Louisville in the Elite Eight and earn a berth in the Final Four. Stanford will face South Carolina in the national semifinals. Prior to the Elite Eight, Stanford beat No. 5 Missouri State 89-62 in the Sweet 16, No. 8 Oklahoma State 73-62 in the second round, and No. 16 Utah Valley 87-44 in the first round.