The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament has reached its pinnacle, with the Final Four taking place this Friday and Sunday in Phoenix. This year marks a rare occurrence: South Carolina, Texas, UCLA, and UConn all return after qualifying in 2023. All four teams are No. 1 seeds, a distinction not held by all last year’s contenders.

Favorites to Prevail, But Not as Expected

Despite their dominance, both UConn and UCLA are predicted to win their respective semifinal matchups, but not without a challenge. South Carolina is a 6.5-point underdog against UConn, but is expected to provide a spirited fight. UCLA, meanwhile, is projected to secure a double-digit victory on their path to the national championship game.

UConn vs. South Carolina: A Closer Contest

While UConn has been remarkably dominant this season, they haven’t faced an opponent quite like Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team. UConn’s closest game was a three-point win against Michigan on November 21st. Louisville also kept the game within 13 points on November 4th. Although UConn holds advantages in offensive and defensive ratings, the gap isn’t insurmountable. Expect a hard-fought battle where UConn secures a narrow victory.

UCLA's Kiki Rice to Shine Against Texas

UCLA’s All-American guard, Kiki Rice, has had an inconsistent tournament thus far. She struggled in the first and second rounds, but rebounded with 21 points against Minnesota. However, she then shot poorly against Duke in the Elite Eight.

Rice's Offensive Rebound

Rice has been tracking below her season average of 15 points per game during March Madness. This is not expected to continue against Texas. Her improved offensive performance will overcome the Longhorns’ defense, even with a potential bounce-back game from one of Texas’s key defenders. The Longhorns’ star, Madison Booker, faces a difficult choice: focus on containing Rice or UCLA’s center, Lauren Betts?

Azzi Fudd to Deliver for UConn

UConn guard Azzi Fudd has experienced an up-and-down tournament. She exploded for 34 points against Syracuse but was held to 13 against Notre Dame. Interestingly, Syracuse’s defense is actually rated higher than Notre Dame’s.

Fudd's Consistent Performance

Fudd has consistently elevated her game against both strong and moderate opponents throughout the season, scoring 31, 27, 27, and 20 points against Michigan, Iowa, Tennessee, and Louisville, respectively. Her recent tournament performance is considered an aberration, and she is expected to deliver a crucial performance when UConn needs it most against South Carolina.

This article was written by Patrick Andres, a staff writer for Sports Illustrated.