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And then there were four.
No. 1 South Carolina, No. 1 Virginia Tech, No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 LSU are the teams still dancing in the women’s NCAA Tournament and the Final Four field will be cut in half Friday.
The defending champion Gamecocks are looking to remain undefeated in their third-straight trip to the Final Four. South Carolina’s defense has been stout, led by Aliyah Boston, but it will be tested by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who recorded the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA Tournament history during the Hawkeyes’ Elite Eight win over Louisville.
All eyes are on the South Carolina-Iowa matchup, but first up, No. 1 Virginia Tech will battle it out with No. 3 LSU on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN).
Follow along for live updates throughout the day:
Follow the madness: Latest Women’s NCAA Tournament College Basketball Scores and Schedules
Kenny Brooks, in his seventh year at Virginia Tech, is part of elite company. His No. 1 seeded Hokies beat Ohio State 84-74 on Monday to clinch their ticket to the Final Four, a first for the program based in Blacksburg, Virginia. They play third-seeded LSU in the first national semifinal Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
The significance of the moment is not lost on Brooks, the only Black male head coach in the Power Five. (When Houston moves to the Big 12 in July, Ronald Hughey will become the second.)
“Obviously it’s a topic I don’t shy away from,” Brooks said. “I know that when I was trying (to) make a name for myself, there wasn’t very many people that were doing it or advocated for people that looked like me.”
— Lindsay Schnell
Did Clark really just hit that shot, thread that pass or finish that layup in transition?
Yes, she did and she does — regularly. And it’s just as spectacular as you can imagine. Maybe more so.
Clark has become one of the sport’s biggest stars and walking highlight reel because of her how-did-she-see-that?! passes and unlimited shooting range. But for as talented and awe-inspiring as Clark herself is, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder deserves some credit too. Because she lets Clark be exactly who she is.
— Lindsay Schnell
The national semifinal between Iowa and South Carolina is being billed as “Aliyah vs. Caitlin,” and with good reason. Aliyah Boston, the South Carolina forward, and Caitlin Clark, the Iowa guard, have been the best players in college basketball the last two seasons, spawning superlatives and earning national accolades.
Seeing them play each other is on every fan’s wish list, making Friday night’s game arguably the most anticipated of the Final Four – men’s or women’s.
— Nancy Armour
Fans of women’s basketball have been clamoring the last two years for the Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark showdown, and those who just tuned in during March Madness have now joined the chorus. Well, the masses are finally getting what they want.
“Everybody has been talking about this matchup for a really long time. It’s exciting that it’s happening in the Final Four,” Boston said Thursday.
— Nancy Armour
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark wins Wade Trophy, AP women’s basketball POY awards
The Iowa women’s basketball star won the Wade Trophy, the highest honor in women’s college basketball, on Thursday, the same award Aliyah Boston won last season.
Clark is the first Hawkeyes player to ever win the award, which is presented by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Earlier in the day, she was tapped as The Associated Press women’s basketball Player of the Year. She received 20 of a possible 28 votes in the tally that was taken prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament.
She’s raking in the awards. On Wednesday, Clark was named the Naismith Player of the Year. Will a national championship be next?
– Victoria Hernandez
When does Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four start?
The first of two Final Four games will tip off Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET when No. 3 LSU takes on No. 1 Virginia Tech at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, which is also the site of the championship game.
The LSU-Virginia Tech game will be followed by No. 1 South Carolina v. No. 2 Iowa at 9:00 p.m. ET.
What TV channel is the Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four on?
Both games will be broadcast on ESPN, with Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) and Andraya Carter (reporter) on the call.
Both games can be live-streamed through the ESPN website and the ESPN app.
Who are the players to watch for each team?
— No. 3 LSU: F Angel Reese, sophomore (23.2 ppg, 15.7 rpg, 2.2 apg)
— No. 1 Virginia Tech: G Georgia Amoore, junior (16.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 rpg).
— No. 2 Iowa: G Caitlin Clark, junior (27.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.6 apg)
— No. 1 South Carolina: F Aliyah Boston, senior (13.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.9 apg)
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