Texas and UConn Shine in Elite Eight, Advance to Final Four

In a thrilling day of NCAA Women’s Tournament action held in Tampa, Florida, the Elite Eight wrapped up on Monday, setting the stage for an exciting Final Four. The top-seeded teams showcased their talent and determination as they both clinched spots in the semifinals.

No. 1 seed Texas triumphed over No. 2 seed TCU with a solid 58-47 victory. The Longhorns secured their first Final Four appearance since 2003 after using a strong performance at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth. Madison Booker led Texas with 18 points, connecting on 8-of-17 shots. She also contributed six rebounds and two steals. Key player Kyla Oldacre came off the bench to score crucial points, helping to contain TCU’s Sedona Prince, who ultimately struggled with just four points before fouling out.

In another exciting matchup, No. 2 seed UConn took down top-seeded USC with a final score of 78-64. The Huskies not only advanced to their record 24th Final Four but also continued their impressive journey with a fourth appearance in five years. Star player Paige Bueckers was on fire, scoring 31 points shooting 9-of-18 from the field, and hitting four critical three-pointers. Bueckers turned the momentum in UConn’s favor during the final minute of the second quarter, swiftly building a double-digit lead. Sarah Strong also showed her prowess with a career-high 17 rebounds and 22 points.

USC’s journey was complicated due to the absence of their star player, JuJu Watkins, who had a season-ending injury earlier in the tournament. Despite the challenges, the Trojans fought back to close the gap to within five points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t catch up. Rayah Marshall led USC with a strong performance, scoring a career-high 23 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.

As both Texas and UConn prepare for their upcoming Final Four matches, fans eagerly await the showdown between Texas and South Carolina, along with UConn facing UCLA. The Final Four is set to take place on Friday night in Tampa, and both matches promise to bring excitement and high-level competition.