The WNBA season is quickly approaching, with the season tipping off just over one month from now. Not only does early April signal the last stretch before the season begins, it also sets the stage for the NCAA Women’s Final Four and National Championship game. This year’s tournament has produced some incredible performances with two No. 1 seeds in Baylor and Notre Dame advancing to the Final Four. Meeting the top seeds in the semifinal games are No. 2 seeds Oregon and Connecticut.

Oregon
Oregon is the new kid on the block, appearing in the program’s first Final Four. The Ducks will certainly have something to prove, contending with several teams that are all too familiar with the big stage. Oregon head coach Kelly Graves is confident in her team after breaking through the Elite Eight barrier that had halted the team from advancing in previous seasons.

“I guess you don’t know till you actually go through it that first time,” said Graves. But I reached out to a couple of my coaching colleagues who had been to the Final Four, including Dana Altman, who was our men’s basketball coach, went to the Final Four a couple years ago, his first one. I asked him about things that worked, things that didn’t, what to expect, how we can do it better and different, prepare our kids for us. We talked about it as a team. The reality is, until you go through it, you don’t know. Hopefully, we’ll help them navigate some of this. But again, until we’ve actually been through it… I see Kim Mulkey and Geno, Muffet, they had to go through their first time, too. We had to get here at some point.”

Oregon is led by Junior guard Sabrina Ionescu. The Pac-12 Player of the Year and First Team AP-All American is the engine that keeps the Ducks humming. The 5-foot, 11-inch Ionescu provided 19.9 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per contest this season. If she declares, Ionescu is widely considered to be a possibility for the top pick in April’s WNBA Draft.

Baylor
Baylor arrives at the Final Four as a favorite to win the national title. The Bears lost just one game all season, to at the time No. 6 Stanford in December. The Bears pride themselves on defense, capitalizing on ball pressure and turnovers to create their offense. The defense is led by frontcourt players Kalani Brown and Lauren Cox. The duo combines for over 16 rebounds and 4 blocks each night, showcasing tough interior defense. Chloe Jackson and Didi Richards hold down the perimeter, combining for over three steals per contest.
Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey isn’t putting too much pressure on her team as the favorite, “I’m not sure we’re the team to beat. I don’t think we’ve been picked to win it. I know we’re the No. 1 overall seed, but I’m not sure we’re the hunted. I think we’re one of four teams that can win it I’m not sure we’re the team to beat. I don’t think we’ve been picked to win it. I know we’re the No. 1 overall seed, but I’m not sure we’re the hunted.”

Oregon and Baylor will square off at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night.

UConn
UConn is no stranger to this stage, advancing to their 20th Final Four overall and 12th consecutive appearance in the semifinal weekend. 12 consecutive Final Four appearances is a record amongst Men’s or Women’s Division 1 basketball programs. The Huskies surpassed the UCLA men’s 10 straight appearances in last year’s tournament.

Even longtime Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma can’t believe the reality of his team’s stretch of success, “My mind just doesn’t get it. How this could happen this many years in a row with a different cast of characters that change so often? But, no, it’s not normal. It’s not normal,” said the coach after the Huskies defeated Louisville in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

The Huskies are led by two AP All-Americans in Napheesa Collier (first team) and Katie Lou Samuelson (third team). Collier led the team in scoring with 20.9 points per game, collecting 10.5 rebounds, and dishing out 3.5 assists. Samuelson, the 6-foot, three-inch senior produced 18.9 points and hauled in 6.7 rebounds per contest. The senior duo is primed to give UConn a shot at their 12th national title in program history.

Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish are making their ninth appearance in the Final Four, looking to defend their title after winning the program’s second in last year’s national title game. Head coach Muffet McGraw has led Notre Dame to 24 straight NCAA tournaments, continuing to add to one of the most impressive runs the sport has seen.

The Irish are led by three AP All-Americans in Jessica Shepard (third team) and Jackie Young (third team). Shepard, a 6-foot, 4-inch senior produced 16.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this season, while Young, a junior, added 14.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
The last All-American Notre Dame boasts is guard Arike Ogunbowale. The senior averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Ogunbowale will look to repeat her magic from last year’s Final Four, hitting last second shots to earn victories over UConn and Mississippi State en route to a national title.

UConn and Notre Dame will play on 9:00 p.m. on Friday night.

The stage is set and the teams are ready. This year’s Final Four is set to be another thriller with four teams who can all walk away as national champions.