2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament: The Final Four field

CLEVELAND — Let this sink in.

It’s something that as recently as five years ago would have been unimaginable.

Iowa is playing mighty Connecticut at the NCAA women’s basketball Final Four.

And the Hawkeyes are favored.

The tournament moves to its climactic weekend at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, with second-ranked Iowa (33-4) facing No. 10 Connecticut (33-5) in the second of two national semifinals.

Tipoff is 8:30 p.m. (CT) Friday, on ESPN.

National runners-up last year, the Hawkeyes are 2 1/2-point favorites to return to the title game.

In Friday’s first matchup, No. 1 South Carolina (36-0) faces No. 11 North Carolina State (31-6).

The championship game is 2 p.m. (CT) Sunday, on ABC.

NCAA women’s basketball: Final Four capsules

Iowa

Coach: Lisa Bluder (40th year overall, 883-395; 24th year at Iowa, 527-253)

Final AP ranking: No. 2

Record: 33-4

Conference: Big Ten (15-3, T-2nd; tournament champion)

How the Hawkeyes got here: Beat Holy Cross, 91-65; beat West Virginia, 64-54; beat Colorado, 89-68, beat LSU, 94-87.

Leading scorers: Caitlin Clark (6-0, sr.), 32.0 ppg; Hannah Stuelke, 6-2, soph.), 13.8 ppg; Kate Martin (6-0, sr.), 13.1 ppg

Scoring averages: Offense 91.9. Defense 71.5.

Final Four history: 3rd appearance, second consecutive. Runner-up last year.

Connecticut

Coach: Geno Auriemma (39th year, 1,213-161)

Final AP ranking: No. 10

Record: 33-5

Conference: Big East (18-0, 1st; tournament champion)

How the Huskies got here: Beat Jackson State, 86-64; beat Syracuse, 72-64; beat Duke, 53-45; beat USC, 80-73.

Leading scorers: Paige Bueckers (6-0, jr.), 22.0 ppg; Aaliyah Edwards (6-3, sr.), 17.6 ppg; Ashlynn Shade (5-10, fr.), 11.2 ppg

Scoring averages: Offense 79.9. Defense 56.8.

Final Four history: 23rd appearance. Eleven championships, mostly recently four in a row between 2013 and 2016.

South Carolina

Coach: Dawn Staley (24th year overall, 610-186; 16th year at South Carolina, 438-106)

Final AP ranking: No. 1

Record: 36-0

Conference: SEC (16-0, 1st; tournament champion)

How the Gamecocks got here: Beat Presbyterian, 81-39; beat North Carolina, 88-41; beat Indiana, 79-75; beat Oregon State, 70-58.

Leading scorers: Kamilla Cardoso (6-7, sr.), 14.1 ppg; MiLaysia Fulwiley (5-10, fr.), 11.9 ppg; Te-Hina Paopao (5-9, sr.), 10.9 ppg

Scoring averages: Offense 85.6. Defense 56.0.

Final Four history: 6th appearance, fourth consecutive. Champions in 2017 and 2022.

North Carolina State

Coach: Wes Moore (35th year overall, 831-256; 11th year at NC State, 270-85)

Final AP ranking: No. 11

Record: 31-6

Conference: ACC (13-5, T-2nd; tournament runner-up)

How the Wolfpack got here: Beat Chattanooga, 64-45; beat Tennessee, 79-72; beat Stanford, 77-67; beat Texas, 76-66.

Leading scorers: Aziaha James (5-9, jr.), 16.7 ppg; Saniya Rivers (6-1, jr.), 12.7 ppg; Mimi Collins (6-3, sr.), 10.7 ppg; River Baldwin (6-5, sr.), 10.6 ppg; Madison Hayes (6-0, sr.), 10.4 ppg

Scoring averages: Offense 73.8. Defense 60.3.

Final Four history: 2nd appearance, first since 1998.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com