First look at the Final Four: Who has the edge? South Carolina or UConn? Texas or UCLA?
For the second consecutive season, UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina will be the final four teams competing for a national championship. This time, they are all No. 1 seeds, marking the fifth time the top seeds have all made the final weekend since the field expanded to 64.
But even if the same teams will be gracing the court, this is the era of the transfer portal, and several players will fulfill important roles when they touch down in Phoenix. Here is a first look at what to expect in the 2026 Final Four. UConn (38-0) vs.
South Carolina (35-3) It’s the rematch of the 2025 national championship. UConn won that game so thoroughly it informed South Carolina’s entire offseason strategy. Only 59 points in the title game?
Bring in the nation’s leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson. Get dominated on the glass and in the paint? Bulk up the frontcourt with 6-foot-6 center Madina Okot.
The Gamecocks have completely turned the page with only one returning starter and a more flexible, versatile lineup — though less deep — than the one that was outclassed a season ago. The problem is the Huskies are as unbeatable as they were in 2025. Literally.
Continue to the original source for the full article.