After Iowa beat LSU on Monday night in one of the most anticipated women’s college basketball games of the season – with UConn following up with a win over USC – the Final Four is finally set.
And it’ll be must-see TV, as the most dominant team in the women’s game is on a collision course with the most dominate player. That’s right, undefeated South Carolina and Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team could face off Sunday night in the national championship game in Cleveland, Ohio.
But before that can happen, both teams need to get past their national semifinal opponents on Friday night, as South Carolina faces NC State and Iowa takes on UConn in the nightcap.
Below are FrontPageBets takes a look at the Final Four odds, previews and picks for this week’s action:
2024 Women’s Final Four odds: South Carolina (-11.5) vs. NC State – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN (April 5)
In the first national semifinal, South Carolina is a double-digit favorite over upstart N.C. State, which is making its first Final Four appearance in 26 years.
The Gamecocks are 36-0 on the season and have made their fourth straight trip to the Final Four, winning it all in 2022 for the program’s second title in five years.
This is also the second consecutive year South Carolina has entered the Final Four undefeated. Last year, Iowa, led by Clark, knocked off the Gamecocks in the semifinals.
North Carolina State was unranked at the beginning of the season, making it the first team since Washington in 2016 to make the Final Four after starting the season outside the AP Top 25. (The Wolfpack men’s team is also in the Final Four, making an unprecedented run through the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed.)
With an all new starting five this year, South Carolina is led by 6-foot-7 senior center Kamilla Cardoso’s 14.1 points per game average. Cardoso is one of three USC players averaging double figures this season.
Five N.C. State players are averaging double digits per game, led by 16.7 ppg by junior guard Aziaha James.
But that won’t be enough to stop South Carolina’s size and speed.
The pick: South Carolina -11.5
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2024 Women’s Final Four odds: Iowa (-2.5) vs. UConn – 9 p.m. ET on ESPN (April 5)
Iowa took out defending champion LSU on Monday night in a rematch of last year’s title game, as Clark led the Hawkeyes with 41 points, including nine 3-pointers, which tied the NCAA Tournament single-game record. Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, now also holds the record for most made 3-pointers in Division I with 538.
The Hawkeyes are one win away from playing in their second national championship game in as many years.
But it won’t be a cakewalk, as Clark and Co. will go up against one of the most decorated – and dominant – women’s college basketball programs in NCAA history.
The UConn Huskies, led by All-American Paige Bueckers, are making their 24th Final Four appearance in school history, including 17 in the last 18 seasons. UConn has 11 national championships, including four in a row from 2013-2016.
But that history isn’t enough to stop Clark, who is playing in her final season before heading off to the WNBA.
