Women's Final Four: Live updates, scores, analysis - ESPN

It's almost time to crown the 2025 women's basketball champion. And we start with a doubleheader in the Final Four on Friday night in Tampa, Florida.

First up, the No. 1 seed Texas Longhorns take on the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks in the teams' fourth matchup of the season. The Gamecocks took two of the first three, winning the teams' first game Jan. 12 and the SEC championship game March 9. In between, Texas broke South Carolina's 57-game undefeated streak in regular-season SEC games with a 66-62 win in Austin.

Later, the 1-seed UCLA Bruins and 2-seed UConn Huskies face off in a battle of superstars between Lauren Betts and Paige Bueckers. UConn is on a 14-game winning streak since an 80-76 loss to Tennessee on Feb. 6. UCLA had its own 23-win streak to start the season, and its only losses this year came in two regular-season games against USC — defeats it avenged in the Big Ten final.

We'll have all the action from writers courtside and analysis from afar, right here.

Jump to: Follow live

(1) Texas vs. (1) South Carolina, live on ESPN
(2) UConn vs. (1) UCLA, 9 p.m., ESPN

Gamecocks bench looks better than it did in Birmingham

Another key to watch: The South Carolina bench. Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley are playing much better than they did against Duke, with a combined 11 points in the first quarter to key the comeback. In fact, South Carolina had 14 total bench points in the first quarter, more than the season-low nine they scored vs Duke. — Andrea Adelson

Longhorns pouring on the points

Texas' 19 points in the first quarter are its most in any quarter versus South Carolina this season. — Alexa Philippou

Texas leads 19-18 after the first quarter

My goodness. What a play from Joyce Edwards as the Gamecocks