The Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament is down to four teams, with the 2023 Women’s Final Four taking place on Friday. The defending champion, South Carolina Gamecocks, will face the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second semifinal. The winner will advance to the national championship game and have a chance to become a part of history.
South Carolina looks to remain undefeated
South Carolina is looking to make history this year by becoming the fifth program in history to have an undefeated national championship-winning season. Texas, UConn, Tennessee, and Baylor are the only programs that have accomplished this feat. The Gamecocks (360) will need to defeat the Hawkeyes (306) to join this club of undefeated champions.
The Gamecocks entered the tournament as the number one seed and have been dominant throughout the season, with an average margin of victory of 29.5 points per game. They have an explosive guard in Zia Cooke, who has been averaging 17.6 points per game during the tournament.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark leads a strong offense
Iowa has an excellent offense led by superstar Caitlin Clark, the AP and Naismith Women’s Player of the Year. She became the first Div. I women’s basketball player to record more than 900 points (984) and 300 assists (311) in a single season.
The Hawkeyes lead the nation in points per game, assists per game, and field goal percentage. They have been averaging 88.2 points per game during the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia Tech and LSU face off in first semifinal
Before South Carolina and Iowa take center stage on Friday night, Virginia Tech and LSU will battle it out in the first semifinal. Both teams powered their way up the rankings and emerged as top contenders.
This game could mean a first-time appearance in the national championship for either team. Virginia Tech’s senior player Elizabeth Kitley tops the team’s scoring all-time and this season. Junior guard Georgia Amoore has emerged as a top scorer for Virginia Tech in the tournament.
LSU’s acquisition of Angel Reese proved to be a missing piece to their Final Four puzzle. Reese has been averaging 22.3 points and 17.3 rebounds in the tournament, including a 20/20 game. Alexis Morris and Flau’jae Johnson are also key players in LSU’s offense.
SportsLine experts weigh in on South Carolina vs Iowa
SportsLine women’s basketball experts Wetzel and Barzilai have analyzed the matchup between South Carolina and Iowa and found a critical xfactor that makes their best bet hit hard. They have also set their sights on the game and just locked in their picks and best bets.
South Carolina is the favorite by 11 points, and the over/under is 151.5.
Final Four field set to be cut in half
The Final Four field will be cut in half on Friday, with only two teams advancing to the national championship game. South Carolina, who is looking to remain undefeated, will face off against Iowa, who boasts an excellent offense led by Caitlin Clark.
Virginia Tech and LSU will battle it out in the first semifinal, with both teams hoping to make their first appearance in the national championship game.
Both Final Four games will be broadcast on ESPN and can be livestreamed through the ESPN website and app. Before making any predictions or bets, it is recommended to see what SportsLine experts have to say about these matchups.
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