NCAAW: Experts’ Final Four, national champion predictions

Brackets are meant to be busted. While it’s fun to obsess over matchups, analyze paths and forecast upsets, the madness of March inevitably intervenes, disrupting the most diligently-completed brackets—and often by the end of the first two rounds of play.

Here at Swish Appeal, we’re more than happy to be wrong, especially if the games are great along the way.

We’ve shared our (mostly-chalky) brackets below, along with some brief analysis. Take a look and then jump in the comments to share your bracket, favorite upsets, national champion and any other tournament takes.

Zack Ward: UCLA finishes the job over UConn

To me, UConn and UCLA are a step above the other No.1-seeds; they were the easiest teams to put in my Final Four. I struggled putting Michigan there over Texas, but I like the way the Wolverines battled UConn and UCLA down to the wire and I think they get over the hump against the Longhorns, with the pressure being on Texas.

Regional 4 was the hardest region to pick, as I like all of South Carolina, Iowa, TCU and Oklahoma. I went with TCU because I think Olivia Miles—now scoring nearly 20 points per game on top of everything else she does, and the way she does it—is going to be electrifying enough to get past the Hawkeyes and Sooners. Plus, I think the Horned Frogs’ frontcourt scoring with Marta Suárez and Clara Silva makes them a balanced team and able to contend with Iowa’s and Oklahoma’s incredible balance.

I have UConn meeting UCLA in the title game, and I think the Bruins have the magic and determination in them to win, even though the Huskies are a slightly better team on paper.

Cat Ariail: Give me South Carolina-Texas VIII!

I went with mostly vibes, with a dash of absurdity, over real analysis when completing my bracket. If I was relying on the stats, it would be hard to pick against UConn. As Zack noted above, “on paper” the Huskies are the best team. Because of that, I still could not knock them out before the Final Four, even though I was tempted to go with an all-SEC Final Four, with the very fun narrative of Shea Ralph turning the tables on Geno Auriemma and taking Vanderbilt to the Final Four.

But for the national championship game, I decided to serve up another round of South Carolina vs. Texas, with everything on the line as the teams meet for the 8th time since the start of 2025. And I’m always going to go with the woman who is one of the best in the world at what she does while wearing a hoodie over the old guy in a suit. Sorry Vic, Dawn does it again!

More seriously, I do think the South Carolina frontcourt could pose problems for UConn, as the Huskies have not been tested by an athletic tandem like 6-foot-6 Madina Okot and 6-foot-3 Joyce Edwards. Okot and Edwards can be inconsistent, but if they’re on their games—finishing efficiently, dominating the glass and staying out of foul trouble—they can lead the Gamecocks to the revenge victory over the Huskies before then finishing the job against the Longhorns.

Beckett Harrison: More belief that this season belongs to the Bruins

As much as I would love to stand on some of my more “out there” takes, the top four this year, like many years, is just too strong to bet against. Outside of a Notre Dame Sweet 16 push and a handful of five-over-four second round wins, I don’t see many likely upsets or gross seeding mistakes.

South Carolina, the weakest No. 1 seed this year (although still not very weak at all), was blessed with what I would consider the thinnest region in terms of upset talent. West Virginia and Michigan both pose real threats to Texas, but their SEC Tournament win was too strong to bet against them making the Final Four.

I think UConn and UCLA are head and shoulders above the rest of their regions, and it would be a shock if either lost before the Final Four. As for the championship picks, I think this UCLA team is significantly more experienced after last years’ tournament and has what it takes to avenge their blowout loss to the Huskies. The Bruins have six seniors, and the addition of Gianna Kneepkens to last year’s roster is significant enough to turn the tables. If they can keep playing through Lauren Betts and her playmaking, and keep Kiki Rice involved offensively, I like UCLA taking home their first National Championship in program history.

Eric Nemchock: It’s not complicated; it’s UConn

My bracket is pretty boring since I have all four No. 1 seeds making the Final Four. I just don’t see any of their paths being that difficult, with the exception of UCLA’s.

And while I am picking UCLA to advance to the title game, I have them losing to UConn, who I believe is still the best team in the country. They’re dominating at a level similar to the Breanna Stewart years, and though this season’s UConn team isn’t as star-studded as those were, they have one of the best collegiate players I’ve ever seen in Sarah Strong, and their defense has been unbelievably good. If they get past South Carolina in the Final Four, I don’t think anyone on the other side of the bracket can challenge them.

Edwin Garcia: UCLA’s avengers achieve their ultimate goal

I have some upsets like Baylor beating Duke, and Gonzaga taking down Ole Miss in my bracket. Washington will make an Elite Eight run, and Virginia will also upset Iowa in an instant classic. But overall, the top seeds reign supreme.

I have UConn, South Carolina, and UCLA all making the Final Four. The only No. 1 seed that will fall is Texas, which will lose to Michigan. UConn will beat South Carolina in the Final Four, setting up a rematch of last year’s Bruins-Huskies game.

This time, though, UCLA will avenge its embarrassing loss from last year by beating UConn in the title game and ending their perfect season. Lauren Betts will step up on the biggest college basketball stage and give UCLA their first national title in her last appearance as a Bruin.