Women's Final Four Power Rankings: How UConn, South Carolina, Texas, UCLA Stack Up

In a women's Final Four featuring all four No. 1 seeds, which March Madness juggernaut looks the strongest?

Can anyone unseat Geno Auriemma's undefeated UConn Huskies? | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

The field is set for the women's Final Four and it is a doozy. The four best teams, by seed and by level of play, have made it to Phoenix, Ariz., as the likes of defending-champion UConn, SEC champion Texas, Big Ten champion UCLA and South Carolina, in its sixth straight Final Four, comprise the last programs standing.

It's difficult to ask for better Final Four matchups, setting fans up for a memorable weekend of hoops action at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Before the action tips off, let's examine how each of these college basketball powers measure up based on how they've played through four NCAA tournament games.

No. 1 UConn

Sarah Strong is averaging 4.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game in four NCAA tournament wins. | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Actual NCAA seed ranking: No. 1 overall
Average NCAA tournament point differential: 32.5 points
Upcoming game: Friday vs. No. 1 South Carolina at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Like a certain Infinity Gauntlet-wearing Mad Titan, UConn has been inevitable in March Madness. The Huskies' offense has been a bit streaky but when you can defend like Geno Auriemma's bunch can, it really doesn't matter. UConn has held their four opponents to an average of 47.8 points while forcing 22.3 turnovers per contest. There may be no better example of UConn’s dominance this tournament than the 31-0 run the Huskies went on in the second quarter of their second-round win over Syracuse.

Even when the Huskies were tested by Notre Dame in the Elite Eight, it was the star duo of Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd that put away the game for good in the fourth quarter. Plus, when you consider the contributions Auriemma has received from freshman Blanca Quiñonez off the bench—17.3 points on 47.4% shooting from three-point range—and the defensive efforts from Ashlynn Shade, Kayleigh Heckel and KK Arnold, it's difficult to see anyone beating UConn.

No. 2 Texas

A silky smooth scorer in the mid-range, Madison Booker has averaged 22.5 points in March Madness. | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Actual NCAA seed ranking: No. 3 overall
Average NCAA tournament point differential: 35.5 points
Upcoming game: Friday vs. No. 1 UCLA at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Whatever you do, don't call the Texas women's basketball team soft. Since coach Vic Schaefer did just that back in February, his team hasn't lost and the Longhorns have all the ingredients necessary to win the program's first national title since 1986. For Texas, it starts with two players: All-American forward Madison Booker, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Fort Worth 3 Regional, is automatic from mid-range and downright impossible to stop when she's attacking the basket downhill. Then there's senior point guard Rori Harmon, who has handed out 29 assists compared to nine turnovers and has almost single-handedly stalled opposing offenses with her on-ball pressure to the tune of 3.5 steals per contest.

Besides the win over Michigan in the Elite Eight, sophomore guard Jordan Lee has been a steady source of offense. The frontcourt duo of Kyla Oldacre and Breya Cunningham has dominated on the glass and the interior. As a whole, there may be no team playing better all-around ball right now than the Longhorns. The only team to defeat UCLA this year, Texas has a real chance to do it a second time in the Final Four.

No. 3 UCLA

Lauren Betts has been an unstoppable force in the paint for the UCLA Bruins. | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Actual NCAA seed ranking: No. 2 overall
Average NCAA tournament point differential: 27.0 points
Upcoming game: Friday vs. No. 1 Texas at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Boy, I sure could look foolish for ranking UCLA, who has lost one game all year, third in these power rankings. That said, the Bruins haven't been as impressive as their fellow No. 1 seeds, as they've looked somewhat disjointed on offense and are the only top seed that faced a real scare in the tournament thus far—a 70-58 Elite Eight win over Duke in which the Bruins faced their first halftime deficit of the season. Even still, UCLA has looked dominant for stretches of play—see the second half vs. the Blue Devils—and has leaned largely on its defense and an all-out attack in the paint offensively.

The chief architect behind said attack has been star center Lauren Betts, who has averaged 24.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game in four victories. The 6' 7" Betts, who is nearly impossible to defend on the block, is (literally) the biggest reason why the Bruins could go all the way. UCLA, one of the most accurate three-point shooting teams in the country during the regular season, hasn't found its stroke from beyond the arc. If they do, there's reason to believe the program could be poised to play in its first-ever national championship game.

No. 4 South Carolina

South Carolina's Dawn Staley (middle) is coaching in her sixth straight Final Four. | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Actual NCAA seed ranking: No. 4 overall
Average NCAA tournament point differential: 40.3 points
Upcoming game: Friday vs. No. 1 UConn at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN

Give Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks credit. After getting thumped by Texas in the SEC tournament final, South Carolina has been on a rampage, stampeding through four NCAA tournament wins to set up the ultimate revenge match against UConn, who blew them out in the title game last year. One could certainly make the argument that the Gamecocks have been the most impressive No. 1 seed in March Madness thus far.

Forward Joyce Edwards has been a two-way menace, using her length to score effortlessly in the mid-range game and interior. Senior guard Raven Johnson has taken on the tough defensive assignments, like TCU guard Olviia Miles in the Elite Eight, and won more than her fair share of the battles. Fellow senior Ta'Niyah Latson has made big plays on both ends for the Gamecocks. The x-factor for Staley's squad might just be freshman Agot Makeer, who is playing her best basketball of the season while giving the program scoring punch off the bench.

The Gamecocks have completely controlled games with their efficient offensive attack, elite periemter defense and ability to dominate the glass. If that keeps up in Phoenix, they'll be tough to beat.

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