CLEVELAND — Excitement is in the air as the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four festivities are officially underway in Cleveland.
The games began with the semifinals on Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Unbeaten South Carolina pulled away from NC State 78-59, and then Caitlin Clark and Iowa came from behind to defeat Paige Bueckers and UConn 71-69.
The Hawkeyes and Gamecocks will now battle it out in the national championship game Sunday at 3 p.m. Iowa lost to LSU in last years finals, but did upset South Carolina in the semis.
If you are looking to get in on the action, check out 3News' list of free Final Four fan events taking place in the city. A full schedule and guide to this weekend can be found HERE.
Leading up to the big games and during the contests, 3News will provide extensive coverage of the sights and sounds around the city as fans flock to The Land to see some of the best women's basketball.
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
Postgame reaction
Iowa beats UConn 71-69 (FULL STORY)
South Carolina advances to national title game with 78-59 win over NC State (FULL STORY)
Celeb sightings in Cleveland
Kylie Kelce, wife of former NFL center Jason Kelce in Cleveland for the Final Four
HALFTIME: South Carolina 32, NC State, 31
Get a look inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as we move closer to tip-off.
Nick Camino has a preview of the two national semifinal matchups: N.C. State vs. South Carolina, followed by Iowa against UConn.
Monica Robins tips off 3News at 4 with a look at the Party in the Plaza outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Monica also tried her hand at shooting some hoops during 3News at 5!
On 3News at 6, Monica Robins and Bri Buckley had a look outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as fans crowd into downtown Cleveland for all the action!
Digital Content Producer Anna Meyer is also at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the Party in the Plaza prior to the two national semifinal matchups:
Anna also caught up with Chloe and Tess Kaeding, who both currently play for Caitlin Clark's former club basketball team, All Iowa Attack. You can read about them here.
During GO!, 3News' Kaitor Kay gave us a sneak peek at some of the day's excitement -- and he even made a slam dunk on live TV!
THURSDAY, APRIL 4
Bri Buckley gives us an inside look at Tourney Town!
"We never have events like this and something like this really brings a lot of attention to the city so you know I'd love to see more of this," fan Barry Smith said.
With all eyes on Cleveland, organizers say this will revolutionize the next chapter of history for women's basketball.
"This is such a time to host women's basketball. It is unbelievable," Monica Gustin, 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four executive director. "We bid on this event in 2018 — women's basketball, college basketball was at a different place and time then. It was going to be a great event; this is beyond our wildest dreams."
Gustin was featured as one of many women leading the way in Cleveland.
"Young girls who play sports become women who lead and we could use a lot more of that," she told us, "so I'm excited to see who's going to be next," Gustin said.
Young fans and athletes traveled from near and far. Alexa Cooper, from Austin, Texas, is inspired by the women's teams.
"I just think its getting better and better it started really low and there wasn't even teams and now they're really high," Cooper said. "Just keep your head up and you can get better."
Team coverage of the many visitors coming to downtown
A look at the economic impact of the Women's Final Four in Cleveland with Lynna Lai
Bri Buckley checks out action at Huntington Convention Center
The red carpet is being rolled out for fans coming to Cleveland. Matt Rascon reports
Final four preparations in and around Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Practicing for the big game
MORE FINAL FOUR COVERAGE:
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