PHOENIX – With 226 days and counting until the tipoff of the 2026 NCAA® Women’s Final Four®, the Phoenix Local Organizing Committee unveiled the official countdown clock Tuesday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The clock marks the days, hours and minutes until Arizona’s first NCAA Women’s Final Four tips off on April 3, 2026, at PHX Arena.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, NCAA Vice President for Women’s Basketball Lynn Holzman, ASU women’s basketball coach Molly Miller, Jr. Mercury athlete Riley Pierson and PLOC board member Scarlett Spring joined PLOC CEO Jay Parry to celebrate the unveiling.
“The countdown is officially on for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four,” Parry said. “Our community and our incredible stakeholders are already hard at work to make this event a smashing success. We are honored and eager to host basketball fans from across the globe and help them make lifelong memories.”
On display in Terminal 4, the busiest at Sky Harbor, the digital clock is illuminated on a high-definition LED screen at the west end of baggage claim.
“Nobody does big events like Phoenix,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. “We’re excited to have one of the country’s most exciting sporting events in our backyard once again.”
The 2026 Women’s Final Four semifinal games will be held Friday, April 3, and the championship game will take place on Sunday, April 5 at PHX Arena, the home of the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns. This will be Arizona’s first time hosting the Women’s Final Four.
“The Women’s Final Four is a premier championship event that showcases the very best of NCAA women’s basketball,” said Lynn Holzman, NCAA Vice President for Women’s Basketball. “We’re proud to bring this marquee event to Arizona for the first time in the history of the championship. Phoenix has a rich and vibrant tradition in women’s basketball, and we’re confident that the teams, fans, and broader community will enjoy an unforgettable experience as we crown our national champion in April 2026.”
The NCAA Women’s Final Four has drawn sellout crowds every tournament since 2017, when the event moved from a Sunday-Tuesday setup to a Friday-Sunday format.
“Arizona is steadfast in its commitment to equality and excellence, and the Women’s Final Four perfectly aligns with those values,” Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming the athletes, coaches and fans to experience all that Arizona has to offer.”
In addition to the three games, downtown Phoenix will be home to free, family-friendly events April 2-5, 2026. Find the list of events at phoenixfinalfour.com/events.
