Phoenix and ASU prepare for the spotlight as host of 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four

PHOENIX — The NCAA Women's Final Four is set to take place in Phoenix in 2026, with Arizona State University proudly serving as the host institution for one of college basketball's premier championship events.
 
This announcement not only underscores Phoenix's growing national sports prominence but also marks a pivotal moment for Arizona's commitment to cultivating women's sports. ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus will be the heart of the event, which is predicted to create significant opportunities for student involvement, economic success and community engagement.
 
"We are so excited because this is historic for the state of Arizona. It will be the first time that we host the women's Final Four and it couldn't come at a better time, right?" said Jen Barnett, head of operations for the Arizona Major Events Host Committee. "The world is watching women's sports, particularly women's basketball. So we get to showcase our state; we get to showcase the Valley of the Sun; and then we also get to highlight these phenomenal female athletes at the same time."
 
The success of the 2024 Women's Final Four in Cleveland offers a glimpse into what the event may bring for Phoenix.
 
The event in Cleveland attracted national excitement, broke attendance records through community engagement initiatives, and earned nearly $25 million in direct spending. 
 
Monica Gustin, senior vice president of business strategy and event operations at the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, shared her experience witnessing this event's economic and cultural impact firsthand.
 
"Hosting large events is not an easy task. Your community needs to be ready for it. In Cleveland, we're just so grateful for the ecosystem we have here, whether it's the hotels, venues, public officials, corporate leaders, or nonprofit leaders," said Gustin. "For a market like ours, these events are a way to put Cleveland even more on the map and showcase everything we have to offer, from Lake Erie to our professional sports teams. There's just so much here, and these events really provide a platform to highlight it all."
 
Gustin further highlighted Cleveland's successful community-centered initiatives that are aimed at empowering women and girls in business and sports.
 
"There's everything outside of the dollars and cents that took place leading up to that championship weekend and during that weekend itself. There were tons of community programming focused on women and girls in sports, women and girls in the sports business, women and girls in business, growing the game of basketball, and engaging minority vendors," said Gustin. "These efforts helped drive revenue and dollar generation. All those different programs made the legacy extend far beyond just dollars and cents, which was fantastic."
 
The host committee in Phoenix will be working closely with ASU, Native American tribes, local businesses and other community organizations to amplify the benefits this tournament will provide.

WE GOT NEXT 🏀🌵🏜️ #WFinalFourhttps://t.co/hykWdpDxz1 pic.twitter.com/JTcvNLfX9L

— AZ Major Events Host Committee (@azmajorevents) April 7, 2025

 
From soaring ratings to sold-out arenas, Phoenix and ASU's selection as a host city aligns with the unprecedented growth of women's basketball.

"I think it's only up from here, especially like how excited is everyone with Coach Molly Miller getting signed. We are excited too. She's engaged. She wants to lift the game. She wants to be a part of this. We know our counterparts at the ASU athletic department are the same, so we just know that this partnership, and then also the partnership with Phoenix and the arena, is going to be the perfect blend to make this the best women's Final Four yet," said Barnett.

The Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University benefits significantly from major events like the Super Bowl and the Final Four due to its proximity to downtown Phoenix, offering students unique opportunities to work with the media and engage with large audiences.

"The opportunity for our reporters and students to work side by side with professional reporters or people in digital audiences or marketing is something you can't find at most universities," said Paola Boivin, director of the Cronkite New Phoenix Sports Bureau. "One of the great things about the Cronkite school being in the middle of downtown Phoenix is you can walk to a Diamondbacks game, or you can walk to a Mercury game. We have so many opportunities with big events coming into town that it just doesn't compare to anywhere else."

For aspiring journalists at ASU, Boivin emphasized that the growing prominence of women's athletics makes this event even more significant, as it provides practical experience during a period marked by important cultural change.

"I think our students are getting a front-row seat on the renaissance of women's sports right now, especially women's basketball. It's phenomenal because they are growing up professionally in an era when people are starting to really care about women's sports," said Boivin.

Beyond the games, the 2026 Women's Final Four will bring an assortment of volunteer opportunities, celebrations and events to downtown Phoenix that involve the ASU campus and PHX Center.

From a combination of Sun Devil spirit and pride being on the national pedestal, Phoenix is committed to delivering an unforgettable Final Four and helping establish the future of women's basketball and sports for years to come. Along with providing an elite athletic experience, the event will leave a lasting legacy of Arizona's inspiration and investment in its community.