Phoenix Will Host 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four

PHOENIX — Phoenix will soon host the NCAA Women's Final Four for the first time following a competitive bidding process.

The NCAA announced the host in a Wednesday news release, along with nearly 450 other host site selections. The 2025 Final Four will be hosted by Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The 2026 games will be played at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix, the home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury teams. The arena is currently undergoing a $230 million renovation.

“Tampa Bay and Phoenix will be great future hosts for what has become America’s marquee women’s sporting event,” Nina King, senior deputy athletics director and chief of staff at Duke, and chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee in the 2020-21 academic year, said in a statement. “The committee appreciates all of the cities that were involved in the bid process and know that when we crown a national champion in those cities that our student-athletes, coaches and fans will have enjoyed an amazing championship experience.”

The games at Talking Stick will be played over Easter weekend, with the national semifinals on April 3 and the national championship decided April 5. Arizona State University will serve as the host school.

The last time the Women's Final Four was played in the western U.S. was when the 2012 tournament concluded in Denver. Other finalists were Portland and Columbus, Ohio.

The bid was a joint effort by the city of Phoenix, Visit Phoenix and Arizona State University.

Phoenix is also set to host the 2023 Super Bowl and the NCAA Men's Final Four in 2024, in what is sure to be an economic boon for the city.