Final Four reseed: Power rankings of the teams left in March Madness

After two thrilling weeks of high-stakes games, a group of 68 teams that entered mid-March with dreams of anational championshiphas been whittled down to four.

And with that,college basketball's preeminent event is about to get underway.

TheFinal Fourof the2026 NCAA Tournamentwill tip off on Saturday, April 4, withArizona,Michigan,UConnandIllinoisheading to Indianapolis hoping to cut down the nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium after securing a national title.

FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS:Who will advance to 2026 national championship?

Making the Final Four is an accomplishment in and of itself in college basketball, a step in a journey that doubles as a destination after teams successfully navigate all of the challenges that the first four full rounds of March Madness have to offer.

This year, the Final Four is giving fans across the country a pair of teams, Michigan and Arizona, that were two of the three best teams for much of the season and two others, Illinois and UConn, that spent most of the season ranked in the top 15. There's some history at stake, too. Will Arizona win and break a nearly 30-year title-less spell for schools west of Texas? Can Michigan or Illinois become the Big Ten's first national champion since 2000? Or is UConn poised for its third title in the past four years, cementing its status as a modern-day dynasty?

Those questions will be answered soon enough, but for now, how do those four squads stack up against one another?

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamentat Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Final Four power rankings

1. Arizona

Though there's not a whole lot that separates them from fellow juggernaut Michigan, the Wildcats have everything you could realistically hope for out of a title team. They have the consummate floor general in guard Jaden Bradley. They have a pair of five-star freshmen in Brayden Burries and Koa Peat who have more than lived up to their immense hype before likely heading off to the NBA in a few weeks. They've got size and toughness down low, with Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka. While he still hasn't won a title, their coach, Tommy Lloyd, has exorcised some past March demons by leading the program to its first Final Four since 2001.

What might be most encouraging for Arizona is that it's much less prone than anyone else in the country to an off shooting night. The Wildcats have the third-lowest 3-point rate among all Division I teams, preferring instead to get high-percentage shots closer to the basket. Even when they do fire from beyond the arc, they're still pretty good, shooting 36% as a team.

While it's presumptuous to declare Arizona's game against Michigan as the pseudo national championship, whoever wins the matchup will be a decided favorite in the title game.

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2. Michigan

The Wolverines were a pleasant surprise in coach Dusty May's first season, more than tripling their win total from the previous season and advancing to the Sweet 16. In his second season at the helm, they're not an upstart; they're a freight train.

After a 31-3 regular season, they've won their four NCAA Tournament games by a combined 90 points, including a 33-point beatdown of Tennessee in the Elite Eight. For all the size Arizona has, Michigan counters with perhaps the best frontcourt in the country, a physical and highly skilled trio featuring Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. May's team is No. 1 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and is just one of two squads ranked in the top five in Division I in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom (Arizona, fittingly, is the other). The Wolverines' guards are a bit more of a question mark, but North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau has been on a heater in the tournament, with 33 assists to just seven turnovers.

MARCH MADNESS BRACKET HOT TAKES:Duke blows it, UConn wins it, Arizona shouldn't care

3. UConn

While the Huskies are only 24 months removed from the second of their back-to-back national championships, this is a largely remade team, with program stalwart Alex Karaban the only player left who received significant minutes from either of those squads. Though they don't have that championship pedigree, this is a squad that has shown its mettle, hanging on to beat Michigan State in the Sweet 16 before pulling offan epic comeback victory against Dukein the Elite Eight, a game they trailed by 17 in the second half.

No player has been more integral to this run than Tarris Reed Jr., who has been perhaps the best player in the tournament. Reed enters the Final Four averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the field. UConn isn't nearly as offensively potent as it has been in recent years, but it was still able to beat Duke despite missing 18 of its 23 3s. Cliche as it may sound, this is a team, program and coach that simply finds ways to win.

Dan Hurley's squad has this working for it, too: the Huskies have now won 18 consecutive games in the Sweet 16 or later in the tournament.

4. Illinois

The Fighting Illini's road to Indianapolis wasn't as arduous as the paths traveled by the other three national semifinalists, but coach Brad Underwood's team didn't look any less impressive. It won its four tournament games by an average of 19.5 points and each game was decided by at least 10 points, including a win against No. 2 seed Houston in a game played in the Cougars' hometown.

Illinois is No. 1 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, more than three points per 100 possessions better than any of the teams remaining in the field. Even when shots aren't falling at a dizzying pace, it has shown an ability to gut out games behind an improving defense that has held each of its past three opponents under 60 points.

UConn will be a sizable challenge, but don't let the Huskies' 74-61 victory against the Illini back in November at Madison Square Garden sway you too much, especially since the teams' current top scorers, Reed for UConn and Keaton Wagler for Illinois, combined to play just 29 minutes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Final Four power rankings: Who's the best team left in March Madness?

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March 31, 2026

Final Four reseed: Power rankings of the teams left in March Madness

After two thrilling weeks of high-stakes games, a group of 68 teams that entered mid-March with dreams of anational champ...

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Sugar, the Viral Surfing Dog, Dies Aged 16 Just Weeks After Cancer Diagnosis

Sugar, the viral surfing dog, died from cancer in her "daddy's arms" on Monday, March 30

NEED TO KNOW

• Sugar made history as the first animal inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame and held 19 surfing titles throughout her life

• Her owner, Ryan Rustan, rescued her from the streets of Oakland, California, when she was a seven-month-old pup

Sugar, the viral surfing dog, has died aged 16 from cancer, her owner has revealed.

Ryan Rustan, owner of the rescue dog based in Huntington Beach, California, announcedon his Instagramon Monday, March 30, that Sugar had "passed away last night at 3:20 a.m in her daddy's arms."

Sugar was best known for her impressive surfing skills, holding 19 titles throughout her life; she was also a five-time World Dog Surf Champion. The canine also made history by becoming the first ever animal inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame.

Rustan shared that his talented pooch hadbeen diagnosed with cancer on March 2,riding her last ever wave later that week, on March 7.

He wrote: "She lived to put smiles on faces [and] to change dog surfing forever !!!"

"Thank you for loving Sugar, Goodbye, my Sugar., I can't believe [I'm] writing this. I'm going to miss you so much 🙏 😩😩😩😩💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔."

He shared the emotional update alongside a picture of Sugar enjoying her time in the water for the final time.

Sugar's 33,000 followers rushed to pay their respects in the comments section, with one writing: "So sorry Ryan. You gave her the best life. I could see in her eyes she was holding on for you. Rest in Love sweet Sugar🐾❤️."

Another said: "I'm sorry brother😢 she will be missed.. she made history 🏆," while a third added: "You're a good papa! ❤️ Sugar rest in peace!"

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Another commented: "The best to ever do it! Rest in paradise to a legend! 💕💕💕."

Rustan rescued Sugar from the streets of Oakland, California, when she a seven-month-old pup.

In addition to surfing, Sugar also served as a therapy dog at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Long Beach.

Rustan spoke with the local outletFox 11on March 4 after announcing her diagnosis and tearfully said, "She has only maybe a very short time."

He described her as the "most decorated surfing dog on the planet."

"She's been on the forefront of showing other dogs how to ride a shortboard properly," he said.

"I love her so much. I'm not ready for her to go. But she taught me a lot. She taught me that life's cool."

Read the original article onPeople

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Sugar, the Viral Surfing Dog, Dies Aged 16 Just Weeks After Cancer Diagnosis

Sugar, the viral surfing dog, died from cancer in her "daddy's arms" on Monday, March 30 NEED TO ...

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Taiwan Olympic boxing champ involved in gender debate wins first bout at Asian titles

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — Lin Yu-ting comfortably won her first international bout since the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Asian championships on Tuesday after World Boxing said she passed agene test.

Taiwan's first Olympic boxing champion beat Thananya Somnuek of Thailand 5-0 in the round of 16 in the 60-kilogram division. That earned Lin a quarterfinal against division favorite Ayaka Taguchi of Japan.

The 30-year-old Lin wasn't cleared to compete at the Asian titles until less than two weeks ago.

World Boxing took over as the sport's Olympic-level governing body last year, and itimplemented a sex eligibility policylast August requiring all fighters to take a one-time genetic test designed to identify the presence of a Y chromosome.

Two-time world champion Lin qualified for the Asian championships in December by defeating compatriot Wu Shih-yi, a 60kg bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics.

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But World Boxing didn't confirm Lin's eligibility until March 19, and the statement referred to her competing in only World Boxing competitions.

It is not clear whether Lin will have to undergo further gene testing if she wants to compete again at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee announced last weeknew rulesbanning transgender athletes and a mandatory gene test once in an athlete's career.

Lin andImane Khelifof Algeriawon gold medals at Parisamid international scrutiny and misconceptions over both boxers' sex. While both met the eligibility rules followed at the time by the IOC, which ran the Paris tournament, the two fighters' success sparked a politically charged debate over those standards.

AP boxing:https://apnews.com/boxing

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March 31, 2026

Taiwan Olympic boxing champ involved in gender debate wins first bout at Asian titles

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — Lin Yu-ting comfortably won her first international bout since the 2024 Paris Olympics at th...

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Clowns take to the streets of Bolivia to protest decree that could crush their livelihoods

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Dozens of clowns marched through the streets ofBolivia's capitalon Monday to protest a government decree that limits extracurricular activities, threatening their livelihoods.

Bolivia Clowns Protest

Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the clowns gathered in front of the Ministry of Education in La Paz to oppose a decree published in February. The new mandate says schools must comply with 200 days of lessons each year — effectively banning schools from hosting the special events where these entertainers are frequently employed.

"This decree will economically affect all of us who work with children," said Wilder Ramírez, a leader of the local clown union, who also goes by the name of Zapallito. The clown told journalists that "children need to laugh" while his colleagues wondered out loud if Bolivia's Education Minister had ever had a childhood.

Clowns in Bolivia are often hired for school festivities to entertain children during breaks from their regular lessons. One such upcoming event is Children's Day, which the country celebrates on April 12.

The decree issued by the government of recently electedPresident Rodrigo Pazsays that celebrations will no longer be authorized during regular school days, though they can be held voluntarily on weekends. Government officials said they will take the clowns' critiques into account when they make a decree for the 2027 school year.

But those assurances provided little relief to the clowns protesting Monday.

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"This decree will diminish our income, and with the economic crisis the country is going through, our future looks increasingly gloomy," said Elías Gutiérrez, a spokesperson for the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia.

Bolivia is grappling withits worst economic crisis in decadesas revenues from natural gas plummet following a sustained decline in production, andU.S. dollars become scarce, making imports more expensive in the landlocked nation.

Tailors who work with clowns and make dresses for children participating in cultural events joined Monday's protest as well as photographers who typically work school celebrations.

The alliance of clowns, photographers and costume makers marched through the center of La Paz, blowing their whistles and setting off small fireworks.

One of the clowns carried a sign that blamed the government for "taking away smiles, and taking work away."

Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean athttps://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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Clowns take to the streets of Bolivia to protest decree that could crush their livelihoods

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Dozens of clowns marched through the streets ofBolivia's capitalon Monday to protest a governm...

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Millions of Americans are now eligible for Canadian citizenship and many are applying ‘just in case’

When Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, New York State resident Ellen Robillard briefly looked into getting Canadian citizenship. Her mother, after all, was born in Nova Scotia.

As a Democrat, Robillard was despondent at the election results, but she abandoned the idea after realizing that her young son wouldn't be eligible for citizenship under a law that barred Canadians born abroad from passing their citizenship to children if they were also born outside Canada.

In 2023, however, the Canadian courts ruled that law unconstitutional and the changes to eligibility came into effect in December, suddenly opening up a pathway to Canadian citizenship for many Americans at a time of political upheaval, violence and uncertainty in the US.

Robillard, 52, is applying for citizenship with her son now that the first-generation rule has been scrapped.

Since criteria for citizenship expanded with the passage of Bill C-3 of Canada's Citizenship Act, millions of Americans have become eligible to claim Canadian citizenship. The amendment reverses a "first-generation" limit imposed by Canada's Conservative government in 2009.

As the leader of her local Democratic Committee in a suburb of Rochester, New York, Robillard fears that if the political violence escalates, she could have a target on her back.

Robillard is an outspoken activist in her town of 3,000, has received veiled threats on social media, and was once followed home after a protest.

She's suffered from burnout, depression and insomnia over political disagreements and has fallen out with friends and family. She's become increasingly disillusioned with her life in the US.

"I really don't recognize my world anymore," Robillard says.

A spring trip to her mother's birthplace of Nova Scotia last year helped her reconnect with her Canadian heritage and cemented the idea.

"The experience of being there was so interesting. I felt like a different person there. It was so much less stressful. Everyone was nicer," she says. "I observed so many positive interactions between people and it just made my heart so full to be there."

The revised law will allow her to pass on her citizenship to her son, who is now 19. In light of the political climate in the US, both are gathering the required documents in preparation for her Plan B.

"If things start deteriorating here with our economy, I know that I can just get in the car and go. It's an option anyway."

Huge uptick in Canadian citizenship queries

Since the new bill was passed, Ottawa-based regulated immigration consultant Cassandra Fultz says her American caseload has soared tenfold, from an average of 10 to 100 applications a month. As long as applicants can provide proof of direct lineage from a Canadian citizen, they can make claims going back generations, be it a grandparent or great-great-grandparent. Should the chain of citizenship break somewhere along the line, however, where an ancestor renounced their citizenship, rights to Canadian citizenship end there.

Fultz, who is a dual American-Canadian citizen herself, also points out that she's handled queries from disgruntled Americans after every US election cycle — regardless of political party. But the demand has always been short-lived, she says, peaking in November and waning by January. This wave has been markedly different.

"There's been a very steady increase in interest in moving to Canada since November 2024, which is unprecedented. I've never seen this in my 17 years in the industry," says Fultz.

"Usually people just get over it. But it's already nearing the mid-terms and people are very interested, even two years later."

It's a similar story at theNational Library and Archives of Québec(BAnQ). In February 2025, the archive services received 100 requests from the US for marriage, death and baptismal records. In February of this year, that figure ballooned to 1,500, a spokesperson tells CNN.

At the time of writing, theprocessing timefor citizenship certificates from the US is 10 months, with about 50,900 people currently waiting for a decision, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

'It's a very scary time right now'

When Rachel Rabb left the US in 2018, she thought she was escaping the anti-immigrant policies and threats of racial violence she feared under the first Trump administration. The American citizen assumed that she'd left it all behind as she settled into her new life in Latin America.

At least there, Rabb, who is biracial with an African-American father and Irish-German mother, felt that she wouldn't have to worry about being assaulted or harassed for her skin color. She thought she was safe.

But Donald Trump's re-election in 2024 reawakened old fears and followed her to Costa Rica and Mexico where she now divides her time — and where she finds herself, once again, in the crosshairs of Trump's hardline politics.

In February, a US-backed military strike against a powerful cartel leader in Mexico led to a retaliatory violence across the country and the death ofmore than 60 people.

This month, Trump signed aproclamationthat promises more military strikes across Latin America, operations she fears could bring moredestabilization, chaos and violence to the region.

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So when Rabb learned that Canada had recently revised its citizenship laws and widened the pool of eligibility, she took a shot and started looking up her ancestry online. She had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Her gamble paid off: at the age of 34, she belatedly learned that she has distant Canadian ancestry through her great-great-grandmother, who was born in Peterborough, Ontario.

"It was heaven-sent to discover that I have this Canadian ancestry, given the current political climate," Rabb tells CNN Travel.

Rabb, who has been mistaken for being Latina over her biracial features, said she wouldn't feel safe returning to the US.

"I don't plan to return to the US at the moment. It's just too dangerous," she says. "So many people are targeted, even if you just look Latino, or if you look like you might be an immigrant. They're even arresting US citizens, and allies. It's a very scary time right now because anyone can be targeted."

Should the situation in Latin America escalate, Canada will become her exit plan.

Seeking citizenship for history, culture and 'just in case'

Fultz points out that, like Rabb and Robillard, many American applicants aren't looking to make the move to Canada right away, but are requesting proof of citizenship "just in case."

Nor are all applications politically motivated. Some of the most common reasons for requesting citizenship include family reunification, job offers, international studies, and the more basic desire to reconnect with their ancestry.

"It could be the best president ever in office in the US and I would still apply with as much passion," says Timothy Beaulieu.

It wasn't until his early 20s when Beaulieu started spending more time with his US-born grandfather, that he began to hear about his family's French-Canadian heritage, which was passed on through his great-grandfather.

"It was like a new world was open," says Beaulieu, now 45, of New Hampshire.

He became active in Franco-American associations and traveled to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Montreal, where he discovered the local dish poutine — fries, cheese curds and gravy. It was there that a lightbulb went off and in 2016, he founded PoutineFest, which hosts outdoor poutine festivals around New England, home to an estimated two million French-Canadian descendants today.

The presence of Franco-Americans in the area can be traced back to 1840-1930, when nearly one million Francophone people emigrated from Quebec where farmlands were depleted and jobs scarce, to work in textile mills in New England.

"I feel like Quebec and Canada are part of our family, it's the motherland now," Beaulieu says. "It really means a lot to me to be able to feel more connected to the place where our family came from."

Rabb also expresses a keen interest in learning more about the history and culture of Canada's indigenous culture, and salutes Canada for trying to put right past wrongs.

Aaron Lowry, who created the fast-growing Facebook page"Canadian Citizenship by Descent," was one of the first Americans to get his citizenship through a short-lived interim bill that was introduced following the court ruling and was eventually replaced by Bill C-3.

Since becoming a Canadian citizen in 2024, the Ann Arbor, Michigan, resident has traveled around Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes and has taken deep dives into Canadian politics: he can rattle off dates and factoids about Canadian history with ease.

"I really enjoy learning about Canadian civics and how the parliamentary system works. I find the relationship between the British monarch and Canada very interesting."

'A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian'

Not everyone is happy with the relaxed citizenship rule: on online discussion forums, some Canadians complain it favors Americans with few ties or contributions to the country at the expense of tax-paying, working immigrant households who can face lengthy, complicated citizenship procedures.

Some also take umbrage at the fact that Americans are using Canada as a "Plan B" option at all.

But Fultz underscores that the bill was introduced because the previous legislation was deemed unconstitutional and discriminatory by Canadian courts. The amendment also restores status to "Lost Canadians," people who lost or never obtained their citizenship because of the outdated and unconstitutional rules.

"Basically, the outcome of this case is that a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian," she says. "We don't have multiple tiers of citizenship here, where if you're naturalized you can do X, but if you're born in Canada, you can't. This is about fostering and enhancing equitability."

She also emphasizes that the American applicants she's worked with include doctors, lawyers, and Harvard and MIT grads — "the best and the brightest."

"This is a good thing for Canada, and a good thing for Canadians. These are quite literally our cousins. I just don't see a downside."

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Millions of Americans are now eligible for Canadian citizenship and many are applying ‘just in case’

When Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, New York State resident Ellen Robillard briefly looked into getting Canadian...

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US Marine detained after explosive round discovered in airport luggage: Police

A 30-year-old U.S. Marine could face charges after authorities accused him of having a live 25mm explosive round in his checked luggage Monday afternoon at Palm Springs International Airport in California.

Palm Springs police told ABC News that servicemember -- identified as Ryan Weaver, of Henderson, Texas -- had the explosive round in his checked luggage.

Transportation Security Administration officers discovered it and called law enforcement.

TSA officers receive their 1st paychecks in weeks

Police said Weaver told officers he found the device in the field a year ago and kept it. He allegedly thought it was inert. It was rusty and corroded, and the original paint markings were no longer visible on the round, according to police.

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Officials said it was difficult to determine whether it was an inert training device or a live "high explosive device."

The Riverside County Explosive Ordnance Disposal team responded and examined it using X-ray technology. Officials said it was clear at that point that it was a live round. The bomb squad moved it to a desert area, where it was detonated, according to police.

Weaver was detained but later released to military authorities, Palm Springs police said. The case will be submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office for possible charges of possessing a destructive device.

When to expect normal airport security wait times, as TSA officers begin to receive back pay

Police say he could also face administrative action by the Marine Corps and possible civil penalties from the federal government.

ABC News has reached out to TSA for a comment.

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US Marine detained after explosive round discovered in airport luggage: Police

A 30-year-old U.S. Marine could face charges after authorities accused him of having a live 25mm explosive round in his c...

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Texas women's basketball team went from 'soft' back to the Final Four

FORT WORTH, TX ― Six weeks ago,Texas coach Vic Schaefercalled his team "soft." On Monday, Schaefer called theLonghorns"Texas tough" before cutting down the nets after a77-41 win over Michiganin the Elite Eight.

On February 12,Schaefer openly questioned the "heart" of Texas's playersafter a brutal 86-70 loss to Vanderbilt. The Longhorns found themselves down by as many as 27 points against the Commodores during a rough shooting night. Texas shot 38% from the field, and its usual perimeter production disappeared. The Longhorns made three shots from beyond the arc to the Commodores' nine.

"We had no heart tonight. We had no toughness. No competitive spirit. We're soft. We were whining. Complaining, but no toughness. So you know what? I've been doing this a while. I bet I'll fix it," Schaefer said at the time.

True to his word, the Longhorns coach did fix whatever was plaguing his roster. Texas has 12 consecutive victories since its coach publicly called the team out, including a massive win over the Wolverines to punch itsticket to the Final Fourfor the second straight year.

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

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See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the2026 NCAA Women's March MadnessSecond Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

"That next day in practice, really, it's been different ever since, and it started with Madison (Booker) and her voice. She was very vocal that day. Rori (Harmon) was helping a little, but Madison was way different," Schaefer said.

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"How they've responded is exactly what I thought they'd do. I mean, these kids, they have been nothing but tough. They have been nothing but competitive since that day. They have answered the bell every night, and I think that speaks volumes about who they are, what they're about, and I couldn't be more proud of them."

Schaefer and Texas will now go onto Phoenix with the hopes of winning the program'sfirst championship in 40 years. On Friday, the Longhorns will begin their Final Four journey with a rematch against the UCLA Bruins, whom they beat in November, 76-65. Texas will be ready, and according toMadison Booker, her coach won't have to worry about the Longhorns being "soft" anymore.

"We never want to hear our head coach say that about the team he recruited because we're so much better than that," Booker said.

"You know, like we told him ... We say we have heart, and I think after that game we kind of turned it around. You know, I hope he sees we have heart now. That will never happen again. I think we will never play that bad or make sure we won't play that bad, but yeah, that was just the mindset from us (from that day forward)."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Texas women's basketball got tough just in time for Final Four run

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March 31, 2026

Texas women's basketball team went from 'soft' back to the Final Four

FORT WORTH, TX ― Six weeks ago,Texas coach Vic Schaefercalled his team "soft." On Monday, Schaefer called theLo...

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