Texas Women's Basketball Advances To Final Four After Stunning Upset
Texas Womens Basketball Advances To Final Four After Stunning Upset...
The University of Texas women's basketball team secured a spot in the NCAA Final Four on Thursday night after a dramatic 72-68 victory over top-seeded Stanford. The Longhorns' win marks their first Final Four appearance since 2003 and has sparked celebrations across Austin.
Freshman guard Madison Booker led Texas with 24 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 1:12 remaining. The victory came in front of a sold-out crowd at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, where Texas fans outnumbered Stanford supporters.
This matchup is trending nationally as it represents a major shift in women's college basketball power dynamics. Texas, unranked in preseason polls, has now defeated three top-10 teams during their tournament run. Head coach Vic Schaefer's defensive strategy held Stanford to its lowest scoring output of the season.
The win comes amid growing national attention on women's basketball, fueled by record TV ratings and sold-out arenas. Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte told reporters Friday morning that all 15,000 tickets for their homecoming rally at the Moody Center have already been claimed.
Social media erupted after the game, with former Longhorn and WNBA star Ariel Atkins tweeting: "This is why we play. Hook 'em forever." The team's Cinderella story has particularly resonated in Texas, where high school girls' basketball participation rates have increased 18% since 2020.
Texas will face undefeated South Carolina in the national semifinals on Friday, April 8 in Cleveland. The Gamecocks, led by coach Dawn Staley, are seeking their third championship in seven years. ESPN analysts give Texas a 28% chance to pull another upset.
University officials announced Friday that classes will be canceled next Friday if Texas advances to the championship game. The last time the Longhorns won a women's basketball title was in 1986 under legendary coach Jody Conradt.
Ticket resale prices for the Final Four have already tripled since Thursday night's game ended. The NCAA reported that Sunday's Elite Eight matchup drew the highest television ratings for a women's college basketball game in ESPN history.
Local businesses in Austin are capitalizing on the excitement, with many offering "Final Four Specials" featuring burnt orange decorations. The team's unexpected success has brought renewed attention to Texas athletics following last year's controversial move from the Big 12 to the SEC.
Coach Schaefer emphasized the team's underdog mentality during Friday's press conference: "Nobody believed in us except the people in that locker room and our fans. Now we've got two more games to make history."
