Before the semifinals tip off on Friday, April 3, here are five things to know about ESPN’s coverage of the highly anticipated finale of the 2025-26 NCAA Division I women’s basketball season.
Something New: A re-imagined Alt-Cast, Courtside at the Women’s Final Four Presented by AT&T
On Monday, ESPN announced its new, re-imagined alt-cast — Courtside at the Women’s Final Four Presented by AT&T. The alt-cast will air on Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and Sunday, April 5 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Hosted by Jess Sims, the shows will feature Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher and ESPN sports and lifestyle content creator Katie Feeney. WNBA Stars Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams, also known as the StudBudz, will join as guest analysts alongside Sims during the semifinal games. WNBA Champion and Finals MVP Chelsea Gray will join the crew of Sims, Maher and Feeney for Sunday’s Championship game.
Technology at work: State-of-the-art cameras on full display
ESPN’s extensive and innovative camera complement will be on full display in Phoenix. Coverage will feature more than 50 cameras across game, studio and alt-cast broadcasting, with 36 cameras solely dedicated to game action.
Ready or Not: Megastars on a Megastage
ESPN’s 2026 marketing campaign, “Megastars on a Megastage,” presents the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship as a can’t-miss, big-screen event and spotlights the game’s biggest stars on the sport’s grandest stage. Set to the iconic “Ready or Not” by the Fugees and brought to life with cinematic visuals, the campaign turns March Madness into a blockbuster experience built for the season’s biggest moments.
Tourney Town Heads to Phoenix
- The fan-favorite Tourney Town presented by Capital One will take place in Phoenix from Thursday, April 2 through Sunday, April 5 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Tourney Town is a free festival featuring guest appearance by former players and celebrities, giveaways, official merchandise and more.
- ESPN’s activation at Tourney Town will include themed locker rooms, championship training zones and interactive photo stations. ESPN’s Monica McNutt will also sit down with WNBA champion and three-time Olympic medalist Brittney Griner for a Beyond the Baseline event ahead of the premiere of ESPN’s upcoming 30 for 30 “The Brittney Griner Story.”
ESPN will have over a dozen of its top anchors, analysts and writers on the ground in Phoenix to cover the Women’s Final Four. Highlights include:
- ESPN’s lead commentator team will be on the call throughout the games: play-by-play voice Ryan Ruocco, Hall of Fame analyst Rebecca Lobo, and Sports Emmy and Curt Gowdy Award-winning reporter Holly Rowe. Additionally, rules anaylst Dee Kantner will join the trio during all three games. As an referee, she officiated 26 Final Fours.
- SportsCenter anchor and women’s College GameDay host Christine Williamson will lead ESPN’s studio coverage, joined by GameDay analysts Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike.
- Saturday’s open practices for the two advancing teams are slated to air on ESPN2, beginning at 4 p.m. ET. Kelsey Riggs Cuff, Carolyn Peck and Muffet McGraw will bring fans all the on-site action during the two practices as the teams prepare for the NCAA finale on Sunday.
-
-
-
-
