Arizona hosted the NCAA Women’s Final Four for the first time from April 2 to April 5, drawing sold-out crowds and setting new records for fan engagement in downtown Phoenix. The event brought tens of thousands of people to the city, with both the national semifinals and championship games held at Mortgage Matchup Center attracting 15,856 attendees each.
The significance of hosting this major sporting event was reflected in strong local participation and increased national interest. The national championship game drew 9.9 million viewers on ESPN networks, making it the third most-watched Women’s NCAA Championship ever and marking a 15% increase compared to last year. Semifinal games also saw notable growth in viewership.
Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball, said, “We are pleased with how Phoenix hosted its first Women’s Final Four. Phoenix delivered an outstanding championship marked by incredible energy, strong fan engagement and a meaningful impact throughout the community. We are deeply grateful to Arizona State University, the Mortgage Matchup Center, the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee and our many partners for making this Women’s Final Four such a memorable experience.”
In addition to basketball games, fans participated in free events such as Tourney Town presented by Capital One (25,610 attendees), Four It All Fest (35,036), Super Saturday Practice presented by Samsung Galaxy (5,079), Super Saturday Concert presented by AT&T (10,212), and Bounce presented by GEICO (3,000). Both Four It All Fest and Super Saturday Concert set new attendance records.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said: “Phoenix was proud to provide the stage for one of the biggest championships in women’s sports and to welcome fans from across the world for such a special week, proving once again why we are Championship Valley. The Women’s Final Four brought incredible energy to downtown, showcased our city on a national stage, and reflected the dedication and pride we take in hosting world-class events.”
The event also included community programs like Read to the Final Four—engaging over 12 thousand students who logged more than 21 million minutes reading—and sustainability efforts that avoided an estimated 38 metric tons of carbon emissions through material recovery projects.
Jay Parry, CEO of the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee said: “Hosting Arizona’s first Women’s Final Four was a tremendous honor… When we bring major events to Arizona our goal is to create lasting value for our communities—and we believe this championship did exactly that.”
A full economic impact report is expected later this year.
