At the Final Four in Cleveland, The Athletic will have its largest contingent of journalists represented to cover the event. After a record-breaking Elite Eight performance, we expect more fireworks with epic showdowns. Will Iowa return to the national championship? Will UConn get to Sunday for a chance to break its title drought? Will South Carolina keep rolling through its undefeated season? Or will NC State surprise us all?
Our experts — Nicole Auerbach, Scott Dochterman, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman, Grace Raynor and Cameron Teague Robinson — make their predictions for Friday night’s games.
UConn vs. Iowa
Auerbach
Iowa doesn’t have a ton of depth and it doesn’t have the type of post presence like South Carolina and LSU. But that doesn’t matter if you’re facing a team with more players in sweats on the bench than suited up — and that’s the predicament that UConn has found itself in with its terrible injury luck. So, give me Caitlin over Paige, and the Hawkeyes returning to the national championship game. Iowa 87, UConn 83
Dochterman
The final college chapter of Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers likely pits the next two No. 1 WNBA Draft picks. We’re in for another stratospheric event that boils down to two ultra-competitors from the Upper…
