TEMPE, Ariz. -- Phoenix has been named the host of the 2026 Women's Final Four, the NCAA announced Wednesday. ASU will serve as the host institution.
Phoenix won the right to host in a competitive bid process that included three other finalists to host the 2025 and 2026 Women's Final Fours. It will mark the first time that Phoenix has hosted the nation's top collegiate women's basketball championship, which has not been staged in the West since 2012.
"This is a landmark day for ASU," said Ray Anderson, ASU Vice President for University Athletics and PLOC co-chair. "We will apply our trademark innovation to provide an unforgettable experience for the NCAA, student-athletes, alumni, media and fans. We thank the NCAA for entrusting the Valley with this iconic championship."
The Valley's bid was a collaborative effort, with the City of Phoenix, Visit Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns and Mercury and Talking Stick Resort Arena teaming up with the PLOC.
The national semifinals are set for Friday, April 3, 2026 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix, with the national championship game tipping off on Sunday, April 5.
The 2026 Women's Final Four completes Arizona's resume as the nation's leading destination for major championships. The Valley will also be the site of the 2023 Super Bowl and the 2024 NCAA Men's Final Four.
NCAA Golf Championships
The NCAA also announced that Scottsdale's Grayhawk Golf Club, who was originally selected to host the 2020-2022 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Golf Championships, will serve as the site for the 2023 national championship.
In 2021, women's play will take place from May 21-26, while the men's championships will be decided May 28 through June 2. In 2022, women's championships will be held from May 20-25, while the men's championships will take place May 27-June 1. Dates are still TBD for 2023.
The 2021 national championship will be the first time ASU has hosted an NCAA Golf Championship since the women hosted in 1992. This becomes the first time either the men's or women's championship has been hosted in the southwest since the 2012 men's tournament in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and the 2008 women's tournament in New Mexico.
The championships will be contested on Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor course, a par-72, 7,090-yard Tom Fazio design that is listed among the "Best Public Golf Courses in Arizona" by Golf Magazine. Since debuting in 1995, Raptor has hosted several premier competitive golf tournaments, including the PGA TOUR's Frys.com Open (2007-2009). Grayhawk also hosted Pro-Ams for the Waste Management Phoenix Open (1996 to 2012), The Tommy Bahama Challenge (2004 & 2005) and presently hosts the AJGA Thunderbird International Junior since 2000.
NCAA Regionals
The NCAA also announced ASU will host three additional regionals, including the 2025 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Regional at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Regional at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, and the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Gymnastics Regional at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.
LINKS/STORIES
--Phoenix/ASU selected to host 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four (azcentral.com)
--Phoenix to host 2026 NCAA women's basketball Final Four (arizonasports.com)
--Phoenix to host 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four (AZ Family/KTVK-3)
--Phoenix to host NCAA Women's Final Four in 2026 (State Press)
--In our DNA (Cronkite News)
Phoenix won the right to host in a competitive bid process that included three other finalists to host the 2025 and 2026 Women's Final Fours. It will mark the first time that Phoenix has hosted the nation's top collegiate women's basketball championship, which has not been staged in the West since 2012.
"This is a landmark day for ASU," said Ray Anderson, ASU Vice President for University Athletics and PLOC co-chair. "We will apply our trademark innovation to provide an unforgettable experience for the NCAA, student-athletes, alumni, media and fans. We thank the NCAA for entrusting the Valley with this iconic championship."
The Valley's bid was a collaborative effort, with the City of Phoenix, Visit Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns and Mercury and Talking Stick Resort Arena teaming up with the PLOC.
The national semifinals are set for Friday, April 3, 2026 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix, with the national championship game tipping off on Sunday, April 5.
The 2026 Women's Final Four completes Arizona's resume as the nation's leading destination for major championships. The Valley will also be the site of the 2023 Super Bowl and the 2024 NCAA Men's Final Four.
NCAA Golf Championships
The NCAA also announced that Scottsdale's Grayhawk Golf Club, who was originally selected to host the 2020-2022 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Golf Championships, will serve as the site for the 2023 national championship.
In 2021, women's play will take place from May 21-26, while the men's championships will be decided May 28 through June 2. In 2022, women's championships will be held from May 20-25, while the men's championships will take place May 27-June 1. Dates are still TBD for 2023.
The 2021 national championship will be the first time ASU has hosted an NCAA Golf Championship since the women hosted in 1992. This becomes the first time either the men's or women's championship has been hosted in the southwest since the 2012 men's tournament in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and the 2008 women's tournament in New Mexico.
The championships will be contested on Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor course, a par-72, 7,090-yard Tom Fazio design that is listed among the "Best Public Golf Courses in Arizona" by Golf Magazine. Since debuting in 1995, Raptor has hosted several premier competitive golf tournaments, including the PGA TOUR's Frys.com Open (2007-2009). Grayhawk also hosted Pro-Ams for the Waste Management Phoenix Open (1996 to 2012), The Tommy Bahama Challenge (2004 & 2005) and presently hosts the AJGA Thunderbird International Junior since 2000.
NCAA Regionals
The NCAA also announced ASU will host three additional regionals, including the 2025 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Regional at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Regional at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, and the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Gymnastics Regional at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.
LINKS/STORIES
--Phoenix/ASU selected to host 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four (azcentral.com)
--Phoenix to host 2026 NCAA women's basketball Final Four (arizonasports.com)
--Phoenix to host 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four (AZ Family/KTVK-3)
--Phoenix to host NCAA Women's Final Four in 2026 (State Press)
--In our DNA (Cronkite News)