PHOENIX — The 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four concluded its first-ever run in Arizona with sellout crowds and near-record viewership, according to data released by the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee.
The championship game, held at Mortgage Matchup Center, drew 9.9 million viewers on ABC and ESPN. This marks a 15% increase over last year and ranks as the third most-watched Women’s NCAA Championship game to date. The two national semifinal games also saw year-over-year growth, averaging 5.4 million and 5 million viewers.
Both the semifinals and the national championship game recorded attendance of 15,856. In total, 360,823 people participated in games and fan events throughout downtown Phoenix between April 2 and April 5.
“Phoenix delivered an outstanding championship marked by incredible energy, strong fan engagement and a meaningful impact throughout the community,” Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball, said in a statement.
Several ancillary events set new attendance benchmarks for the tournament. The Four It All Fest drew 35,036 people, while the Super Saturday Concert reached a capacity crowd of 10,212. Tourney Town reported 25,610 attendees, its highest turnout since 2015.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego noted that the event showcased the city on a national stage and brought significant activity to the downtown corridor.
“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,” Gallego said in a press release.
Beyond the scoreboard, the tournament focused on local community initiatives:
Literacy: The “Read to the Final Four” program involved 12,156 third graders across 191 Arizona schools. Students logged more than 21.4 million minutes of reading time.
Infrastructure: The 2026 Legacy Project funded renovations at the Washington Activity Center in Alhambra Village, which serves approximately 18,000 residents.
Sustainability: Organizers reported that 38.1 metric tons of carbon emissions were avoided through waste diversion efforts. The event was supported by 867 volunteers and 1,280 credentialed media members, the latter being the highest total in the tournament’s history.
“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,” said Jay Parry, CEO of the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee.
A comprehensive economic impact report from Arizona State University’s Seidman Research Institute is scheduled for release later this year.
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