TAMPA, Fla. -- All roads have led to Tampa.

The top four teams in the women’s game are getting ready to battle it out on the basketball court.

And one of them will emerge as the national champion this weekend at Amalie Arena.

What You Need To Know

Texas takes on South Carolina in the opening national semifinal at 7 p.m.

Connecticut will face UCLA in the second game, scheduled to start around 9 p.m.

Sell out crowds of 30,000 are expected for the games and Sunday’s championship game, set for 3 p.m.  

South Carolina is going for two in a row. It would be the Gamecocks third championship in the past four years.

Standing in their way, the Texas Longhorns with arguably the toughest defense in the tournament. Texas is making a return to the Fina Four for the first time since 2003.

The other matchup pits a first timer, UCLA, against a juggernaut.

The Bruins are in the Final Four for the first time in school history. But the Bruins are not just happy to be here.

They’re the overall No. 1 seed ready to take on the hottest team in the women’s game right now, the UConn Huskies. Winners of a record 11 national championships and riding a 14-game win streak into Tampa.

“Obviously there's expectations here,” said UConn guard Paige Bueckers abut the Huskies’ pedigree. “And anything less than a national championship is really a disappointment. As players, that's what you play for and what you want to live up to. And the expectations and the pressure, it's a privilege.” 

This a record-fourth time Tampa has hosted the Women’s Final Four.

No city has hosted this many.

Here’s a look at the matchups:

South Carolina vs. Texas

The teams split two regular-season meetings, winning on their home courts. The Gamecocks took the rubber match, winning the SEC Tournament title by 17 points. The Gamecocks have won three titles in the past eight years, but this year’s squad has been tested in the postseason. They won both games in the Birmingham Regional by four points, topping Maryland and Duke.

In their victories over Texas this season, the Gamecocks held the Longhorns under 30% shooting. In South Carolina’s loss, Texas shot 44%.

“Ton of experiences to draw from and learn from,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “Got to learn and be different. That’s the thing about their team, Dawn’s teams. You know you’ll get the same from them that you try to impart on others too. They are going to be tough, aggressive, physical. If you don’t bring an edge with you at the fight it won’t be much fun.”

There’s plenty of star power on both teams with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker leading Texas while Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley are the top players for the Gamecocks.

Texas is in the Final Four for the first time since 2003. Schaefer became the fifth coach to take at least two teams to the Final Four, joining Marianne Stanley, Gary Blair and Kim Mulkey. C. Vivian Stringer took three schools to the national semifinals. Schaefer led Mississippi State to the championship games in 2017 and 2018.

UConn vs. UCLA

The Bruins have a dominant post player in 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts who has been unstoppable in the tournament. She had consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games in the second round and the Sweet 16. She played through foul trouble in the Elite Eight and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.

UConn will have to figure out a way to slow her down. While Betts has been dominant, no player has been better than Bueckers, who’s clearly driven to conclude her incredible college career with a national championship.

She’s had a bit of help with the stellar play of Azzi Fudd and freshman Sarah Strong, who has put together one of the best seasons for a first-year player in school history. 

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.