The NCAA Women’s Basketball selected Phoenix, Arizona to host the 2026 Women’s Final Four. This will be the first time Arizona hosts the tournament, which has not been held out West since 2012.
The competitive bidding process started nearly a year ago, with the Phoenix Women’s Final Four Bid Committee submitting preliminary materials to the NCAA. In January, Phoenix was named one of four finalists, along with Columbus, Portland and Tampa. In May, the committee submitted a bid book to the NCAA and, in September, a virtual site visit was held and final presentation by the committee was made to the NCAA.
“Arizona is thrilled to welcome the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2026!” said Governor Ducey. “With our unbeatable weather, exceptional hotel accommodations, world-class culinary scene, and welcoming atmosphere, no state provides a better experience for fans and players. We’re grateful to NCAA Women’s Basketball for selecting Arizona to host this event. My thanks also to the Phoenix Women’s Final Four Bid Committee, including the Arizona Office of Tourism, for their dedication and hard work to secure this win for our state. We can’t wait for 2026!”
“We look forward to hosting the teams and fans that the NCAA Women’s Final Four will bring to Arizona in 2026,” said Arizona Office of Tourism Director Debbie Johnson. “And we’re excited that everyone watching at home will see some of the amazing places and experiences that await them on their next visit to Arizona!”
Arizona has become the go-to destination for mega-sporting events, with the NASCAR Championship Weekend in 2020 and 2021, Super Bowl LVII in 2023 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2024. Arizona also hosted Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, the Pro Bowl in 2015, the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2016 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2017, with a combined $1 billion in economic impact to our state.
In 2017, Arizona’s hosting of the NCAA Men’s Final Four brought nearly 60,000 visitors, who stayed an average of four nights and had an estimated economic impact of $324.5 million. The state every year also hosts Major League Baseball Spring Training, the Fiesta Bowl and the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the best-attended golf event in the world.
