Phoenix will host the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four for the first time in April.
The tournament brings with it multiple free events for fans to downtown Phoenix, including a concert at Margaret T. Hance Park. The concert headliner will be announced the first week of March.
A fan festival, known as Tourney Town, will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center. For the first time, the festival will feature a block party on 3rd Street.
Other events include a basketball-dribbling parade through the streets downtown that invites kids of all ages to participate.
“Women’s basketball is having an incredible moment right now, and we're so lucky that we have the final four right now,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
Gallego said she is excited for the women’s tournament to come to Phoenix, highlighting the quantity of women leaders in the state, including Gov. Katie Hobbs and the “supermajority” of women on the Phoenix City Council.
Gallego said Phoenix is well-equipped to host the tournament. The city has played host to several major sporting events in the past few years, including the men’s Final Four and the College Football Championship.
“From Super Bowl through college football championship, we're now in a multibillion-dollar economic impact,” Gallego said. “It's bringing incredible investments, and that's everything from tourists spending dollars at our restaurants and hotels to companies that fall in love with Phoenix.”
Festivities begin on April 2. The championship game at Mortgage Matchup Center — home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury — is set to take place April 5.
"As the success of the women's basketball championship grows every year, we're excited that Phoenix will host this year's Women's Final Four for the first time ever," said Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women's basketball. "Phoenix has been an incredible partner, and we're excited to build on the success of women's basketball and crown our national champion in April."
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