I like many think the NCAA Tournament is greatest sporting event in US sports, let me be clear, the Women’s NCAA Tournament. I know the men have Zion & Duke (in that order), storied coaches, and big-name programs but the Women’s tournament has exactly the same thing this year it a truly a four horse race where anyone can win and these are going to be three of the best basketball games of the year period, regardless of what tournament or league you’re talking about. So here is are annual Women’s Final Four preview.

Firstly, the matchups No. 1 Baylor facing No. 2 Oregon at 7 p.m. ET, followed by No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 UConn at 9 p.m., are among the most intriguing in recent years with both Oregon and UConn knocking off a top seed to get there. Doesn’t it seem strange not saying “top seeded UConn” well perhaps that has been motivation for them this tournament because they have played like a top seed, and when the majority of the prognosticators predicted they would fall to #6 UCLA in the Elite 8 that many have been all they needed to hear because they are back in the Final Four and one win away from a shot at another National Championship. Their opponents are top seeded, defending champions Notre Dame who won the National Championship in the grandest of fashions last year on a last second shot to win it all. Part of what makes this Final Four so is the history the schools have with each other. Notre Dame and UConn know each other well, Friday will mark their 50th meeting, and their eighth in the Final Four. UConn has the series lead, 37-12, but Notre Dame has the edge at the Final Four, 4-4.

On the other side Baylor and Oregon have only met three times, including in the NCAA second round in 2005, when the Lady Bears won their first national championship. However, despite the lack of many head-to-head meetings they certainly know about each other due to the recent success of the programs. Baylor has yet to be really challenged in this year’s tournament, winning each game by a minimum of 25 points, moreover during their current 27-game winning streak they have only had 3 wins that are within double digits. If Oregon can keep it close and force them to make crucial shots at the end of the game it will be interesting to see how the number one overall seed reacts to it.

Prediction – The one thing about our game is that the top seeds all earned it not based on the names on the front of their jerseys, prior reputations, or individual stars and Notre Dame and Baylor are the top seeds for a reason and although we expect them to have tough games, they should pull away at the end to set up another amazing final. We’ll be back to call the final later.