Just four teams remain in the NCAA Tournament.Iowa is back for the second year in a row after avenging last year's loss to LSU in the national championship game. The Hawkeyes took care of business thanks to 41 points from Caitlin Clark in Monday's Elite Eight win.Now, Iowa takes on one of college basketball's historic powerhouses.Here's what to know about Connecticut ahead of Friday's Final Four game.TICKETS, TIP-OFF TIME, TV AND MORE: How to watch Iowa vs. UConn in the Final FourUConn women's basketball: Record, stats, NCAA Tournament historyRecord: 33-5Conference: Big East (18-0; first place)Coach: Geno Auriemma (1213-161 in 39 years at UConn)NCAA Tournament history: We'll try to give you the short version.The Huskies are the most storied program in women's college basketball. The school boasts more national titles than any other program (11) and hasn't missed an NCAA Tournament since 1988. UConn has been to at least the Sweet 16 every season since 1993.UConn is making its 23rd — yes, 23rd — Final Four appearance. The Huskies had appeared in every Final Four since 2008 before that streak was snapped last season.UConn players to watch: Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, Nika MuhlUConn has no shortage of star power.Nobody in the country can match Caitlin Clark one-on-one, but UConn's Paige Bueckers is probably closer than anybody. Bueckers, the No. 1 rated recruit in the class of 2020 — Clark was ranked No. 4 — is UConn's leading scorer this season at 22 points per game. Bueckers gets her points with top-notch efficiency. She shoots 53% from the floor and 42% from beyond the 3-point line. Bueckers also ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.2 per game) and second in assists (3.9 per game) while leading the team in steals and blocks. She was named first-team All-American this season alongside Clark.Joining Bueckers as UConn's leaders are 6-foot-3 forward Aaliyah Edwards, who averages 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and senior guard Nika Muhl.Edwards does the bulk of her scoring in the paint. She shoots 59.5% from the floor and grabs 2.4 offensive rebounds per game. Edwards also has a knack for getting to the free throw line, taking nearly 5 attempts per game and hitting 75% of them. She has scored 10 or more points in 30 consecutive games, including 18 double-doubles.Muhl likely won't light up the scoreboard, but she ranks second in the country (behind Clark, of course) in assists at 246. Muhl is also an efficient 3-point shooter at 40% while playing great defense; she has won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award twice.Bueckers and Edwards combined for 52 points and 16 rebounds in the team's Elite Eight win over USC. Muhl provided a steady 8 points and 8 assists. All three played the entire 40 minutes of UConn's win.Iowa vs. UConn series historyIowa and UConn have played twice in recent history, and the Huskies won both games.The Hawkeyes and Huskies met in the 2021 NCAA Tournament when Clark and Bueckers were both freshmen. No. 1 seed UConn prevailed over No. 5 seed Iowa, 92-72. Clark scored 21 to lead Iowa but needed 21 shots to do so. Bueckers had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists while Edwards also tallied 18 points.Iowa and UConn met last year during the regular season. UConn won again, 86-79. With Bueckers sidelined, Edwards posted 20 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Muhl played all 40 minutes and record 13 assists.Iowa had its chances to win that one; it blew an 11-point third-quarter lead and couldn't get key stops late, allowing UConn to shoot 68% from the floor after halftime. Clark had 25 points on 9-for-24 shooting.Iowa vs. UConn matchup to watch: Caitlin Clark, elite Hawkeye offense vs. balanced Connecticut teamUConn might be the most balanced team Iowa has faced.The Huskies have the sixth-rated defense in the country while also boasting the fourth-best offense. UConn's offense is the best Iowa has faced all season; its defense ranks second among Iowa's 2023-24 opponents behind West Virginia, which Iowa beat in the second round. The Huskies don't have many major flaws. They score efficiently inside (seventh in the nation in 2-point field goal percentage) while also being dangerous behind the arc (18th in 3-point percentage). They move the ball well, ranking fourth in the country in assists.Defensively, UConn holds opponents to just 35.4% from the floor, the seventh-lowest mark in the country.Since starting slow this season (4-3 through its first seven games), UConn has won 29 of its last 31. Watch: Caitlin Clark soaks in Elite Eight win over LSU
CLEVELAND — Just four teams remain in the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa is back for the second year in a row after avenging last year's loss to LSU in the national championship game. The Hawkeyes took care of business thanks to 41 points from Caitlin Clark in Monday's Elite Eight win.
Now, Iowa takes on one of college basketball's historic powerhouses.
Here's what to know about Connecticut ahead of Friday's Final Four game.
TICKETS, TIP-OFF TIME, TV AND MORE: How to watch Iowa vs. UConn in the Final Four
UConn women's basketball: Record, stats, NCAA Tournament history
Record: 33-5
Conference: Big East (18-0; first place)
Coach: Geno Auriemma (1213-161 in 39 years at UConn)
NCAA Tournament history: We'll try to give you the short version.
The Huskies are the most storied program in women's college basketball. The school boasts more national titles than any other program (11) and hasn't missed an NCAA Tournament since 1988. UConn has been to at least the Sweet 16 every season since 1993.
UConn is making its 23rd — yes, 23rd — Final Four appearance. The Huskies had appeared in every Final Four since 2008 before that streak was snapped last season.
UConn players to watch: Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, Nika Muhl
UConn has no shortage of star power.
Nobody in the country can match Caitlin Clark one-on-one, but UConn's Paige Bueckers is probably closer than anybody. Bueckers, the No. 1 rated recruit in the class of 2020 — Clark was ranked No. 4 — is UConn's leading scorer this season at 22 points per game.
Bueckers gets her points with top-notch efficiency. She shoots 53% from the floor and 42% from beyond the 3-point line. Bueckers also ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.2 per game) and second in assists (3.9 per game) while leading the team in steals and blocks. She was named first-team All-American this season alongside Clark.
Joining Bueckers as UConn's leaders are 6-foot-3 forward Aaliyah Edwards, who averages 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and senior guard Nika Muhl.
Michael Hickey
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes brings the ball up court against Nika Muhl #10 of the UConn Huskies at Moda Center on November 27, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.
Edwards does the bulk of her scoring in the paint. She shoots 59.5% from the floor and grabs 2.4 offensive rebounds per game. Edwards also has a knack for getting to the free throw line, taking nearly 5 attempts per game and hitting 75% of them. She has scored 10 or more points in 30 consecutive games, including 18 double-doubles.
Muhl likely won't light up the scoreboard, but she ranks second in the country (behind Clark, of course) in assists at 246. Muhl is also an efficient 3-point shooter at 40% while playing great defense; she has won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award twice.
Bueckers and Edwards combined for 52 points and 16 rebounds in the team's Elite Eight win over USC. Muhl provided a steady 8 points and 8 assists. All three played the entire 40 minutes of UConn's win.
Iowa vs. UConn series history
Iowa and UConn have played twice in recent history, and the Huskies won both games.
The Hawkeyes and Huskies met in the 2021 NCAA Tournament when Clark and Bueckers were both freshmen. No. 1 seed UConn prevailed over No. 5 seed Iowa, 92-72. Clark scored 21 to lead Iowa but needed 21 shots to do so. Bueckers had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists while Edwards also tallied 18 points.
Elsa
Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies takes the ball as Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes defends in the first half during the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on March 27, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas.
Iowa and UConn met last year during the regular season. UConn won again, 86-79. With Bueckers sidelined, Edwards posted 20 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Muhl played all 40 minutes and record 13 assists.
Iowa had its chances to win that one; it blew an 11-point third-quarter lead and couldn't get key stops late, allowing UConn to shoot 68% from the floor after halftime. Clark had 25 points on 9-for-24 shooting.
Iowa vs. UConn matchup to watch: Caitlin Clark, elite Hawkeye offense vs. balanced Connecticut team
UConn might be the most balanced team Iowa has faced.
The Huskies have the sixth-rated defense in the country while also boasting the fourth-best offense. UConn's offense is the best Iowa has faced all season; its defense ranks second among Iowa's 2023-24 opponents behind West Virginia, which Iowa beat in the second round.
The Huskies don't have many major flaws. They score efficiently inside (seventh in the nation in 2-point field goal percentage) while also being dangerous behind the arc (18th in 3-point percentage). They move the ball well, ranking fourth in the country in assists.
Defensively, UConn holds opponents to just 35.4% from the floor, the seventh-lowest mark in the country.
Since starting slow this season (4-3 through its first seven games), UConn has won 29 of its last 31.
Watch: Caitlin Clark soaks in Elite Eight win over LSU
