The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee has approved the 11 game officials recommended by Penny Davis, the national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating, to work Friday’s two national semifinal games and Sunday’s national championship game. A three-person crew will work each Women’s Final Four game, while two officials will serve as the standby officials for all three contests.
The NCAA has notified these 11 individuals that they have been selected to work the 2025 Women’s Final Four, which will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay:
- Kyle Bacon.
- Tiffany Bird.
- Fatou Cissoko-Stephens.
- Gina Cross.
- Maj Forsberg.
- Felicia Grinter.
- Brian Hall.
- Brenda Pantoja.
- In’Fini Robinson.
- William Smith.
- Joe Vaszily.
“The officials chosen for the Final Four have exemplified excellence and consistency throughout both the regular season and the tournament,” Davis said. “Their dedication, precision, and ability to perform under intense pressure earned them nominations from their conferences, my recommendation, and approval by the basketball committee. Officiating at this level is both a great honor and a significant responsibility, and I have full confidence that this group is well-prepared and ready for the challenge ahead.”
Forsberg will be appearing in her seventh Women’ Final Four. Cross will be officiating in her sixth Women’s Final Four. Bird has been selected for a Women’s Final Four for the fourth time. Vaszily, Pantoja and Grinter were selected for the ninth time. Bacon, Robinson and Hall have been selected to work the Women’s Final Four for the second time. Smith and Cissoko-Stephens are working their very first Final Four.
Friday’s first semifinal features two No. 1 seeds in South Carolina, the Birmingham Region 2 champion, and Texas, the champion of the Birmingham 3 Region. South Carolina is making its fifth consecutive Final Four appearance and seventh overall, while Texas is heading to the Final Four for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2003. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern time.
The second semifinal game, which is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, features the Spokane 1 Region champion and No. 1 overall seed UCLA against the Spokane 4 Region champion and No. 2 seed UConn. The Bruins will be making their first ever appearance in the Women’s Final Four, and the Huskies are in the Women’s Final Four for a record 24th time.
