Thousands of basketball fans are in the Twin Cities as the NCAA Women's Final Four tournament Semi-finals begin tonight. WCCO's Susie Jones caught up with two friends from South Carolina who have never seen Minneapolis before.
“It's a beautiful city and very calming, and we've enjoyed our stay so far,” says Lenora Bradham.
Bradham and Eleanor Stoudemeyer have been best friends for more than 50 years, and are in Minneapolis to watch their beloved South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina takes on Louisville in game one of the semifinals Friday night at Target Center. UConn and Stanford play in the late game.
They told WCCO that no matter what happens tonight they’re here for the weekend and will be at all the games “win or lose”.
Both Bradham and Stoudemeyer love women's sports but admit they are not athletes.
“I have two left feet”, says Stoudemeyer.
Despite the event taking place in downtown Minneapolis, both women noted how quiet the city still has been.
“I don't know where all the traffic is,” says Bradham.
Governor Tim Walz, also talking to WCCO's Susie Jones, says they're thrilled to be hosting the women's Final Four.
"It really is a party atmosphere out here," said the Governor. "To have the Final Four and the nation looking at these incredible athletes, it's good. We need to show them that Minneapolis and Minnesota, we're here."
The Governor also took a moment to recognize the success of women's sports in the state, especially basketball with the Lynx.
"This is Titletown, women win titles in Minnesota."
This is the first time since 1995 the Women’s Final Four has been in the Twin Cities. The first game between South Carolina and Louisville tips-off at 6:00 p.m. with UConn and Stanford to follow.
It's a heavyweight foursome. South Carolina, Louisville and Stanford were all regional number one seeds. UConn was a two seed but that's only due to the fact that Minnesota native Paige Bueckers, unanimously thought of as the top player in women's college basketball, was hurt most of the season.
Head of NCAA Women's basketball, Amy Reis, told Tom Hauser on the WCCO Radio Morning News Friday there will be a few tickets available through the NCAA website. She said sometimes fans that can't travel turn tickets back in to be resold at the last minute.
Prices for Friday's semifinals begin at $90. For Sunday's championship game, fans from the losing semifinal teams typically sell some of their tickets as well.
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