A Record-Setting Fourth NCAA Women's Final Four is just on the Horizon... Team Tampa Bay is Ready!

By Joey Johnston

It’s not surprising that the Tampa Bay area has become the first community to host the NCAA Women’s Final Four for a fourth time. Take a look around. The place has some serious bounce when it comes to big-time sports.

Through the work of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, the area has attracted multiple Super Bowls, WrestleMania, the NHL All-Star Game, the College Football National Championship Game, the NCAA Frozen Four, the ACC and SEC Men’s Basketball Tournaments, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament early rounds and now its fourth NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four.

The Sports Commission has teamed with the University of South Florida as the event host and USF has earned a national pedigree as a notable women’s basketball program. In Coach Jose Fernandez’s 25 seasons, the Bulls have reached nine NCAA Tournaments as part of 18 overall postseason bids, including the 2009 WNIT championship. Fernandez, president-elect of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, said Tampa Bay’s track record as a Final Four host has mirrored the game’s growth.

“We have a great product,’’ Fernandez said. “If you continue to invest in our sport and give it television exposure, it’s going to keep growing. It’s very exciting to have the Final Four in Tampa Bay once again. Just like our sport, our area keeps growing and improving. This event is fantastic for the fans, but we have a lot to offer, even beyond the basketball.’’

The ever-evolving face of downtown Tampa presents a diverse, walkable footprint that is filled with entertainment and culinary options.

The award-winning Tampa Riverwalk easily connects the hotels, restaurants, offices and shopping areas while offering spectacular waterfront views. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, teeming with outdoor activities, offers a different flavor for the city’s urban core. Just around the corner from Amalie Arena, which has undergone $40-million of improvements since Tampa Bay hosted its first Women’s Final Four, there’s the Sparkman Wharf waterfront entertainment complex. Not far away is the popular Armature Works mixed-use district.

If you want a place to eat, play or just enjoy the good life, Tampa Bay provides ample choices.

“I’m so proud of our city and its ability to help stage an event like this,’’ Tampa mayor Jane Castor said. “I happen to think that nobody does it better than we do because of the leadership of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. I absolutely cannot wait to be part of another Women’s Final Four.

“For the visitors from all over the world who will experience all our area has to offer, it’s going to be spectacular. Basketball is such a beautiful sport. The game has never been more popular.’’

Castor isn’t just another politician spouting the party line.

She played basketball at the University of Tampa, a tradition-rich school with striking architecture and history along the Hillsborough River. She was named to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame after a career with 1,055 points and 508 rebounds during an era when women’s basketball was still finding its footing.

“With the way the game has advanced, I’m not sure there would even be a place for me now,’’ Castor said with a laugh. “The level of athleticism and competitiveness is just tremendous. I marvel at what women’s basketball has become.’’

In 2008, when Tampa Bay hosted its first Women’s Final Four, there was direct economic impact of $19-million (almost double from the previous year). Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins pointed to a pleasing occurrence: The out-of-town fans came early and they stayed late.

On the court, Coach Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Lady Vols won the program’s eighth national title, highlighting an star-studded event that featured Tennessee’s Candace Parker, Stanford’s Candice Wiggins, Connecticut’s Maya Moore and LSU’s Sylvia Fowles.

“As good as it gets,’’ ESPN announcer Doris Burke said.

But for Tampa Bay — whether it was 2015 (UConn’s three-peat), 2019 (Baylor’s fantastic finish against Notre Dame) or this weekend’s elite gathering of women’s basketball talent — there has always been a four-gone conclusion for local organizers that went beyond the high quality of basketball.

Raising the bar.

Always raising the bar.

From the start, Tampa Bay’s host committee has sought innovation and ground-breaking initiatives.

At the 2008 Women’s Final Four, the Sports Commission unveiled a program entitled “Beyond The Baseline,’’ a women’s empowerment program where top leaders gathered to network, educate and shine the light on women’s issues. It featured a series of talks, panels and guest speakers with the goal of mentoring women for success in sports and business.

It went so well that Tampa Bay’s work became a template for the NCAA to stage a “Beyond Series’’ event at many of its major championships, allowing each community to delve into solution-based cultural and social subjects.

It has become a cherished annual tradition at the Women’s Final Four — and now it’s even more special as it returns to the event’s birthplace.

“It always brings a smile to our face — and sometimes a tear to my eye — to see this program that started in Tampa Bay continuing as an NCAA-sanctioned event,’’ said Claire Lessinger, the Sports Commission’s vice president of events.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s local organizers were eager to help stage the NCAA-hosted Sports ETA Women’s VIP Summit, which debuted last year in Cleveland. It attracted some of the most powerful women in sports (and the business of sports). Higgins and Lessinger, particularly, saw it as another opportunity for discussions and brainstorming sessions on how to leverage the continuing momentum for women’s sports.

Those high-profile events are part of the event’s extraordinarily busy off-court activities.

“The Women’s Final Four has grown to the point where there are activities and events almost everywhere, all the time,’’ Lessinger said.

To help facilitate the wide and diverse array of event organizers, the Sports Commission revived its Venue Allocation Program that was created for Super Bowl LV in 2021. It allowed the Sports Commission to play matchmaker for event leads and local venue owners, making for a smooth process to ensure equitable participation.

“It is always a fun and rewarding puzzle to help piece together,’’ Lessinger said.

It all fits together nicely — elite basketball in a wildly popular event, a magnificent arena, entertainment choices galore, gorgeous weather and unmatched hospitality.

Bemetra Simmons, a former college player and passionate fan of the Tennessee Lady Vols, was a regular patron of the Women’s Final Four with her twin sister Demetra when she arrived at the Tampa event in 2008. It was an extremely memorable and life-changing event — but not because her Lady Vols captured the championship.

“It was my first time to Tampa and I remember thinking to myself, ‘Man, this seems like such a cool community,’ ‘’ Simmons said. “It was the awesome weather, the friendliness of everyone and the sheer ease of getting around. I remember walking around the downtown. I remember taking the trolley to Ybor City and eating a Cuban sandwich for the first time.

“We had been to the Women’s Final Four in several other cities, but we never had an experience like Tampa. The locals were like, ‘Oh, welcome to Tampa’ or ‘You’ve got to go here … you’ve got to eat here.’ It didn’t matter where we were, every single person was so proud and excited that we were there. It was so welcoming. So I thought to myself, ‘If I ever get the opportunity, this is the type of community I can see myself living in.’ ‘’

In 2011, Simmons’ bank offered her a transfer to Tampa, where she quickly became a pillar of the community.

Now Simmons is chair of the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee Advisory Board that has helped to promote this Women’s Final Four. Simmons has since left her banking career to become president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, which is devoted to research, public policy and advocacy for the largest employers in an eight-county region.

“It is important that we as community and business leaders help support this premier women’s championship that will once again generate significant economic and social impact in our region,’’ Simmons said. “Tampa Bay is excited and ready to embrace the growing fan base and welcome back the women’s basketball community in a big way.’’

The Sports Commission, old hands at hosting the Women’s Final Four, is driven to make its fourth attempt the best one yet.

“Our championship campus has totally transformed in the last four years, let alone what has taken place (beyond that),’’ Higgins said. “If you haven’t been to Tampa (in several years), you truly won’t recognize us. We have a compact and walkable footprint that is ideal for this championship.’’

“Aside from planning and coordinating event logistics and marketing the event, the student-athlete experience is a top priority of ours,’’ Lessinger said. “We promise to leave no stone unturned.’’

As always.