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Which school has the most Final Four appearances? Men, women and combined

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is upon us, but which schools have enjoyed the most success at the Big Dance?
Holy Cross v Iowa
Holy Cross v Iowa | Matthew Holst/GettyImages

If this college basketball season is any indication, the 2025 NCAA Tournament is slated to be jam-packed with exciting matchups. The win-or-go-home competition has become one of the country's most watched and anticipated sporting events, setting the stage for an awesome spectacle.

Last year, UConn and NC State each represented the men’s and women’s field of 68 brackets in the Final Four. It marked the first time in March Madness history that two universities accomplished the feat in the same tourney. Will we see the record books rewritten again?

While there are firsts for everything, there are also mainstays. Chief among them is the sustained success of the Huskies women’s team under legendary head coach Geno Auriemma. UConn has 23 Final Four appearances through 39 seasons under his guidance. But will they make it 24 in Year 40, and where does the prestigious program rank all-time amongst other schools in this department?

Which school has the most Final Four appearances for women’s college basketball?

School

Final Four appearances

UConn

23

Tennessee

18

Stanford

15

Louisiana Tech

10

Notre Dame

9

LSU

6

South Carolina

6

Georgia

5

Maryland

5

Auriemma's Huskies are the gold standard for reaching the Final Four and are poised to bolster their status as the top dog. Led by their dynamic duo of senior superstar guard Paige Bueckers and budding freshman forward Sarah Strong, UConn is difficult to stop.

South Carolina finished undefeated and won the national championship last year, surpassing Georgia and Maryland on this list. They became the 10th perfect team in Division I history, and it will be fascinating to see how the Gamecocks respond. Nonetheless, head coach Dawn Staley has her squad ready to dominate again after claiming a share of a fourth consecutive SEC regular-season title.

Which school has the most Final Four appearances for men’s college basketball

School

Final Four Appearances

North Carolina

21

UCLA

19

Duke

17

Kentucky

17

Kansas

16

Ohio State

11

Michigan State

10

Louisville

10

Indiana

8

Michigan

8

UConn

7

Villanova

7

The North Carolina Tar Heels top the list of men’s basketball teams, reaching 21 Final Fours. However, the odds are ostensibly against Hubert Davis and Co. this time, considering they've been a bubble team all season. Meanwhile, their iconic in-state rivals are lurking in the shadows.

Duke's scintillating freshman tandem of highly touted NBA draft prospect Cooper Flagg and sharpshooting jumbo guard Kon Knueppel positions them to make noise. The Blue Devils are dangerous on both ends of the floor and pose a threat to any opponent.

Which school has the most Final Four appearances for men’s and women’s combined

School

Final Four appearances

UConn

30

North Carolina

24

Duke

21

UCLA

18

Tennessee

18

Kentucky

17

Stanford

17

Louisville

14

UConn leads all Division I college basketball programs in combined Final Four appearances with 30, but the Tar Heels are not far behind with 24. Tennessee, UCLA, and Kentucky all make this list despite one of their men's or women's teams never making it this deep into the tournament. Yet, the Volunteers and Bruins are in a prime position to change that this season.