We are a bit more than a month shy of the 2020 Women’s Final Four at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, but we now know what the official insignia for the ensuring year’s conclusion to the NCAA women’s basketball tournament will be for next year’s rendition in San Antonio.
The logo was revealed at halftime of UTSA’s contest with in-state foe UTEP – an 85-59 victory for the Miners over the Roadrunners.
Saddle up! We’re headed to San Antonio!
The 2021 Women’s Final Four Logo has just been announced! #ncaaW #WFinalFour | @SA_Sports pic.twitter.com/o860HDxGKQ
— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) February 21, 2020
The logo was designed by an agency in Indianapolis – the same city as NCAA headquarters. According to a league release, it features four-star embellishments – an ode to the four teams that will descend upon the Alamo City to strive for the national title.
There is also a star on the basketball – obviously a reference to Texas – the Lone Star State. The blue curves at the bottom can be seen as a reference to one of San Antonio’s most iconic elements – the River Walk. The red, orange and blue highlight art throughout the city and its logo also features nods to Spanish architecture.
The Women’s Final Four will be hosted by San Antonio Sports, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of the Incarnate Word. It is the first time since 2010 that San Antonio has been the host city for the Final Four and it also did so in 2002, when the event set an attendance record.
We continue to return to San Antonio because the city embraces our event with Texas-sized hospitality, a strong local organizing committee, a world-class venue and genuine love of basketball.
–Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball (per release)
We have a great track record for hosting this event and other NCAA championships and have set the bar high for our 2021 efforts, aiming to break the all-time attendance record of 29,619 which we set in 2002. And the impact this event has on a community through programs, legacy events and exposure, is beyond measure.
–Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball (per release)
The Alamodome has a capacity of 72,000. Given how women’s basketball at all levels has made its fair share of leaps and bounds since 2010, the attendance record should be broken. The only question is – by how much?
We had a blast unveiling the NCAA Women’s Final Four 2021 logo 🏆@SA_Sports | #BirdsUp🤙 pic.twitter.com/FW0W8RQQVx
— UTSA Athletics (@UTSAAthletics) February 21, 2020
After the 2021 Women’s Final Four, the 2022 rendition will take place in Minneapolis at Target Center, which also was the host venue for the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game. In 2023, the Women’s Final Four will once again head back to Texas as American Airlines Center in Dallas will be where four teams will battle it out for the NCAA’s most coveted prize. The year after that, four teams will get together for the 2024 Women’s Final Four in Cleveland.
The 2025 and 2026 Final Fours are also being contested for between … ironically, four cities. Those four are Tampa (2019 host), Columbus (2018 host), Phoenix and Portland.
