The NCAA took a historic step for women’s college hoops on Tuesday by announcing the 2028 Women’s Final Four will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis instead of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The switch shows how far the women’s game has come, with promoters planning for a record-setting crowd on one of the sport’s biggest platforms.
A New Era for Women’s March Madness
Lucas Oil Stadium, the massive home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, can accommodate nearly 70,000 fans when hosting basketball. That’s a giant leap from the seating capacity of Gainbridge Fieldhouse’s slightly over 18,000, where Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever typically host their WNBA home games.
For context:
- Lucas Oil Stadium → up to 70,000 seats
- Footprint Center (Phoenix 2026 Final Four) → 18,422 seats
- Nationwide Arena (Columbus 2027 Final Four) → less than 20,000 seats
The NCAA’s message is clear and concise—women’s college hoops has grown into a beast, filling football stadiums just like the men’s tournament does.
History in Indianapolis
This will not be the first women’s title Indianapolis hosts. Back in 2016, the game was played downtown at then Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies crushed Syracuse 82–51 for another championship.
But 2028 will be different. Instead of the intimate basketball performance of an arena, fans will be subjected to the thunderous roar of a stadium crowd—tens of thousands strong, all gathered here for the finales of March Madness.
Contributing to the performance reputation, Lucas Oil Stadium will also host the men’s Final Four in 2026 and 2029, emphasizing Indianapolis’s position at the center of NCAA basketball’s most memorable moments.
Why the Move Matters
This relocation is more than mere logistics. It is a sign of confidence in the marketability of women’s basketball. From Geno Auriemma’s UConn dynasties to Dawn Staley’s South Carolina dynasties, from Sabrina Ionescu’s shiny Oregon days to Caitlin Clark’s era-defining run at Iowa, the women’s game has built an enormous audience.
Caitlin Clark’s presence in the state of Indiana cannot be overlooked, either. Her coming into the WNBA with the Fever has already put its stamp on the state of basketball. Even during a year in which Clark was sidelined for substantial periods of time, the Fever averaged over 16,500 per game—basically, a sellout each night.
The Final Four in 2028 will potentially shatter all past attendance records and make Lucas Oil Stadium the world’s loudest basketball arena.
Forward Looking
- 2026 Women’s Final Four → Phoenix, AZ (Footprint Center)
- 2027 Women’s Final Four → Columbus, OH (Nationwide Arena)
- 2028 Women’s Final Four → Indianapolis, IN (Lucas Oil Stadium)
Every stop along the way is a reflection of the sport’s expansion. What was once decades ago an afterthought to the men’s tournament is now a signature event in its own right.
When the lights go up in Indianapolis in 2028, it will not be just about who’s slicing through the nets. It will be about witnessing women’s basketball living up to its potential—on the biggest stage, before the biggest audiences, with the brightest stars.
The decision to move the NCAA Women’s Final Four 2028 to Lucas Oil Stadium showcases the unyielding power of women’s basketball and will bring about an unprecedented era in March Madness history.
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