2028 Women’s Final Four Moving to Lucas Oil Stadium

The Division I Women’s Basketball Committee voted on Monday to move the 2028 Women’s Final Four to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The committee also voted to continue with the current preliminary-round format through the 2031 championship.

“Moving the 2028 Women’s Final Four to Lucas Oil Stadium will allow for more access for our fans, and it represents the continued growth of the sport,” said Amanda Braun, director of athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and chair of the committee. “With the interest we have seen, holding the Women’s Final Four in a larger venue in Indianapolis is a natural next step.”

The event, originally scheduled to take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, was moved due to the public demand for tickets, as Lucas Oil Stadium will add approximately 13,000 more seats. The 2028 Women’s Final Four weekend in Indianapolis will also include the Division II and III championships.

“We are thrilled to see the Women’s Final Four return to an active NFL stadium for the first time in over two decades when it takes the floor in Indianapolis in 2028,” said Patrick Talty, president of the Indiana Sports Corp. “This stage not only elevates the experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans but also reflects the remarkable growth and momentum of women’s basketball. Indianapolis continues to innovate with events like the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials inside Lucas Oil Stadium, and hosting this championship further cements our vision to make Indiana the women’s sports capital of the world.”

The current preliminary-round format will remain the same, with First Four games and the first and second rounds hosted at 16 non–predetermined campus sites to increase fan attendance and engagement during early tournament rounds. The model has been effective, as the last three tournaments have recorded the three highest attendance figures for the first and second rounds in championship history.

“We reviewed alternatives to the First Four, first- and second-round format and the regional format, and the data supports keeping our current model,” Braun said. “This will continue to be a point of discussion for the committee as we look to serve tournament participants and fans in the best possible way.”

Additionally, a survey was sent to the Division I membership, including athletics directors, conferences and coaches, about the first and second rounds, and 85 percent of respondents supported the current non–predetermined top 16 format for at least the next few years.

The current regional–round format will also continue, with competition at two sites. In the three past championships, the attendance numbers are the highest in tournament history.