Stanford survives against Arizona, wins first NCAA title since 1992

Stanford players celebrate after the final buzzer sounded in Sunday’s championship game with Arizona. The Cardinal won 54-53 for the third title in school history.

Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer — the winningest coach in the history of women’s college basketball — cuts down the net after Sunday’s win.

Arizona assistant coach Jackie Nared Hairston puts her arm around Trinity Baptiste after the game.

Stanford players react after Aari McDonald, bottom right, missed a shot at the buzzer.

Stanford players hug as confetti falls in San Antonio’s Alamodome.

Stanford’s Francesca Belibi grabs a rebound in front of Baptiste.

Fans sit among cardboard cutouts at the game. Fan attendance was limited throughout the tournament.

Stanford’s Lexie Hull shoots over Cate Reese on Sunday.

Arizona head coach Adia Barnes directs her team during the first half of Sunday’s game.

Kiana Williams shoots a floater.

McDonald steals the ball from Williams.

The championship game tips off at the Alamodome. Because of the pandemic, all tournament games were played in Texas this year.

Lexie Hull and McDonald battle for a loose ball.

Arizona fans cheer on their team Sunday.

Stanford’s Haley Jones drives to the basket Sunday. She finished with a team-high 17 points and was later named the tournament’s most outstanding player.

McDonald lies on the court after being fouled.

Belibi looks for an open shot Sunday.

Stanford huddles before the game.

Arizona players celebrate after their Final Four victory over Connecticut on Friday. The Wildcats, playing in their first Final Four, won 69-59.

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma walks off the court after the loss to Arizona. This was the 13th straight Final Four for the Huskies.

Arizona’s Aari McDonald shoots a layup during the first quarter Friday. She finished with a game-high 26 points against UConn.

Connecticut players react to a call in the second half.

McDonald shoots over Paige Bueckers in the second quarter.

Fans watch the Arizona-Connecticut game inside the Alamodome.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa blocks a shot by Arizona’s Cate Reese.

Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards is introduced before the game.

Emotions were on full display at the end of the South Carolina-Stanford game on Friday. South Carolina came up with a steal in the final seconds but missed a couple of shots, and Stanford held on to win 66-65.

South Carolina point guard Destanni Henderson reacts after the loss to Stanford.

Stanford’s Lexie Hull finished with 18 points and a team-high 13 rebounds against South Carolina. She also had four assists for the Cardinal.

South Carolina’s Brea Beal and Stanford’s Cameron Brink chase down a loose ball.

Stanford guard Haley Jones grabs a rebound in the second half. She scored 24 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final minute.

South Carolina guard Zia Cooke scored a game-high 25 points against Stanford.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley speaks with an official during the Stanford game.

The opening tip-off is held for the South Carolina-Stanford game.

Stanford players dump confetti on Kiana Williams after their Elite Eight win over Louisville on Tuesday. Stanford, the No. 1 overall seed, trailed by 12 at half but rallied to win 78-63.

Louisville’s Mykasa Robinson, left, fouls Stanford’s Cameron Brink on Tuesday.

South Carolina celebrates its win in the Elite Eight on Tuesday. The Gamecocks crushed Texas 62-34 to advance to the Final Four.

South Carolina forward Victaria Saxton is swarmed by Texas defenders on Tuesday.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley cuts down the last piece of net after the Texas win. This was her third Final Four with the Gamecocks.

Texas’ Kyra Lambert plays defense against South Carolina’s Destanni Henderson.

Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers, left, celebrates her team’s Final Four berth as Baylor guard DiJonai Carrington walks off the court on Monday. UConn won 69-67 to make the Final Four for the 13th consecutive season.

Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards, left, and Baylor’s Queen Egbo eye a loose ball on Monday.

Connecticut players celebrate their win over Baylor.

Baylor’s DiJonai Carrington dribbles up the floor against Connecticut.

The Arizona Wildcats celebrate after defeating Indiana in the Elite Eight on Monday. This is the first time in school history that the team will play in the Final Four.

Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes, left, and Arizona’s Trinity Baptiste battle for a rebound Monday.

Arizona head coach Adia Barnes cuts down the net after the win over Indiana.

South Carolina’s Destiny Littleton, bottom left, reacts to a call during the Gamecocks’ Sweet Sixteen win over Georgia Tech.

Stanford plays Missouri State at the Alamodome.

Stanford’s Ashten Prechtel, left, and Missouri State’s Jasmine Franklin compete for a loose ball. Stanford went on to win 89-62.

A Louisville coach holds a sign that says “trust” during the Sweet Sixteen game against Oregon. Louisville won 60-42.

Oregon’s Nyara Sabally drives to the basket against Louisville.

Missouri State players react to the loss against Stanford.

Indiana players celebrate after their Sweet Sixteen win over NC State.

NC State’s Jada Boyd tries to control the ball during the second half against Indiana.

Men wear face shields at the scorer’s table during the Indiana-NC State game.

Michigan’s Akienreh Johnson shoots a free throw during the Sweet Sixteen game against Baylor.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark is fouled by Connecticut’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa.

Georgia’s Maya Caldwell drives to the basket during a second-round game against Oregon.

Texas A&M players celebrate after Jordan Nixon hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat Iowa State in the second round.

Maryland guard Faith Masonius is congratulated after scoring against Alabama.

NFL star Russell Wilson cheers for his sister, Stanford guard Anna Wilson, in a game against Oklahoma State.

Syracuse guard Kiara Lewis watches as Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers shoots a free throw on March 23. Bueckers, a freshman, is a first-team All-American.

Iowa assistant coach Jen Jensen hugs Caitlin Clark as Iowa closed out a second-round win over Kentucky.

Oregon State guard Sasha Goforth loses control of the ball during a second-round game against South Carolina.

The Alamodome is seen before the start of the Syracuse-Connecticut game on March 23.

South Florida’s Elena Tsineke tries to drive past NC State’s Kai Crutchfield on March 23.

Michigan’s Emily Kiser, left, and Danielle Rauch celebrate a second-round win over Tennessee.

An usher holds a sign reminding fans to wear a mask.

Baylor guard Dijonai Carrington celebrates the team’s second-round win over Virginia Tech. Baylor won the tournament in 2019, the last time it was played.

Wright State head coach Katrina Merriweather speaks with her team during a timeout on March 22. The 13th-seeded Raiders went on to upset Arkansas, a 4-seed.

Marist guard Sarah Barcello, right, and Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith battle for a rebound on March 22.

Alabama’s Jordan Lewis reacts to the team’s first-round win over North Carolina.

Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith celebrates a favorable call against Marist.

Stony Brook guard Asiah Dingle chases down a loose ball on March 22.

Baylor’s Moon Ursin blocks a shot by Jackson State guard Jariyah Covington during a first-round game on March 21.

Connecticut point guard Paige Bueckers brings the ball up the court during a first-round game against High Point on March 21.

Connecticut interim head coach Chris Dailey talks to players during a timeout against High Point. Dailey was filling in for Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma, who tested positive for Covid-19.