In a game between No. 3 North Carolina State and No. 1 Texas in the women’s Final Four, the NCAA discovered that the three-point lines at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon were not the same distance from the basket. Despite this discrepancy, the game went on as scheduled, with NC State ultimately beating Texas 76-66. The NCAA later announced that they would be measuring all court lines and markings at the Moda Center to ensure accuracy for future games. Despite the error, NC State’s Aziaha James led the scoring with 27 points, shooting 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.
After the game, players were asked about the three-point line discrepancy, and Texas head coach Vic Schaefer stated that they were not aware of the issue. Schaefer explained that correcting the court would have caused a one-hour delay and risked losing their TV window on ABC. Despite the uncertainty, Schaefer was complimentary of his team, acknowledging their hard work and competitiveness. NC State’s James also stated that the players were unaware of the issue and were focused on playing their best game. Wolfpack head coach Wes Moore expressed relief that the issue did not impact the outcome of the game, as they were focused on securing a Final Four berth.
NC State will now face No. 1 South Carolina in the Final Four after the Gamecocks defeated No. 3 Oregon State. South Carolina’s center Kamilla Cardoso played a crucial role in their 70-58 victory, scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Head coach Dawn Staley praised her team’s resilience and competitive spirit in securing another Final Four berth. The Moda Center will host another Elite Eight game between No. 1 USC and No. 3 UConn before the Final Four moves to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, where the women’s national championship game will take place on April 7.
Despite the three-point line discrepancy at Moda Center, the NCAA regrets the error and will investigate how it occurred. The NCAA vendor responsible for the mistake has apologized for the error, and steps are being taken to ensure the accuracy of all court markings for future tournament games. The incident has brought attention to the current state of women’s basketball, but both teams involved in the game showcased their competitive spirit and determination throughout the match. As the tournament progresses, teams are focused on playing their best despite any obstacles that may arise. The Final Four promises to be an exciting matchup between top teams competing for the national championship title.
