2014 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game
{{good article}}
{{Short description|Women's basketball championship game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox NCAABasketballSingleGame
|name=2014 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
|type=ncg
|sex=women's
|image= 2014 NCAA women's basketball tournament Final Four Nashville.jpg
|date=April 8, 2014
|year=2013–14
|visitor_school=University of Notre Dame
|visitor_name_short=Notre Dame
|visitor_nickname=Fighting Irish
|visitor_record=37–0
|visitor_AP=2
|visitor_coaches=2
|visitor_coach=Muffet McGraw
|visitor_per1=38
|visitor_per2=20
|home_school=University of Connecticut
|home_name_short=UConn
|home_nickname=Huskies
|home_record=39–0
|home_AP=1
|home_coaches=1
|home_coach=Geno Auriemma
|home_per1=45
|home_per2=34
|arena=Bridgestone Arena
|city=Nashville, Tennessee
|attendance=
|referee=
|MVP=
|odds=
|US_network=ESPN
|ratings=
|US_announcers={{ubl|Dave O'Brien (play-by-play)|Doris Burke (analyst)|Holly Rowe (sideline)}}
|previous= 2013
|next= 2015
}}
The 2014 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game was the final game of the 2014 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. It determined the national champion for the 2013–14 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The game matched the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the UConn Huskies and was played on April 8, 2014, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite web |title=ESPN – Notre Dame vs. UConn – April 8, 2014 |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/game?gameId=400551354 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420030707/https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/game?gameId=400551354 |url-status=live }}
UConn and Notre Dame both entered the game unbeaten, making this the first championship game to be held between two undefeated teams. Both teams came in with talented rosters; eight of the game's ten starting players were eventually drafted in a WNBA draft. UConn overpowered Notre Dame to win the game by 21 points and break the record with their ninth NCAA Division I championship.
Participants
The championship game, described as a "dream matchup" by UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, matched the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with the UConn Huskies and was the first title game to be contested by two undefeated teams.{{cite web |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |title=NCAA Women's Final Matches Two Undefeated Teams |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/08/300599744/ncaa-women-s-final-matches-two-undefeated-teams |website=NPR |access-date=April 4, 2021 |language=en |date=April 8, 2014 |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730234844/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/08/300599744/ncaa-women-s-final-matches-two-undefeated-teams |url-status=live }}
=Notre Dame=
{{main|2013–14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team}}
Notre Dame, led by 27th-year head coach Muffet McGraw, ended the regular season with a perfect 29–0 record, including a 16–0 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference games.{{cite web |title=2013–14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women's Basketball Schedule |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/87/season/2014 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 14, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220732/https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/87/season/2014 |url-status=live }} They were the No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament, where they defeated No. 9 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Florida State Seminoles|school=Florida State University|title=Florida State}},{{cite web |title=#2 Irish Top Florida State, 83–57, In ACC Quarterfinals |url=https://und.com/2-irish-top-florida-state-83-57-in-acc-quarterfinals/ |website=Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=7 March 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220734/https://und.com/2-irish-top-florida-state-83-57-in-acc-quarterfinals/ |url-status=live }} No. 4 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=NC State Wolfpack|school=North Carolina State University|title=NC State}},{{cite web |title=#2 Irish Breeze Past #14/17 N.C. State In ACC Semifinals, 83–48 |url=https://und.com/2-irish-breeze-past-14-17-n-c-state-in-acc-semifinals-83-48/ |website=Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=8 March 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220734/https://und.com/2-irish-breeze-past-14-17-n-c-state-in-acc-semifinals-83-48/ |url-status=live }} and No. 2 seed Duke en route to their first ACC Tournament title and their seventh conference tournament championship in program history.{{cite web |title=#2 Irish Down #10 Duke, 69–53, For ACC Title |url=https://und.com/2-irish-down-10-duke-69-53-for-acc-title/ |website=Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=9 March 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220734/https://und.com/2-irish-down-10-duke-69-53-for-acc-title/ |url-status=live }} They received a No. 1 seed and were placed in the eponymous Notre Dame Regional at the NCAA tournament. In the tournament, the Fighting Irish defeated No. 16 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Robert Morris Colonials|school=Robert Morris University|title=Robert Morris}} and No. 9 seed Arizona State to reach their 12th Sweet Sixteen.{{cite web |title=#2 Irish Rout Robert Morris, 93–42 In NCAA Opener |url=https://und.com/2-irish-rout-robert-morris-93-42-in-ncaa-opener/ |website=Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=22 March 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220735/https://und.com/2-irish-rout-robert-morris-93-42-in-ncaa-opener/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Notre Dame pulls away in second half against ASU to remain undefeated |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400548774 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=March 24, 2014 |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220734/https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400548774 |url-status=live }} From there, the Irish defeated No. 5 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Oklahoma State Cowboys|school=Oklahoma State University|title=Oklahoma State}} and No. 2 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Baylor Bears|school=Baylor University|title=Baylor}} to reach the Final Four for the sixth time.{{cite web |last1=Lesar |first1=Al |title=Inside game gives Notre Dame women the edge |url=https://www.ndinsider.com/basketball/womens/inside-game-gives-notre-dame-women-the-edge/article_e55183cc-195c-5ac8-b870-afb82a518c54.html |website=Notre Dame Insider |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=March 30, 2014 |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220734/https://www.ndinsider.com/basketball/womens/inside-game-gives-notre-dame-women-the-edge/article_e55183cc-195c-5ac8-b870-afb82a518c54.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=#2 Irish Return to Final Four With 88–69 Win Over #5/6 Baylor |url=https://und.com/2-irish-return-to-final-four-with-88-69-win-over-5-6-baylor/ |website=Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=31 March 2014 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414220735/https://und.com/2-irish-return-to-final-four-with-88-69-win-over-5-6-baylor/ |url-status=live }}
In the Final Four, Notre Dame met No. 4 seed Maryland, champions of the Louisville Regional. A convincing win put the Fighting Irish in the national championship game for the fourth time; they entered seeking their second title.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Gene |title=NCAA women's final four: Notre Dame routs Maryland, advances to national title game |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/ncaa-womens-final-four-notre-dame-routs-maryland-advances-to-national-title-game/2014/04/06/c16e92ce-bdda-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=April 14, 2021 |date=6 April 2014 |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617224207/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/ncaa-womens-final-four-notre-dame-routs-maryland-advances-to-national-title-game/2014/04/06/c16e92ce-bdda-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html |url-status=live }}
=UConn=
{{main|2013–14 UConn Huskies women's basketball team}}
UConn, led by 29th-year head coach Geno Auriemma, finished the regular season with a perfect 31–0 record, including an 18–0 mark in American Athletic Conference play.{{cite web |title=2013–14 Women's Basketball Schedule |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2013-14 |website=University of Connecticut Athletics |access-date=April 21, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035058/https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2013-14 |url-status=live }} They received the No. 1 seed in the AAC tournament, where they defeated No. 8 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Cincinnati Bearcats|school=University of Cincinnati|title=Cincinnati}},{{cite web |title=UConn Races Past Cincinnati, 72–42 in WBB Championship |url=https://theamerican.org/news/2014/3/8/WBB_0308141247.aspx |website=American Athletic Conference |access-date=April 21, 2021 |date=March 8, 2014 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035059/https://theamerican.org/news/2014/3/8/WBB_0308141247.aspx |url-status=live }} No. 4 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Rutgers Scarlet Knights|school=Rutgers University|title=Rutgers}},{{cite web |title=No.1 UConn Defeats No. 23 Rutgers Women's Basketball, 94–64 |url=https://scarletknights.com/news/2014/1/19/No_1_UConn_Defeats_No_23_Rutgers_Women_s_Basketball_94_64.aspx |website=Rutgers University Athletics |access-date=April 21, 2021 |date=January 19, 2014 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035103/https://scarletknights.com/news/2014/1/19/No_1_UConn_Defeats_No_23_Rutgers_Women_s_Basketball_94_64.aspx |url-status=live }} and No. 2 seed Louisville to win their first AAC Tournament title and the 19th conference tournament title in program history.{{cite web |title=UConn Women Beat Louisville to Win American Title |url=https://today.uconn.edu/2014/03/uconn-women-beat-louisville-to-win-american-title/ |website=UConn Today |access-date=April 21, 2021 |date=11 March 2014 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035103/https://today.uconn.edu/2014/03/uconn-women-beat-louisville-to-win-american-title/ |url-status=live }} In the NCAA Tournament, UConn received the No. 1 overall seed and was placed in the Lincoln Regional, where they defeated No. 16 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=Prairie View A&M Panthers|school=Prairie View A&M University|title=Prairie View A&M}} and No. 9 seed {{cbb link|2013|sex=women|team=St. Joseph's Hawks|school=St. Joseph's University|title=St. Joseph's}} to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the 22nd time.{{cite web |last1=Altavilla |first1=John |title=UConn Women Roll Past Prairie View, 87–44; St. Joseph's Next |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-xpm-2014-03-24-hc-uconn-women-prairie-view-ncaa-0324-20140323-story.html |website=The Hartford Courant |access-date=April 21, 2021 |date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717230433/https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-xpm-2014-03-24-hc-uconn-women-prairie-view-ncaa-0324-20140323-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=UConn Dominates St. Joseph's, 91–52 |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/3/25/uconn_dominates_st_joseph_s_91_52.aspx |website=University of Connecticut Athletics |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=April 21, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035103/https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/3/25/uconn_dominates_st_joseph_s_91_52.aspx |url-status=live }} They then beat No. 12 seed BYU and No. 3 seed Texas A&M to win the regional and reach the Final Four for the 15th time in school history.{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Jared |title=BYU women's basketball pushes No. 1 UConn in Sweet 16 but ends up losing |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/basketball/women/byu-womens-basketball-pushes-no-1-uconn-in-sweet-16-but-ends-up-losing/article_5388ad0c-b7a5-11e3-858b-001a4bcf887a.html |website=Daily Herald |access-date=April 21, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035059/https://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/basketball/women/byu-womens-basketball-pushes-no-1-uconn-in-sweet-16-but-ends-up-losing/article_5388ad0c-b7a5-11e3-858b-001a4bcf887a.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Altavilla |first1=John |title=UConn Women Defeat Texas A&M, Join the Men in Final Four |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-uconn-women-texas-am-0401-20140331-story.html |website=The Hartford Courant |access-date=April 21, 2021 |date=April 1, 2014 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035058/https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-uconn-women-texas-am-0401-20140331-story.html |url-status=live }}
In the Final Four, the Huskies met No. 2 seed Stanford, the champions of the Stanford Regional, whom they defeated to reach the national championship for the ninth time.{{cite web |title=UConn Back in Title Game, Beats Stanford 75–56 |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/4/6/UConn_Back_in_Title_Game_Beats_Stanford_75_56.aspx |website=University of Connecticut Athletics |date=April 6, 2014 |access-date=April 21, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422035059/https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/4/6/UConn_Back_in_Title_Game_Beats_Stanford_75_56.aspx |url-status=live }} The Huskies entered seeking to maintain their perfect record in national title games with their ninth championship.
Starting lineups
File:Stefanie_Dolson_(cropped).jpg
Of the ten starting players for both teams, eight were eventually drafted in a WNBA draft. Three players – Notre Dame's Kayla McBride{{cite web |last1=Byrne |first1=Pete |title=McBride, Achonwa drafted in 1st round of WNBA Draft |url=https://wsbt.com/news/local/mcbride-achonwa-drafted-in-1st-round-of-wnba-draft |website=WSBT |access-date=April 22, 2021 |date=14 April 2014 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422040540/https://wsbt.com/news/local/mcbride-achonwa-drafted-in-1st-round-of-wnba-draft |url-status=live }} and UConn's Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson{{cite web |title=Dolson and Hartley Selected in First Round of WNBA Draft |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/4/14/Dolson_and_Hartley_Selected_in_First_Round_of_WNBA_Draft.aspx |website=University of Connecticut Athletics |date=April 14, 2014 |access-date=April 22, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422040542/https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2014/4/14/Dolson_and_Hartley_Selected_in_First_Round_of_WNBA_Draft.aspx |url-status=live }} – were selected in the first round of the 2014 draft, which immediately followed the conclusion of the 2013–14 season. Notre Dame's Jewell Loyd{{cite web |title=Seattle Selects Jewell Loyd With No. 1 Pick |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/seattle-selects-jewell-loyd-with-no-1-pick/ |website=WNBA |access-date=April 22, 2021 |date=April 16, 2015 |language=en |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905065433/http://www.wnba.com/news/seattle-selects-jewell-loyd-with-no-1-pick/ |url-status=live }} and UConn's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis{{cite web |title=Sun acquire former UConn star Mosqueda-Lewis |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/28775191/sun-acquire-kaleena-mosqueda-lewis-storm#:~:text=Mosqueda%2DLewis%20won%20three%20NCAA,overall%20by%20Seattle%20in%202015. |website=ESPN |access-date=April 22, 2021 |language=en |date=24 February 2020 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422040539/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/28775191/sun-acquire-kaleena-mosqueda-lewis-storm#:~:text=Mosqueda%2DLewis%20won%20three%20NCAA,overall%20by%20Seattle%20in%202015. |url-status=live }} were both first round picks in 2015, while UConn's Breanna Stewart{{cite web |last1=Loh |first1=Stefanie |title=Seattle Storm selects UConn star Breanna Stewart with top pick in WNBA draft |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/seattle-storm-selects-uconn-star-breanna-stewart-with-top-pick-in-wnba-draft/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 22, 2021 |date=April 14, 2016 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422040541/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/seattle-storm-selects-uconn-star-breanna-stewart-with-top-pick-in-wnba-draft/ |url-status=live }} and Moriah Jefferson{{cite web |title=Draft Diary: A Day With Moriah Jefferson |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/moriah-jefferson-draft-day-diary/ |website=WNBA |access-date=April 22, 2021 |date=April 15, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422040539/https://www.wnba.com/news/moriah-jefferson-draft-day-diary/ |url-status=live }} were first round picks in 2016. The last of the game's starting players to be drafted was Notre Dame's Lindsay Allen,{{cite web |title=Fever's flurry yields Allen from Aces, Lynx picks |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/30907020/indiana-fever-acquire-lindsay-allen-las-vegas-aces-minnesota-lynx-1st-round-pick-next-year |website=ESPN |access-date=April 22, 2021 |language=en |date=15 February 2021 |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422040538/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/30907020/indiana-fever-acquire-lindsay-allen-las-vegas-aces-minnesota-lynx-1st-round-pick-next-year |url-status=live }} who was a second round pick in 2017.
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Notre Dame Fighting Irish|border=2}}"|Notre Dame | colspan="2" | Position | style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UConn Huskies|border=2}};" |UConn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taya Reimer | colspan=2 style="text-align:center"| F | style="background:#ffcc00"|Breanna Stewart 1 | |
| Ariel Braker | colspan=2 style="text-align:center"| F | style="background:#ffcc00"|Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 1 | |
| style="background:#ffcc00"|Lindsay Allen 2 | colspan=2 style="text-align:center"| G | style="background:#ffcc00"|Moriah Jefferson 1 | |
| style="background:#ffcc00"|Jewell Loyd 1 | colspan=2 style="text-align:center"| G | style="background:#ffcc00"|Bria Hartley 1 | |
| style="background:#ffcc00"|Kayla McBride 1 | style="text-align:center"| G | style="text-align:center"| C | style="background:#ffcc00"|Stefanie Dolson 1 |
| style="text-align:center" colspan=4| {{small|{{color box|#ffcc00|Players selected in a WNBA draft}} (number indicates round) • Source{{cite web |title=Official Box Score – Notre Dame vs. UConn |url=https://uconn_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/sports/w-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/040814.html |website=Sidearm Sports |access-date=April 4, 2021}}}} |
Game summary
File:BreannaStewart_foulshot.jpg
UConn controlled the game's tip-off and scored their first points of the contest ten seconds later. Both offenses got out to a strong start, with both teams holding leads within the first five minutes of the game and combining for 16 points with 15 minutes to play in the opening half. With just over five minutes elapsed, a Stefanie Dolson layup broke an 8–8 tie to give UConn back the lead; the Huskies would hold this lead for the remainder of the game. Dolson's layup was the second field goal in what would become a 14–0 Huskies run that gave them a 22–8 lead with eleven minutes to play. Trailing by 13 at the halfway point of the first half, the Fighting Irish were able to narrow the Huskies' lead to as few as six points over the next few minutes, but UConn was able to hold the lead steady and go into halftime with the score 45–38. Entering the second half leading by seven, UConn jumped out to a 10–2 run, spurred by field goals from Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Bria Hartley, Breanna Stewart, and Stefanie Dolson. Trailing 55–40, Notre Dame's Kayla McBride made a two-point jumper with just over fifteen minutes to play, narrowing the deficit to thirteen, but UConn's offense did not let up, as they reapplied pressure and increased the lead to 21 points with 12 minutes to play. The teams largely traded baskets for the next few minutes, with the margin hovering around the 20-point mark and peaking at 24 with just under four minutes to play. Notre Dame made no serious attempt to stop the clock, via fouls or any other method, and the game ended with UConn the victors, 79–58.{{cite web |title=ESPN Play-by-play – Notre Dame vs. UConn – April 8, 2014 |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/playbyplay/_/gameId/400551354 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430040811/https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/playbyplay/_/gameId/400551354 |url-status=live }} With their victory, UConn broke the NCAA Division I record with their ninth national championship.{{cite web |last1=Feinberg |first1=Doug |title=UConn women rout Notre Dame 79–58, win 9th title |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/apr/09/uconn-women-rout-notre-dame-79-58-win-9th-title/ |website=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=April 4, 2021 |date=April 9, 2014 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506153035/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/apr/09/uconn-women-rout-notre-dame-79-58-win-9th-title/ |url-status=live }}
{{-}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = April 8, 2014
| time = 7:30 p.m. CDT
| report = [https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400551354 Report]
| team1 = No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
| score1 = 58
| team2 = No. 1 UConn Huskies
| score2 = 79
| H1 = 38–45
| H2 = 20–34
| points1 = McBride 21
| rebounds1 = Loyd 6
| assist1 = Allen 5
| points2 = Stewart 21
| rebounds2 = Dolson 16
| assist2 = Dolson, Jefferson 7
| place = Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tennessee
| attendance =17,519
| referee =Lisa Mattingly, Dee Kantner, Denise Brooks
| TV = ESPN
}}
Media coverage
The entire women's tournament, including the championship game, was televised in the United States by ESPN. The championship game drew an average viewership of 3.21 million households, which was the fourth-best mark for a women's basketball broadcast in ten years and the fourth-highest for any ESPN women's basketball championship broadcast. This also marked a 40% viewership increase from the last edition.{{cite web |last1=Siegal |first1=Rachel Margolis |title=Best Women's College Basketball Rating in a Decade for UConn-Notre Dame |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2014/04/best-womens-college-basketball-rating-in-a-decade-for-uconn-notre-dame/ |website=ESPN Press Room |access-date=April 24, 2023 |date=April 9, 2014 |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424215417/https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2014/04/best-womens-college-basketball-rating-in-a-decade-for-uconn-notre-dame/ |url-status=live }} The 100,000 viewers on WatchESPN also set an all-time high for a women's basketball broadcast.{{cite web |last1=P. |first1=Nate |title=UConn-Notre Dame drew highest ratings in a decade |url=https://www.swishappeal.com/2014/4/9/5599332/uconn-vs-notre-dame-ncaa-womens-tournament-2014-ratings |website=SB Nation |access-date=April 24, 2023 |language=en |date=April 9, 2014 |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130135342/https://www.swishappeal.com/2014/4/9/5599332/uconn-vs-notre-dame-ncaa-womens-tournament-2014-ratings |url-status=live }}
See also
References
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{{NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship Game navbox}}
{{2014 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball navbox}}
Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball championship games
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball
Category:UConn Huskies women's basketball
Category:2014 in sports in Tennessee
Category:April 2014 sports events in the United States