Solargenic, photogenic, shoot

The GIST: The sun is shining, women’s March Madness viewership numbers are skyrocketing, and the women’s Final Four is the hottest ticket in Tampa. Just another day in women’s sports.

• We’ll be back in your inbox with a championship preview on Sunday, but until then, let’s break down tonight’s semifinal tilts.

No. 1 seed Texas vs. No. 1 South Carolina — 7 p.m. ET: The defending champ Gamecocks aren’t the undefeated juggernaut they were last year, but South Carolina’s still hooping for their third title in four years. And though they don’t boast a bonafide superstar like the other Final Four contenders, this squad is deep: Seven different players have led the team in single-game scoring this season.

• But points will be hard to come by against a Longhorns squad that hangs its hat on relentless defense. In fact, Texas’ D held both No. 5 Tennessee and No. 2 TCU to almost 30 points below their season averages in the last two rounds. Stifling.

• Tonight’s game is the third meeting of these SEC foes this season: All-American Madison Booker led the Longhorns to a hotly contested 66–62 regular-season dub in February, but South Carolina dominated in the conference championship in March. Rubber match ready.

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 1 UCLA — 9 p.m. ET: The Huskies boast the country’s best offense: They have the best field goal percentage, the third fewest turnovers, and hit threes like it's their day job. Not to mention, everything runs through a little someone named Paige Bueckers, who’s hoping to add an elusive national championship to an already impressive collegiate résumé.

• As for the Bruins, their MO is letting six-foot-seven superstar junior Lauren Betts cook in the paint — and she’s as good a passer as she is a scorer, meaning the Huskies’ lack of size could be a serious problem down the stretch in this one.

The GIST: One of the chalkiest Final Fours in men’s hoops history hits the court tomorrow, and boy, are we in for a treat. While the lack of Cinderellas in this year’s tourney means less Madness, we have a chance to see the country’s most talented players and (in theory) best squads duke it out for a trip to Monday’s title game. Preemptive chills.

No. 1 Florida Gators vs. No. 1 Auburn Tigers — 6:09 p.m. ET: This is a matchup between the two top teams in the best conference, the SEC. It could hang on the health of Tigers superstar and POY contender Johni (pronounced juh-NIGH) Broome, who picked up ankle and elbow injuries (along with 25 points and 14 rebounds) in their Elite Eight win over No. 2 Michigan State.

• If injuries limit him, it could leave room for Florida’s first-team All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. and forward Thomas Haugh to take over, as they did to guide the Gators’ comeback win against No. 3 Texas Tech last weekend.

• These teams met once this year, a February 8th clash in which Florida upset then– No. 1 ranked Auburn on their home court. Broome and Clayton were absolute cinema head-to-head, so expect fireworks once again in this high-stakes SEC rematch.

No. 1 Houston Cougars vs. No. 1 Duke Blue Devils — 8:49 p.m. ET: Duke cruised through the first four rounds, winning each game by an average of 23.5 points — including a stunning 85–65 Elite Eight takedown of No. 2 Alabama.

• It’s hard to imagine anyone stopping the all-star trio of Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach (pronounced Ma-lu-watch), and Kon Knueppel (pronounced kuh-nipple), all projected first-rounders in the upcoming NBA Draft.

• But if anyone can do it, it’s the country’s fiercest defense, coached by living legend Kelvin Sampson. Sampson’s one of the winningest active men’s coaches to have never won a title — but soon, we’ll see if his Cougars can prove that D does in fact win championships.