2022 NCAA Women's Final Four: Prepare For MPLS Traffic Changes

MINNEAPOLIS — Local residents and traveling basketball fans should be prepared for some major changes to downtown Minneapolis traffic ahead of the 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four.

The southbound lane of First Avenue from Sixth Street South to Seventh Street South will be closed from Thursday, March 31 through Monday, April 4 for the tournament.

The tournament goes from April 1 through April 3.

Motorists should also be aware of the festivities, which include the Party on the Plaza planned for Friday afternoon through Sunday evening outside of Target Center. The two teams that make the championship will have a red-carpet arrival at Seventh Street and First Avenue on April 3 before the final game.

The Final Four will feature UConn's Paige Bueckers, a Minnetonka native. Bueckers came through in the clutch for her team in a double-overtime Elite Eight matchup against North Carolina State.

The sophomore scored 15 of her 27 points in overtime.

"Two days ago I said, ‘Win or go home,’ but we won and I’m still going home," said Bueckers. "This is crazy. I’m just so excited no matter the location, no matter where it is."

The Final Four will feature UConn (2) vs. Sanford (1), and South Carolina (1) vs. Louisville (1), with both games starting Friday.

Buy tickets to see the Final Four in Minneapolis here.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.