Breaking up the Pac-12 means breaking up one of the strongest women’s basketball leagues in the country. Last season, the conference sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament. At least five teams have gone to the tournament every year since 2013-14. Since the 2012-13 season, it has accounted for nine Final Four appearances by six different teams.
The end of the league also means the end of something that was very dear to Arizona head coach Adia Barnes. When a move to the Big 12 was first discussed after USC and UCLA dropped their bombshell in 2022, Barnes was unenthused about the idea.