The best women’s college basketball teams in the nation have a date with destiny in The Land. At the 2024 NCAA® Women’s Final Four®— starting April 5 at Rocket Arena — a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice on the part of these talented young athletes will culminate in a few heart-pounding games with everything on the line.
A champion will be crowned — and one team will achieve sports immortality.
Here in Cleveland, we’re going all out for the occasion. (We may or may not have arranged for a total solar eclipse to coincide with the festivities…) So, get your tickets for the Women’s Final Four® and start planning a basketball weekend that you won’t soon forget.
FRIDAY
BREAKFAST
Fuel up for an action-packed weekend with a stop at Yours Truly. Located inside the historic Halle Building, this local fave specializes in all things breakfast. Our pick? The Notso Omelette — complete with hash browns, cheese, bacon, and sour cream — which is pretty much the breakfast version of YT’s famous loaded fries.
MORNING
Welcome to Tourney Town at the Huntington Convention Center. Get in a basketball state of mind with interactive games and giveaways, exclusive merchandise, and special appearances from some of the biggest names in the women’s game. This free fan festival is a must-visit for families — with something new and exciting around every corner.
LUNCH
Sports fans of all stripes congregate at The Clevelander Bar & Grill on game day. Dig into a half-pound burger as sports talk, pre-game chatter and maybe even a chant or two surrounds you on every side. A true sports bar atmosphere just moments away from all the action at Rocket Arena.
AFTERNOON
This weekend is all about celebrating legendary women — so swing by the International Women Air & Space Museum to learn more about how these pioneers blazed new trails and defied the odds in aviation. We’re talking big names like Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, and Katharine Wright — as well as the countless brave women who served in the skies during World War II.
EVENING
With game time fast approaching, make for our lavishly transformed Arena — which now boasts incredible details like the LED-equipped Power Portal and individual “neighborhoods” that rep the diverse tastes of Cleveland. (Feel free to eat your way from one end to the other. We’ve all done it.) Tonight’s doubleheader will decide which two teams will fight it out on Sunday for the collegiate crown. No pressure.
SATURDAY
BREAKFAST
No one will blame you for hitting the snooze button this morning after last night’s Women’s Final Four® action. But here’s something that might coax you out of bed bright and early. Grumpy’s Cafe in Tremont serves up mind-blowing breakfast tacos — your choice of chicken or pork chorizo — with a heaping side of cajun home fries. No better way to start the day.
MORNING
Back at Tourney Town, catch one of the Beyond the Baseline® panels, which focus on empowering and equipping women in sports. These discussions will tackle a variety of subjects over the course of the weekend — including a powerful musical performance by an all-female group from School of Rock Cleveland.
AFTERNOON
No games today — but that doesn’t mean the Arena court will sit empty. The two finalists heading into tomorrow’s championship game hit the floor for Super Saturday Practice starting at 1:30 p.m. (Gates open thirty minutes before that.) Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch your favorite stars shooting hoops and dropping dimes in a relaxed and fun environment.
DINNER
Sports weekends usually mean a lot of arena food and other bites grabbed on the go. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that…) But why not carve out some time to treat your taste buds at Rocco Whalen’s new Fahrenheit Cleveland? Take in the sights out on the luxe rooftop lounge before savoring expertly prepared steak or wagyu short rib from one of CLE’s top chefs.
EVENING
Grammy-nominated Latto brings “Big Energy” as the headliner for this year’s Super Saturday Concert. The hip-hop superstar takes the Public Hall stage at 8 p.m. and will treat fans to a performance sure to get everyone fired up for the big game the next day. Oh, and best of all — it’s free. But, please, be sure to register in advance.
SUNDAY
MORNING
The Land will ring out with the sounds of bouncing basketballs as the Women’s Final Four® Bounce takes over the streets starting at 11 a.m. The 18-and-under crowd can join this unique dribbling parade that stretches from Public Square to Tourney Town. What a way to get the whole city bouncing ahead of this afternoon’s main event.
BRUNCH
Hit up The South Side in Tremont for one of their famous weekend brunches. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but we’re partial to the Hot Mess Brunch Burger (open-faced deliciousness with bacon, onion ring, gravy, egg, and French toast) or the pierogis filled with egg and sausage.
PRE-GAME
The open-air Gateway Plaza — between Progressive Field and Rocket Arena — will be rocking with music, games, photo ops, and more during the aptly named Party on the Plaza. Grab a good spot and cheer on the players and coaches as they walk the red carpet on their way into the arena ahead of the big game.
GAME TIME
Buckle up. The NCAA® Women’s National Championship Game tips off at 3 p.m. with the sport’s ultimate prize up for grabs. The pressure is intense — each and every player has been dreaming of this moment all her life. Now, finally, it’s game time. We’re just four quarters away from crowning a new national champion. And we can’t think of a better backdrop for this human drama than right here in The Land.
EVENING
As the fans pour out of the arena, buzzing after another incredible ending, raise a glass to the winning team over on East 4th Street (and wolf down some CLE-style barbecue at Mabel’s while you’re there). Finish off the day with a late-night indie screening at the 48th Annual Cleveland International Film Festival at Playhouse Square.
Monday
April 8 is going to be a big day here in Cleveland — so why not stay an extra day?
Cleveland is smack dab in the path of totality for today’s total solar eclipse. For four minutes — starting at 3:13 p.m. — The Land will go dark as the moon crosses directly in front of the sun. People are coming to CLE from all over the world to experience this cosmic moment. Lucky you that you’re already here.
Celebrate the eclipse in style at either the Total Eclipse Festival (Great Lakes Science Center) or the Total on the Oval (Cleveland Museum of Natural History) watch party. We can’t think of any better way to experience the eclipse than with tens of thousands of your closest friends.
Then, later that afternoon, the Cleveland Guardians will light The Land back up with the inaugural home opener against the Chicago White Sox.