There are certain weekends on the sports calendar that I look forward to all year, and the women’s Final Four is one of them. It’s not just the games, though the conclusion of March Madness is reason enough to get excited. It’s the entire experience: mornings mingling with fans at Tourney Town in the convention center, afternoon tip-offs with 15,000 of your new best friends, and nights where the city hums long past the final buzzer.
I’ve spent years traveling the world to cover women’s sports—World Cups, Olympics, and yes, Final Fours—so I’ve learned a thing or two about how to pack for a weekend like this. While everyone’s always throwing a ‘fit in the women’s sports community, the most important thing is to bring the items that actually hold up when you’re moving all day but can also take you from game day to night out. Plus, you always need to be ready for an epic photo op.
Spectating is kind of its own sport. You’re on your feet all day, in and out of events, lapping crowded arenas, and chasing the next historic moment. And the things you bring with you—from the right shoes to the small essentials you don’t think about until you really need them—can make or break the weekend.
This year at the Final Four in Phoenix, a handful of those things came in clutch for me. Some were practical, some were little extras, but all of them earned their place on this list. They made the long days easier and the great moments even more iconic. Because when the energy for women’s sports is this undeniable, you want to be focused on the game—not what you wish you had packed.
Product
These sneakers were my do-it-all pair at the Final Four. I wore them on my early-morning flight and to the hotel gym with athleisure, and to events and games all day and night with a skirt or wide-leg jeans. And as someone who doesn’t typically consider herself a pink girl, this pair gave me the perfect pop of color while still feeling neutral enough to work with whatever items I threw in my carry-on last minute.
Listen, it was hot in Phoenix this weekend, and I spent quite a bit of time outside running around from event to event. This compact-yet-powerful hand fan has been with me since the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where air conditioning is scarce, and I now refuse to travel to any warm location without it.
So I know I just said Phoenix was hot, but air conditioning is quite prevalent there, so this ultra-lightweight jacket was the perfect thing to keep in my bag. It folds up small to tuck in my suitcase or gear-filled backpack, but doesn’t wrinkle, and added the perfect level of warmth when going back and forth from hot to chilly climates.
I finally got my first pair of AirPods Max for Christmas last year, and I don’t know how I ever traveled without them. The noise-canceling properties are incredible—I’ve never slept better on a long-haul flight—and they even blocked out the deafening cheers from Mortgage Matchup Arena when I needed to edit video content at halftime of the Final Four games.
This small-but-mighty light is my secret weapon for great photos and videos on the go. It clips right to my phone without damaging it, and is flat for easy storage in my bag. The light is powerful, but not totally blinding, and has different settings depending on if you want things brighter or warmer. I’ve also used it on my laptop for Zoom calls on the go.
I’ve recently started bringing my Instax Mini camera everywhere with me to capture fun, in-the-moment film shots. It’s a great ice breaker to pull out at a party, and creates memories that I can display all over my home and my office (I love this $10 pack of magnetic frames). One small warning, though: If you’re flying with this camera, take it out of your bag at security and ask TSA to check it by hand, so the scanner doesn’t ruin the film.
I will never travel without a solid pair of leggings, and these are my new favorites, hands down (and I’ve tried them all as an editor at Women’s Health). The drawstring keeps them exactly where you want them on your hips, so they’re not slouching as you speed through the airport or swing kettlebells in the hotel gym. They’re also sleek and totally opaque, so you can dress them up when you arrive and head right out the door to your first function.
I’ve been a huge fan of Liquid I.V. for years—I had a packet a day without fail when I was pregnant—and I always stash one in my bag just in case. It keeps me hydrated at 30,000 feet and was essential to replenish my electrolytes in a dry climate like Phoenix. (The White Peach flavor is elite, and no, that’s not up for debate.)
Well, maybe this wasn’t in my suitcase when I got to Phoenix, but I never leave a women’s sports event without merch. Like, did you even go? Whether it’s a magnet, sweatshirt, or a mini basketball, the merch store is the first place I head when I get to my destination. Duh!
Amanda Lucci is the director of special projects at Women’s Health, where she works on multi-platform brand initiatives and social media strategy. She also leads the sports and athletes vertical, traveling to cover the Paris Olympics, Women’s World Cup, WNBA Finals, and NCAA Final Four for WH. She has nearly 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing social media for national and international publications and is also a NASM-certified personal trainer. A proud native of Pittsburgh, PA, she is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Follow her on Instagram @alucci.
