Searching for Glory in March

For basketball fans, March is one of the most exciting times of the year. It’s a month of high-stakes competition, where every single possession can define a season. March Madness consistently brings in nonstop entertainment every year as fans watch on, anticipating whether their bracket will survive. This year’s Women’s March Madness tournament was nothing short of that experience, and delivered on skill, intensity, and unforgettable moments. Here are some of the stories of this year’s Women’s March Madness tournament. 

Dominance on the Court

This year’s tournament saw a number of blowouts, with multiple teams winning with large margins ranging from 10 to 40 points, even in the later rounds. First-seeded teams South Carolina, UCLA, UConn, and Texas easily dominated the court and made it to the Final Four, marking this year as the fifth time in history that the Final Four has consisted entirely of first-seeded teams. There’s been a noticeable lack of “Cinderella stories” in recent years, in which low-seeded, unheralded teams make unexpected deep runs in the tournament. However, this year featured a Cinderella story of some sort in No. 10-seed Virginia, which made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2000, upsetting No. 2-seed Iowa 83-75 in double overtime along the way. Unfortunately, their run in the Sweet Sixteen ended when they lost 79-69 to No. 3 seed TCU.

Dramatic Finishes

Although Virginia’s run was cut short, there were still a few upsets in the tournament that shocked viewers. In the Sweet Sixteen, No. 6-seed Notre Dame was able to upset No. 2-seed Vanderbilt 67-64. This charge was led by Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, who, at only 5’6’’, put up a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists, with one of the assists being on the game-winning shot. Hidalgo, known for her defensive intensity and playmaking, holds the NCAA Division I record for steals with 199 and the record for most steals in an NCAA tournament with 23. Her ability to disrupt opposing offenses was not only a major factor in this upset win, but also helped turn this Notre Dame team around after starting the season 13-8. Although they later fell to UConn 70-52, this run pushed them to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019 and got them past the Sweet Sixteen for the first time under Coach Niele Ivey. It marks a turning point for the program and is a hopeful sign that Notre Dame can once again compete consistently with the nation’s best teams. 

In the Sweet Sixteen, No. 3-seed Duke also upset No. 2-seed LSU, 87-85. LSU started slow and struggled defensively, especially when grabbing rebounds, causing them to trail Duke for the majority of the game. They began to take more charge and have more energy near the end of the game, even going on a 10-0 run. Despite this, Duke stayed composed under pressure, and with the game on the line, Duke guard Ashlon Jackson shot from three and a buzzer-beater to secure their win. The shot put Duke in the Elite Eight for the second season straight, where they unfortunately lost 70-58 to UCLA. Regardless, Duke’s win over LSU highlighted their resilience, and it’ll be exciting to see how they do next season. 

Controversy and Criticism

It’s never March Madness without drama, and this year, it came via UConn Coach Geno Auriemma. Auriemma criticized the two-region format used by the NCAA women’s tournament. The format puts eight teams per region into one arena and one schedule, and was implemented in 2023 with the goal of increasing attendance. However, though it has increased attendance, it’s also brought up many problems with scheduling. With many teams sharing one arena, it automatically condenses the amount of time that every team gets to practice on the official court. “Know what time our shootaround was yesterday? It was 6:20, I think, for half an hour. [Notre Dame’s] practice time is tonight at 5:30. […] You know [when] our practice time is? 6:30 tonight.” Auriemma said. Auriemma also criticized the use of new rims and balls, arguing that the slight differences in tension impacted how his team played. It had “people dribbling the ball off their feet,” he said. “You got people missing layups all over the place. You bounce the ball, and it goes up to the ceiling. There’s just no concept of how basketball is played.” Despite the criticism, the NCAA has said that it won’t be changing the format due to increased attendance and viewership, and that they check to see if the equipment they use is up to NCAA standards. 

Meanwhile, in the final seconds of UConn’s loss to South Carolina in the Final Four, Auriemma was seen approaching South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley. The two were seen having a heated exchange and had to be separated by other coaches. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court and skipped the postgame handshake. Later, in the postgame presser, Auriemma said, “I said what I said. And obviously, she didn’t like it. I just told the truth.” However, Staley was asked about it, and she said, “I have no idea. But I’m going to let you know this: I’m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did.” Later, Auriemma issued a statement, apologizing for the altercation. The incident drew criticism all across sports media, with many calling his actions unsportsmanlike and inappropriate, despite it not resulting in any formal disciplinary action from the NCAA. Even so, while emotional reactions in high-pressure environments are completely understandable, skipping the handshake and escalating the situation not only overshadowed South Carolina’s win but also reflected poorly on his own team, particularly by not giving his seniors a proper sendoff in their final game. 

A Fairytale Ending 

With golden confetti falling down onto the court, UCLA won its first ever NCAA title, the first champions from the Big Ten since 1999. They beat South Carolina 79-51, and led for the whole game. With a starting lineup of all seniors, and after getting blown out in the Final Four last year, it was the last chance to win the title for many players. Despite not being the favorites, UCLA dominated the game from start to finish, with all five starters scoring in the double-digits. Their balanced offense and suffocating defense handed South Carolina their second-worst loss in NCAA history. Leaving it all out on the floor, UCLA made sure to leave no doubt about who the best team in the country was.

As the competition comes to a close, this year’s March Madness tournament leaves behind another legacy of dominance and historic firsts. From UCLA’s championship run to the resilience of teams like Virginia and Duke, the spirit of March was certainly captured. Looking ahead, there’s already excitement about how returning core players, new recruits, and early-season matchups could shape next year’s bracket. It all sets the stage for another unpredictable season, where we can only watch as emerging programs and regular contenders will once again compete for the biggest trophy in college basketball.