This year’s March Madness tournament starts off with a tribute to last year’s champions, the Lady Huskies from The University Of Connecticut (UCONN).

They finished off last season with a stellar 31-1 record and went on to win the championship for the 5th time in 6 seasons. This year’s competition has all of the teams looking to make a serious run to the championship. 

First in the nation, all the pressure is on UCONN to win the championship again. Having another stellar season with a record of 32-0, the Huskies look to push the pace and win it all again. Coming up behind UCONN is the Fighting Irish from Notre Dame. They are sitting strong as the second seed with the record of 31-1. The Huskies met the Irish in last year’s championship, but UCONN reigned supreme. The Fighting Irish still remained strong after losing their star guard Jewell Loyd to the draft. 

Returning to the tournament is The Gamecocks from South Carolina. They also sit tall in the third seed with the same record as Notre Dame with 31-1. In last year’s semifinals, the Gamecocks and Fighting Irish met and had a stellar game which ended by a Notre Dame victory by 1. After losing in the semifinals, the Gamecocks are showing everyone that they are still here to fight.

There are also a few sleepers in this year’s tournament. Coming from Maryland are the Lady Terrapins. Being at the highest rank they’ve ever been in at 5th in the nation, the Terrapins look to make a surprise run. After meeting UCONN in last year’s quarter finals, it was time to prove themselves by beating the best, but they came up way shorter than predicted by losing 58-81.

Senior Khalil Jackson shared who he thinks will win it all.

“ I’m going with Maryland because people always doubt them, but this year they’re winning it all,” Jackson said.

This year’s March is going to be full of madness with the first round starting on March 18.