From the wins from powerhouse teams like UConn and South Carolina to LSU gaining its first tournament win in 2023, March Madness provides plenty of exciting storylines and a small look into the future of the WNBA. Future superstars like USC sophomore Juju Watkins and the potential No. 1 pick in this year's draft in UConn's Paige Bueckers will be just a few of the biggest names to take the stage in one of the year's most anticipated tournaments of the year.
Before the First Four matchup between Iowa State and Princeton begins at 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Chicago Sky fans can view a quick refresher on everything they need to know about the tournament through the eyes of the Sky.
What is March Madness?
March Madness is the yearly championship tournament for NCAA Division I squads. 68 teams, including 31 D1 conference tournament winners and 37 "at-large" squads, will take each other on from March 21-31 in either Spokane, Wash. or Birmingham, Ala. The "Final Four," or the tournament's semifinals, will start on April 4 in Tampa, Fla. Eight teams will face off in four "First Four" matchups before the start of the first round, which will determine the final four teams who will participate in this year's tournament, from March 19-20.
Who's playing this year?
No. 1 seeds: South Carolina, USC, UCLA, Texas
It can be challenging to overstate the talent and the stakes that will play a role on the biggest stage college basketball has to offer.
The Big Ten, which recently added four schools from the Pac-12, announced it will be represented by a record 12 teams in this year's tournament on Sunday. USC and UCLA, who squared off in this year's Big Ten Championship game, are both No. 1 seeds. Illinois will play in the first round for the first time since 2003 as it has seen a meteoric rise under former Dayton head coach Shauna Green. The conference, new participants and all, will feature plenty of current and future talent to watch.
How have Sky players fared in past tournaments?
Former March Madness champions: Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, Kia Nurse, Moriah Jefferson
The Chicago Sky big duo of Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese were on the last three NCAA tournament winners in South Carolina and LSU, respectively. Cardoso, who spent three years with South Carolina after transferring from Syracuse, helped guide the Gamecocks to an 87-75 win over Iowa last year. Reese would hoist a championship trophy of her own as the Tigers defeated the Hawkeyes in a 102-85 victory the year before.
Nurse and Jefferson won two championships alongside a variety of future WNBA talent, including a pair of All-WNBA selections in Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Katie Lou Samuelson and Gabby Williams, who both won a championship with the Chicago duo, would go on to be selected by the Sky following impressive collegiate careers of their own. Jefferson would win four championships in a row as a member of the Huskies, including two with a future Chicago champion in center Stefanie Dolson.
Who are some players Sky fans should look out for?
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Rivers will enter her third season with NC State after transferring from South Carolina in 2022. The senior guard and former Cardoso teammate will head a Wolfpack squad that earned a No. 2 seed in this year's tournament. Her two-way ability would make her a fantastic fit for the Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft. NC State will take on Vermont at 2 p.m. EDT on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Westbeld, a fifth-year forward from Notre Dame, could be a solid option in the second round for the Sky. Her shooting can make her a valuable pickup for a Chicago squad that could use extra shooting off the bench. The 6-foot-3 forward and Notre Dame will face Stephen F. Austin at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Where can I watch March Madness games?
This year's March Madness games will be broadcast on several ESPN channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews and ESPNU. Games can also be streamed on a number of services, including ESPN+ and FuboTV, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
This year's Final Four will be held in Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, from April 4 to 6. The National Championship game will be broadcast on April 6 at 3 p.m. EDT on ABC. Cleveland hosted last year's Final Four, which saw South Carolina, Iowa, UConn, and NC State square off in what is now Rocket Arena.