By Bella Lorefice – Contributor

Do you or your loved ones suffer from UATWS (Unreasonable Amount of Time Spent Watching Sports)??? Well, if yes, buckle in because you are in for a LONG week of March Madness. 

Now, to start us off, what IS March Madness? The simple answer to this would be “a college basketball tournament.” What that answer fails to reveal is that this tournament comprises a whopping 68 teams facing a series of single elimination games. Unlike baseball, it is in fact one strike, and you are out, which honestly keeps the tournament interesting and allows for upsets and exciting turns of events. Even for non-basketball fans, the unpredictability must be enough to entice those who do not typically watch sporting events. 

With this tournament, the NCAA brought in approximately 1.38 billion dollars in revenue in 2024. However, the tournament brings in so much more than a dollar amount, and if you thought that number was absurd for a college basketball tournament, then get this: starting this year, teams are beginning to receive media rights which will help schools bring in money to delegate not just to their basketball teams, but their entire athletic departments in general. With that said, it is safe to say this tournament comes with some major pros, like economic boosts for host cities, love and attention to the games, as well as creating unique opportunities for young players. 

Additionally, it is nice to look at a basketball tournament as more than just the fact that hundreds of young men and women leave with an experience of a lifetime, getting to be part of something big, they get their names out there… do you feel inspired yet? The viewers also get to interpret the game in their own ways. As for the players, they become characters and social icons. One example of a character to come out of the tournaments was last year’s Angel Reese who was viewed as one of the other rising stars from last year. Angel Reese was invited to the Met Gala, which was a little mind-boggling for some. Zach Edey, a Canadian player from Toronto, became an “Ontario winning national college player of the year” for two years in a row (and coming in at a whopping 7 ‘4). Now, Cooper Flag seems to be the talk of the town this year, so we will see how he and Duke make out. 

If you are still not enticed and are thinking ‘I know nothing about basketball’ or ‘who the hell cares,’ there is a total social aspect to the event! Viewer engagement here is HUGE, and a lot of people, even celebrities, participate in bracket making. Literally ANYONE can create a bracket trying to determine the outcomes of the games/tournament. 

Something else that should absolutely be mentioned when talking about March Madness is the growth that has come from women’s college basketball – dare I say it has helped bring attention to women’s sports in general. Caitlin Clark drew media attention, set records, changed viewers and attendance, and got a sweet brand deal or two, (including a swift 28-million-dollar Nike deal). Caitlin Clark last year became an all-time NCAA Division I men’s and women’s scoring leader, achieved the most three-pointers in a single season by any male or female Division I player, and honestly, so much more it could take up my whole word count. She became an absolute icon for the sport and has inspired so many young women and men. She is an absolute legend I hope to hear more of.

 I once had a man say to me that “women’s sports will never be on par with men’s.” I wonder what Caitlin Clark would say to that. 

Last year, for the first time ever, the women’s March Madness championship game had 18.9 million viewers, surpassing the viewer count on the men’s championship game. Which should bring comfort and knowing we are only victories away from becoming “on par.”