March Madness is known to be a time when legends are made, and some of the best legend stories come when a Cinderella team crashes in and defeats the big dogs.
Over the years, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament has produced some impressive underdog stories—when teams defy the odds and shake things up, reminding us why basketball is the game to love.
March also happens to be Women’s History Month, so what better time to celebrate the beautiful Cinderella stories surrounding Women’s Basketball? March Madness is about showcasing trailblazers, breaking barriers in basketball, and writing history in real time for the sport of basketball.
The Cinderella runs that have been presented over the years go beyond the upsets; they help prove the narrative that the underdogs belong and have earned their spots on the big stage in a sport that continues to grow and push the narrative of women’s sports coverage.
A Look Back at Some of The Most Memorable March Madness Cinderella Runs
Starting off with my home state of Arkansas, the 1998 Razorbacks made it to the Final Four as the lowest seed in history to reach the Final Four at No.9 seed.
Arkansas defied the odds when they advanced to the regional final after winning over the No. 5 seed Kansas with a score of 79-63. The Razorbacks ended up clinching that Final Four spot with a five-point win over Duke, which was the No.2 seed. Arkansas ended up losing to Tennessee, stopping its run.
The 1998 season seemed to be packed with Cinderella stories for women’s basketball. The next impressive story from that year was No. 16 Harvard defeating No.1 Stanford. This game marked the first time in history that a No. 16 seed took down a No.1 seed for both the women’s and men’s tournaments.
Still to this day, it is the only 16-1 upset in history. The win was led by Allison Feaster — the nation’s top scorer — who had 28.5 points per game and ended with a final score of 71-67.
In 2007, the No. 13 seed Marist defeated No. 4 Ohio State with an ending score of 67-64.
This win marked the first time in program history that Marist advanced to the second round.
The team beat Middle Tennessee in the second round, making them the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team to make it to the Sweet 16.
The final team on my list is when the 2011 Gonzaga No.11 seed made it to the Elite Eight, making them the lowest seed to reach a regional final.
Gonzaga entered the 2011 NCAA tournament on an 18-game winning streak. Throughout the tournament, the Bulldogs defeated the No. 6 seed Iowa, then went on to take the win over No. 3 seed UCLA with a 14-point win. In the regional semi-finals, Gonzaga went up against No. 7 seed Louisville and won with a seven-point lead.
Ultimately, the Bulldogs’ 21-game winning streak came to an end that year when they lost to the No.1 seed Stanford.
The fight for women’s sports coverage is still very visible, but these Cinderella stories, along with many more, help push the narrative and prove that the fight matters.
Every time an underdog pulls off the upset, it shows that women’s basketball is just as deserving of the hype as the men’s game.
As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to take a moment to honor the players, coaches, and teams who have helped change the game. The exposure of women’s basketball is bigger than the big names like the UConn and South Carolinas in the industry, but also the Cinderella stories that prove to everyone that anything is possible.
March is Women’s History Month, but that doesn’t mean history is just made; it is also rewritten.
Edited by Naiya Dalce
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