As the excitement of March Madness envelops college basketball enthusiasts, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) women’s basketball team finds itself poised for a significant challenge. Securing an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after a commendable victory over Purdue Fort Wayne in the Horizon League title game, the Phoenix is set to clash with No. 5 seed Alabama on Saturday in College Park, Maryland.
This matchup marks UWGB’s 20th appearance in the NCAA tournament and their second consecutive showing, a feat that speaks volumes about the team’s growth and determination. With a No. 12 seed, the Phoenix aims to shake off a history of first-round exits, having succumbed to defeat in each of their last six tournament appearances. The most recent of these losses came in 2024, when the team faced a formidable Tennessee squad and fell 92-63. Historical context fills the air as the Phoenix aim to alter their fate this year. Their last tournament victory dates back to 2012, where they overcame a No. 10 Iowa State team in the first round. A near upset in the second round against No. 2 Kentucky showcased the team’s potential, illustrating their capacity to hold their own against top-tier opponents.
Significantly, the team’s most remarkable tournament run occurred in 2011, culminating in a Sweet 16 appearance—still the pinnacle of the program’s history. That season, as a No. 5 seed, UWGB crafted an impressive journey by defeating the No. 12 University of Arkansas at Little Rock and No. 4 Michigan State, before facing the legendary Baylor team, led by the dominant Brittney Griner. The match left an indelible mark on both the program and then-player Kayla Karius, who delivered a stellar performance, scoring 27 points in her final collegiate game.
Now, Karius steps into a new role, preparing for her debut as head coach at the NCAA tournament level. After two successful seasons leading South Dakota, she returns to UWGB, where she aims to inspire her team and harness that shared resilience and determination to achieve greatness on one of basketball’s biggest stages.
As the day of the matchup approaches, fans and supporters are rallying, eager to witness whether UWGB can leverage this opportunity to break a long-standing streak of early exits. A win against Alabama not only promises potential advancement in the tournament but could also reinvigorate the program’s ambitions, rekindling the spirit of their 2011 overture amongst the elite teams of women’s college basketball.
In essence, this tournament opener is more than just another game; it’s a narrative filled with legacy, potential, and the unyielding pursuit of excellence as March Madness unfolds its magic once again.
