March Madness isn’t just a basketball tournament — it’s a cultural event. And while the buzzer-beaters and upsets define the Madness, oftentimes the characters and moments behind-the-scenes live rent-free in our brains for years to come.

Half of the women’s Final Four will be locked in by the next time we talk, but first we have to whittle these Sweet 16 squads down to an elite group of eight. Every one of this weekend’s games packs a serious punch, but No. 2 vs. No. 3 seed matchups are always extra spicy. Pour a glass of milk, the Madness awaits.

Yesterday, the WNBA and its Changemaker Collective — a group of community-focused brands — extended a key partnership with women-focused digital platform Voice in Sport (VIS). By collaborating with VIS, the W and its partners are able to reach a passionate Gen Z and Gen Alpha fanbase that’s looking to stay involved in basketball, both as players and fans.

After a long two days without March Madness action, the first half of the men’s Sweet 16 came in like a wrecking ball last night, with stunning individual performances and all-around SEC dominance.

All four women’s No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 seeds punched tickets to this weekend’s Sweet 16, but not everything is going according to plan: USC sophomore sensation JuJu Watkins tore her ACL in the Trojans’ 96–59 second-round Monday win over No. 9 Mississippi State, ultimately ending her season. Devastating.

Hope you’re using your two days without March Madness action wisely, because the men’s tournament comes roaring back tomorrow with the first half of the Sweet 16. Stretch, down some electrolytes, and set up your split screen — the Madness is only just beginning.

Four days and 48 games later, the first two rounds of men’s March Madness wrapped last night, and not a single bracket survived. Here are the superlative performances from the weekend as you regroup before Thursday’s Sweet 16 tip-off.

The Madness is in full swing swish with the women’s second round halfway done. That’s right, eight of the Sweet 16 squads are already locked in, and today’s show-stopping matchups will determine the other eight.

During its record-breaking 2024 season, the WNBA saw a massive viewership jump across networks — especially when Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark graced the screen. And based on its 2025 regular-season schedule unveiled last week, the W is doubling down on 2024’s wins with increased broadcast exposure, giving an easy assist to its partners.

With 80 matchups already down, the men’s and women’s brackets have brought equal amounts of drama, buzzer beaters, and upsets. But equal is a relatively new concept for the tourney. Scroll on as we examine the recent and rapid growth on the women’s side. Ballin’, baby.

After an edge-of-your-seat opening day, the rest of the men’s field hits the dance floor today, gloriously converging with the women’s first-round tip-off for a thrilling 32 high-stakes games in one day

It’s time to dance — the NCAA Division I (DI) women’s basketball national tournament (aka, March Madness) tips off with today’s First Four matchups. Before you enter a bracket (or three!) in The GIST’s very own women’s bracket challenge, let’s dig into everything you need to know about the most chaotic tournament in sports.