Sights and sounds: Maryland earns 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance

The Terrapins, leaning into their championship pedigree, waited eagerly alongside about 500 fans to find out where they would begin the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Over 10 television cameras stood on sturdy tripods, blinking red lights locked onto the Maryland women’s basketball team. They were seated in the front rows behind the trophies, waiting for their official dance partner.

Unlike last year, the Terrapins didn’t have to wait long. They were the 21st team announced at 8:15 p.m. on the large overhead scoreboard tuned to ESPN’s Selection Show. There was an even more euphoric response as players exploded from their seats like a volcano erupting when Maryland saw it earned a No. 4 seed and would host a first-round pod on Saturday and Monday.

Maryland head coach Brenda Frese clapped and smiled warmly, sharing a moment of joy with Shyanne Sellers, who was beside her laughing after they found out they would host No. 13 seed Norfolk State in the Birmingham 2 Region at 4 p.m. on ESPN. The other game on Saturday will feature No. 5 Alabama and No. 12 Green Bay at the XFINITY Center at 1:30 p.m. The two winners will meet on Monday for a trip to the Sweet 16.

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Frese immediately addressed the crowd. Players interacted with fans, and then Sellers and Kaylene Smikle were whisked off to the interview room to speak with the media.

“I think our body of work showed, and I am thrilled for our seniors to be able to have, hopefully, two games here,” Frese told reporters in the post-selection press conference. “We got to take one game at a time, but this is a special time for our fans and everyone. … This is something that we don’t take for granted. It’s a privilege.”

There had been some angst about whether Maryland would open the NCAA Tournament at home, especially after following a 98-71 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals. The Terps had a 23-7 record, five wins over ranked teams, finished tied for third in the Big Ten, and had eight Quad 1 wins, which is fifth in the country. Despite all that, a projected bracket had Maryland as a No. 5 seed, adding a tinge of intrigue as the arena buzzed with nervous energy as fans filed in.

Dressed in black warm-up tracksuits with the Maryland “M” logo, Christina Dalce passed the time by applying lip-gloss. Other players snapped selfies. Sellers was talking with Maryland legend and ace broadcaster Christy Winters-Scott.

During the pre-game entertainment, Smikle and Allie Kubek were coaches for a blindfolded basketball game between two kids. They each coached one, with Kubek guiding her kid to victory. There was also a game of dribble knockout between more kids. 

Fans, some in Maryland hoodies and others holding handmade signs, erupted in cheers, thrilled to witness another home game for their beloved Terrapins. Their joy in celebrating the team’s 15th straight NCAA Tournament bid—its 21st under Frese in 23 seasons—blended with the unity of a squad that had worked tirelessly for this moment.

Prior to the public viewing, players enjoyed a team dinner. They ate salmon, chicken, white rice, string beans, salad, and rolls while sitting at round tables and enjoying each other’s company. A special dessert treat was Brenda’s Peanut Butter Frese, a brownie-batter ice cream creation named after their coach.

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With the celebration winding down, the focus quickly shifted to what lies ahead. Maryland’s moment of joy was well-earned, but now, attention turned to its first opponent: Norfolk State, a team riding a 19-game winning streak and eager to make history as the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to win a NCAA Tournament since 1984 when Cheyney University of Pennsylvania did it.

Norfolk State earned its third consecutive MEAC Tournament title and fourth in program history. The Spartans feature MEAC Player of the Year Diamond Johnson, who played at Rutgers and North Carolina State, where she was a member of the Wolfpack’s Elite Eight team in 2022. Norfolk State and Maryland have common opponents in William & Mary and Coppin State.

“Knowing that there are hundreds of other teams that want to be in the position that we are is humbling,” Sellers told reporters. “It’s exciting, and we have the best fans in the world. … (Norfolk State) is a great group, and they put a lot of work in to be in the tournament. I’ve seen Diamond Johnson. She is a great player and competitive. We need to do our job and focus on that.”

Though excited to earn a home game, Sellers and the Terrapins still feel they have more to accomplish.

“We are hungry,” Sellers said. “We still have a chip on our shoulder. I think people don’t respect us in a way that they should. I think we have something to prove this time.”