March Madness: Women’s NCAA Tournament Shines in Baltimore and Beyond

BALTIMORE, Md. — The 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament has captivated audiences as the second round continues, with spirited performances from teams vying for glory this March. Major economic impact accompanies the excitement, as over 100,000 visitors flock to Baltimore for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Basketball tournament.

The CIAA tournament, happening this week, is projected to generate more than $32 million for the local economy, as fans and participants engage with Baltimore’s rich culture. Local businesses, including food vendors at the CFE Arena, relish the event’s bustling foot traffic. “Today I’m doing light work. I have hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, and vegan options,” said vendor Shauna Page, who has a prime grilling spot outside the arena.

Despite the excitement for the local economy, the spotlight remains on the court as teams clash in exhilarating games. The NCAA tournament has witnessed standout performances, such as North Carolina State‘s Aziaha James scoring 26 points against Michigan State, helping her team to a decisive 83-49 victory. NC State hit a program-record 15 three-pointers during the match, marking their sixth trip to the Sweet 16 under Coach Wes Moore.

In other matchups, top-seeded Texas advanced with a 65-48 win over Illinois, showcasing a relentless defense and a critical 18-6 second-quarter run. Madison Booker led the Longhorns with 20 points, alsong with impressive contributions from Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, who scored 19 points.

The action continued with No. 3 seed Oklahoma, who delivered a strong 96-62 victory against Iowa, propelled by Skylar Vann’s 17 points and Raegan Beers’ impressive double-double, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Notably, a thrilling game took place between fourth-seed Maryland and fifth-seed Alabama, where Sarah Te-Biasu scored a clutch tying three-pointer, and later contributed eight points in the second overtime to secure a dramatic 111-108 win for the Terps. Maryland overcame Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker’s stunning 45-point effort to move on to face top-seed South Carolina.

On the other side of the bracket, LSU‘s Flau’Jae Johnson scored 22 points, contributing to a commanding 101-71 win over Florida State. The Tigers broke away from a close game by outscoring their opponents 31-6 in the third quarter, distinguishing themselves as a powerful contender in the tournament.

As fans bask in thrilling outcomes and local businesses thrive, the tournament’s impact reflects both on and off the court.