Women’s basketball journey towards March Madness

Following the exciting 74-71 win against Columbia in the Ivy League Tournament Championship last weekend, the Harvard Women’s Basketball squad took off for North Carolina on Thursday to gear up for their first-round matchup in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. This Ivy League title marks Harvard’s initial win since the tournament began in 2017, and their NCAA No. 10 seed signifies a return to March Madness for the first occasion in 18 years.

Leading this remarkable surge is Carrie Moore, the Kathy Delaney-Smith Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Basketball.

“I couldn’t feel more proud of my team and our staff,” expressed the third-year coach. “It was a sensational way to conclude the tournament; however, if it hadn’t ended this way, it wouldn’t be in our nature. You couldn’t script the tale any better. It validates everything we’ve experienced over the past three years.”

Moore mentioned she takes special pride in how the team confronted challenges.

“I’ve consistently informed our team, ‘You either win or you gain knowledge,’” she explained. “That’s our essence. That’s our character. We are a tenacious group. This season, we executed remarkably well with a ‘next-play attitude’ and concentrated on the process rather than the outcome. We understood we had to approach these games one possession at a time, and one timeout at a time, without succumbing to panic.”

“From leadership to team members, I am incredibly proud of the program,” remarked team captain and forward Katie Krupa ’26. “Coach Moore has brilliantly navigated every challenge thrown our way.”

“It was such a profound surge of happiness and pride in the team. Everything we aspired to achieve and worked for led to that moment. We’ve truly bonded this year, perfecting the dynamics both on and off the court. This sisterhood is stronger than ever,” she added.

The Crimson, steered by senior Harmoni Turner, who contributed 44 points to propel the Crimson to the Ivy League championship, is set to face No. 7 seed Michigan State on Saturday afternoon. Moore mentioned Harvard is prepared to shine on the national stage, eager to leave a mark across the country.

“We’re not merely thrilled to participate,” said Moore. “We’re eager to enter this tournament, perform exceptionally well, and secure some victories this weekend.”

“Throughout a season, you encounter numerous peaks and valleys both on and off the court; it’s all about your reaction each time you stumble, and we’ve handled each situation remarkably well this season,” Krupa added. “We have nothing to lose. We can step out there and demonstrate to the world what we can achieve.”