COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Breanna Williams bent slightly at the waist to sign a white T-shirt held by a young fan whose eyes followed every movement of the marker. The interaction lasted only a few seconds, but it carried the kind of meaning that lingers.
Maryland players carried little kids, helped design posters, posed for photos and shared smiles with fans during the University of Maryland women’s basketball Selection Show watch party inside the Xfinity Center on Sunday night.
Fans armed with Sharpies, T-shirts and hats carried white containers filled with “Selection Show Sundaes” as they mingled with members of the Terrapin program. It felt more like a community gathering than a watch party. Families crowded around high-top tables, spreading out handmade signs, markers, and poster boards as they prepared messages of encouragement.
A young girl carefully decorated a sign while an older man leaned over the table, offering suggestions as Maryland players stood nearby. The group worked together like a small creative studio. Around them, fans filtered through the lobby dressed in red and black, chatting, sipping drinks and snapping photos as anticipation quietly built.
Although Maryland learned a day earlier it was not selected as one of the 16 host sites for the first and second rounds, the vibes remained high as the Terrapins awaited their destination and opponent for their 16th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
“We knew it was going to be close either way,” head coach Brenda Frese told reporters. “… The committee always has a hard decision to make. I was really at peace. I figured whatever was meant to be was going to be. I’ve had plenty of teams play at home or on the road. This time of year, it really doesn’t come down to a building. It comes down to a mindset. If you’re ready to do what it’s going to take for 40 minutes to go win a game.”
As players and fans waited for the show to begin, the mood remained relaxed and friendly. Frese took a moment to recognize one of her veterans, presenting Saylor Poffenbarger with an orange basketball featuring a white panel inscribed to commemorate her recent milestone of 1,000 career rebounds, achieved against Northwestern on Feb. 25. The two shared a quick hug as the crowd applauded.
When the show began, the Terrapins didn’t have to wait long to hear their name called.
Six minutes into the Selection Show, which played on the arena’s overhead scoreboard, the Terps were announced as a No. 5 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region. They were the seventh school announced after UConn, UTSA, Iowa State, Syracuse, North Carolina and Western Illinois.
As soon as Maryland’s name flashed on the screen, players sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, visible behind a row of gleaming trophies resting on the honey-colored hardwood floor, erupted from their seats in celebration – a burst of joy and relief after a season that included six Quad 1 wins, tied for 10th in the nation.
Maryland will now travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to face No. 12 seed Murray State on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. In the other first-round game, No. 4 seed North Carolina will host No. 13 Western Illinois at 5:30 p.m. ET. The winners will meet in Sunday’s second round.
For Maryland, the trip to Chapel Hill carries a sense of familiarity. Before joining the Big Ten at the start of the 2014-15 season, the Terrapins used to make that journey every season when both programs were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
This marks the Terrapins’ 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance during Frese’s 24 seasons in College Park. Under Frese, Maryland is 43-19 (.694) in the NCAA Tournament and 55-31 (.640) in 32 total appearances. The Terrapins have advanced to 12 Sweet 16s, seven Elite Eights, three Final Fours and won the 2006 national championship.
This season’s path back to the tournament was not easy.
Maryland lost four guards to injury – Lea Bartelme, Kaylene Smikle, Ava McKennie, and Bri McDaniel – all of whom were expected to play major roles.
Still, the Terrapins found a way.
“It’s always just an incredible day, and one that I never take for granted,” Frese told The IX Basketball. “I just have an enormous amount of gratitude for the fact that only so many teams get into this prestigious tournament. Each and every year is a unique team.
“This year, we had a lot of injuries, so for us to be in the NCAA tournament as a five seed, the body of work speaks for itself in our conference and the battles we’ve had to play. I’m just excited for this team, for our fans, for the University of Maryland, for us to have another opportunity in the NCAA tournament.”
