Women's March Madness: Coping With The Excitement And Stress Of Women’s Basketball

Each year, at the beginning of March, the top women’s college basketball teams in the NCAA compete for a national championship. March Madness pits top teams like Ohio State, NC State, Notre Dame, and South Carolina against hopefuls like Montana State, Grand Canyon University, Tennessee Tech, and Iowa State. The NCAA tournament can be a time of both highs and lows for sports fans as they follow their team through the tournament. 

Along with excitement, fans may also experience feelings of anxiety and stress related to the tournament. These may stem from the games themselves, which can often feel like an emotional rollercoaster, or from social pressures around choosing a bracket or following the tournament. Here, we’ll examine potential sources of stress and anxiety around the women’s NCAA tournament and explore strategies sports fans can use to manage their mental health. 

Struggling to cope with feelings of anxiety?

Connecting with a therapist may help

What is Women’s March Madness? 

Women’s March Madness is the month-long, single-elimination tournament that decides the best women's college basketball team in the country. In 2024, Dawn Staley coached the South Carolina Gamecocks to the national championship for the third time. (Her first title was in 2017, and her second in 2022.)

First-round and second-round games in the tournament take place around the country at various colleges, including in South Bend, Indiana, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Austin, Texas. The national championship game will be hosted in Tampa Bay in 2025. 

The women’s NCAA tournament has grown in popularity and visibility in recent years, showcasing some of the best talent in college basketball. The tournament not only crowns a champion but also highlights rising stars, legendary programs, and the ongoing growth of women’s sports. With thrilling upsets, emotional victories, and high-intensity games, Women’s March Madness is a premier event that continues to elevate women’s basketball on a national stage.

Emotions often associated with the NCAA tournament 

Finding inspiration in Women’s March Madness

Each year, the NCAA tournament can provide moments of inspiration to fans. For some, simply watching young players live out their childhood dreams of participating in this tournament can feel uplifting. Additionally, within each tournament, there is often a “Cinderella team” that overcomes significant odds to win games. There are typically also moments of great emotion that speak to resilience in the face of doubt, leadership under pressure, and the importance of representation on a national stage. 

Emotional highs and lows of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament 

During every NCAA championship tournament, there are usually both highs and lows, and many fans feel like they’re on an emotional rollercoaster through the month of March as a result. With the way the tournament is paced, it’s possible for a team to experience the thrill of a win only to face the low of tournament loss, all within the same week. This unpredictability can lead to stress and feelings of uncertainty among fans.    

The stress and anxiety of filling out a women’s basketball bracket

One core part of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament for many fans is filling out a bracket, which is a prediction of who a person thinks will win each game and the tournament overall. Brackets are often created with work colleagues or groups of friends, and there may sometimes be a monetary reward for crafting the most accurate one. While the bracket can increase interest in the tournament, it can also be a source of stress and anxiety for some participants. 

Anxiety over creating the perfect NCAA tournament bracket

Anxiety is fear response related to future events. Individuals who create a tournament bracket may experience anxiety related to choosing the right teams to win each game. This anxiety can manifest during the creation of a bracket, as there can be a lot of pressure to make good picks. It can also occur on a game-to-game basis throughout the tournament, as a person who has created a bracket may worry more over the outcome of each game—particularly if there is money and the potential for social effects on the line. 

The women’s tournament and the fear of missing out

Another key contributor to the anxiety that many fans who follow the women’s basketball tournament may feel is the fear of missing out. Individuals may create brackets to fit in at work or because they feel pressured to be a part of the action. There may also be pressure to watch each big game and keep up on major events and highlights. This pressure can cause a person to devote more time than they might like to the games rather than focusing on work, family, or personal well-being. 

Other possible causes of stress during the women’s basketball tournament

In addition to stress and anxiety over brackets and a fear of missing out, there may also be other sources of stress for fans during the women’s basketball tournament. Examples include:

• Social media overload. Following the tournament on social media can cause a person to scroll repetitively looking for updates or analysis, which can increase stress and anxiety.
• Time management troubles and overcommitment. With games happening across several days and time zones, some fans may struggle to keep up while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. The pressure to watch every game or participate in every bracket pool can sometimes turn a fun tradition into a source of guilt or stress.
• Comparison culture. Whether it's comparing your bracket picks to your friends' or your team's media coverage to that of another, “comparison culture” can rob fans of joy and add unnecessary pressure.

Possible impacts of sports-related stress and anxiety

The health and well-being of some sports fans may be affected by sports-related stress and anxiety. These impacts can include social, emotional, and physical challenges. Below are a few examples of these potential effects.

Social withdrawal or isolation

In some cases, a person may feel socially isolated if they are not following the tournament while others in their life are. Alternatively, individuals may become so engrossed in the tournament to the point where they would prefer to watch each game on their own than with friends. Ongoing isolation can contribute to or exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression over time.  

Increased frustration or irritability

The NCAA tournament may impact a person emotionally, potentially causing feelings of frustration and irritability. These feelings may stem from a person’s bracket being busted, their favorite team losing, or simply as an effect of the “emotional rollercoaster” of this type of tournament. This irritation can cause challenges with interpersonal relationships, such as if a person takes out their frustration on friends, loved ones, or coworkers. 

Trouble falling or staying asleep

Increased stress and anxiety related to sports or another topic may make it challenging for a person to fall asleep and stay asleep. Individuals may stay up late, ruminating on a recent loss or a future game. Lack of sleep is often related to other mental health challenges as well. The result can be a positive feedback loop where increased stress and anxiety cause a lack of sleep, which, in turn, increases anxiety. 

Strategies for reducing stress and anxiety during the March Madness women’s tournament

Reducing stress and anxiety during March Madness may involve a combination of mindfulness practices and lifestyle changes. For individuals who are feeling stressed about the NCAA tournament, it may be helpful to practice mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. These practices can be used during anxiety-causing situations like big games to calm the mind and body. They can also be implemented as a preventative measure to potentially reduce sports-related anxiety before it arises.

In addition to practicing mindfulness, individuals may also benefit from making certain lifestyle changes to reduce anxiety. One example is engaging in daily exercise, which research suggests may help reduce anxiety and stress. Setting boundaries related to the tournament may also be helpful for some people, such as putting a time limit on how long you’ll read news and analysis about the games each day or skipping some games if the stress of it all becomes overwhelming.

Struggling to cope with feelings of anxiety?

Connecting with a therapist may help

Connecting with a mental health professional

It may also be helpful for individuals experiencing anxiety or stress related to Women’s March Madness to connect with a therapist or other mental health professional. A therapist can consider a person’s mental health needs holistically to make helpful recommendations and provide appropriate treatment options. 

However, it can often be challenging for a person with a busy schedule to attend regular in-person therapy sessions at a brick-and-mortar office. In contrast, online therapy sessions can occur remotely from anywhere you have a personal device and an internet connection. Plus, online therapy sessions are often more cost-effective than in-person appointments without insurance. Research suggests that online therapy can be an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety.