The University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team is set to make its return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, earning a 14th seed in the South region. The Quakers will face third-seeded Illinois on Thursday, March 19, at 9:25 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina. This matchup marks Penn's 25th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and the team aims to improve on its previous encounter with the Fighting Illini, a loss in the 2000 tournament. A victory would advance them to a second-round game against the winner of the North Carolina versus VCU matchup.
In wrestling, six members of the Penn wrestling team will compete in the NCAA Wrestling Championships, which begin on March 19 in Cleveland, Ohio. This event will feature grapplers from various weight classes, and the Quakers are looking to build on their previous year's performance, where they finished 16th overall. Notably, CJ Composto led the team last year with a fourth-place finish at 141 pounds, earning All-America honors. The Quakers will aim to replicate or improve upon that success as they take to the mat.
The women's swimming and diving team will also be represented at the NCAA Championships, with seniors Sydney Bergstrom and Anna Moehn competing in the 1650 freestyle on March 18. Bergstrom, who earned a First Team All-Ivy honor after winning the event at the Ivy League Championships, is looking to improve upon her previous year's performance, where she finished 36th at the NCAA meet. Moehn, a Second Team All-Ivy honoree, aims to build on her 21st-place finish from last year. Their participation highlights the continued strength of Penn's swimming program at the national level.