Eight New Zealanders compete in NCAA March Madness

Eight New Zealanders will participate in the NCAA Men's and Women's Division 1 basketball tournaments this March. This year's March Madness features 68 teams in a knockout format, showcasing top college basketball talent in the U.S. For the first time, women's teams will receive payment, although players do not get prize money directly. Notable players include Aniwania Tait-Jones, who led his team to the Big West Championship, and Charlisse Leger-Walker, who is recovering from an injury but has contributed to UCLA's success. Other New Zealand players include Mason Whittaker from American University, Lilly Parke from Fairleigh Dickinson, and Waiata Jennings from Baylor. Each team faces tough competition in the tournament, with several aiming for strong performances despite challenging matchups.