Barack Obama pitch his tent with Gamecocks to win back-to-back women’s basketball national championships

Barack Obama Reveals His March Madness Brackets, Picks Familiar Team to Win It All
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has unveiled his picks for this year’s NCAA March Madness tournament, and he’s backing a team with a strong championship pedigree to take home the title.
A passionate basketball fan, Obama became known for publicly sharing his NCAA brackets while in office, often making his selections on television. This year, he continued the tradition by releasing his picks just hours before the first tournament games tipped off on March 20.

Obama’s Women’s Bracket: South Carolina on Top

For the women’s tournament, the 44th president is betting on the University of South Carolina to emerge as the national champion. In his custom hand-written bracket, which was shared on his Obama Foundation website and social media, he selected the Gamecocks to triumph over No. 1 seed UCLA in the championship game.
Interestingly, South Carolina and UCLA have already faced off this season, with the Bruins handing the Gamecocks a rare defeat—a 77-62 victory on November 24 in Los Angeles. Despite that setback, South Carolina remains a powerhouse in women’s college basketball. The defending national champions have secured two of the last three NCAA titles and are once again one of the four No. 1 seeds in this year’s tournament.
The Gamecocks begin their tournament journey on March 21, when they host No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech in the opening round. The game is set to tip off at 4 p.m. inside Colonial Life Arena.

Obama’s Men’s Bracket: Duke Over Florida

On the men’s side, Obama has placed his trust in another traditional powerhouse, choosing Duke to defeat Florida in a clash of No. 1 seeds in the national title game.
His bracket also includes a deep tournament run for No. 5 seed Clemson, which kicks off its campaign on March 20 against No. 12 seed McNeese State. Obama has predicted Clemson will advance to the Elite Eight before falling to Tennessee.
Additionally, the former president has the Tennessee Volunteers winning their first-round matchup against Southern Conference champion Wofford.

Obama’s Longstanding Passion for Basketball

Obama has long been an avid basketball player and fan, often seen attending high-profile games, both during and after his presidency. His love for the sport has even influenced plans for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The upcoming facility will include a dedicated building known as “Home Court,” featuring an official NBA-sized basketball court, along with additional practice courts and community spaces designed to foster engagement and involvement.
As March Madness kicks into high gear, Obama is once again inviting basketball fans to join in the excitement, sharing his picks with a simple question:
“I’m cutting it close, but here are my #MarchMadness picks. Who do you have winning it all?”