By Lo Yarnall
Vermont is no stranger to NCAA postseason tournaments.
When the women’s basketball team faces No. 3 Louisville on Saturday in the Round of 64, it’ll mark the third time in four years that the Catamounts have made it to the Big Dance. The reigning two-time America East champs boast the fourth-best defense in the country, with opponents averaging 51.6 points per game. They also bring back most of the same roster that traveled to N.C. State last year as a 15-seed, and three seniors who faced UConn in the tournament’s first round in 2023.
Advertisement
“The first time we were there with this program in years was at UConn,” said two-time America East Coach of the Year Alisa Kresge. “As we have Keira [Hanson] and Nikola [Priede] and Cat [Gilwee] going into their third time, they’re talking about the experience and we can’t be afraid of that moment. We know what it feels like.”
Nikola Priede against the NC State Wolfpack during the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament. (Photo by Lance King/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
(Lance King via Getty Images)
Seizing the moment is something the University of Vermont athletic department has taken advantage of, with the men’s soccer team capturing its first national title as an unlikely Cinderella in 2024. The Catamounts boast their own bit of basketball history, too, when the 13-seed men’s basketball team upset No. 4 Syracuse in the 2005 men’s NCAA tournament.
Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes
Advertisement
When you’re a mid-major program like Vermont, postseason success must come against the titans of the college sports world. Having already faced opponents like UConn, N.C. State and a regular-season matchup against Washington, Kresge’s team is prepared for the length and physicality that Louisville will undoubtedly bring. That preparation comes from film and tough run-throughs with their men’s practice players.
“Our pink squad, as we call them, is doing a great job trying to be Louisville, but we have to take care of what we know is in our wheelhouse,” said Kresge. “We got to take care of the ball, we have to take open shots.”
Atmosphere will also play a big part in Saturday’s game. Patrick Gym, the Catamounts’ home court, holds just over 3,000 fans. In comparison, the KFC Yum! Center boasts over 22,000 seats and ranks among the largest college basketball venues in the country. Kresge and her staff have wheeled in massive speakers to practice, blasting crowd noise and bell tolls to try to emulate an environment they can expect in Kentucky.
“Our coaches have been saying it perfectly, the pressure is in the preparation and not on Saturday,” said senior transfer Jadyn Weltz. “We’re doing everything we can to prepare today, tomorrow and in the days that follow so that when Saturday comes, we’re a Vermont team that’s ready to go.”
The best way to silence a rowdy home crowd is with points. The Catamounts will look to seniors Hanson, Priede and Weltz to spearhead offensive production against the Cardinals. The three started in all 34 games this season and led the team in scoring all the way through the America East tournament, but finding that offensive spark against Louisville will be their toughest task yet.
Advertisement
“[Louisville] is very physical,” said Hanson. “We’re going to counteract that and take what we’ve learned from our conference play and be ready to play a high-level, mature team.”
That spark could start with America East Defensive Player of the Year and team captain Priede, Vermont’s biggest physical threat. At 6-foot-2, Priede led the Catamounts with 17.4 points per game, and led the conference in blocks (1.3 per game) and field goal percentage (59.6 percent). She’s one of the three Vermont players making her third trip to the NCAA tournament, but this time has the biggest target on her back.
“This is my last season, so [I’m] putting it all out there and trying my hardest and just having fun with it,” said Priede. “I’m so happy that I got to represent Vermont for all four years and I’m grateful to be here.”
Advertisement
Vermont pride runs deep, especially for the fans. The closest the community gets to professional sports is the Vermont Green FC, who were undefeated USL League Two national champs in 2025. After that, it all comes up green and gold with UVM college sports. With a tight-knit community comes dog-pack mentality, both at home and on the road.
“I remember last year [at N.C. State] we were fortunate to have a little sea of green, and we definitely heard them,” said Hanson. “I’m excited to feel that again and put Vermont back on the map.”
If the Catamounts can pull off the upset against Louisville, it’ll be historic on multiple levels. Fourteen-seeds are 0-124 in the women’s NCAA tournament. Under Kresge, the team hasn’t won a first-round game before. But perhaps the third time is the charm?
Advertisement
“We’re really proud that we get to wear this uniform and go on the national stage and show everybody what we’re made of,” said Kresge. “Who doesn’t love an underdog?”
