Head coach Alisa Kresge, now in her seventh year at the helm, praised her team’s effort:
“We don’t have the most shiny thing all the time. We have the right people that care and work extremely hard.”
Catamounts Return to the Big Dance
With a 21-12 record, Vermont earned a 15th-seed berth and will face No. 2 NC State in the first round in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wolfpack, 26-6 on the season, won the ACC regular season title before falling to Duke in the conference championship. Vermont’s defense, which forced 14 turnovers in the America East final, will need to replicate that intensity against an NC State squad averaging 76.8 points per game.
The Catamounts’ last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2023, and their lone tournament victory dates back to 2010 when they upset No. 7 seed Wisconsin. With history against them — No. 15 seeds rarely advance past the first round — Vermont faces a monumental challenge. The betting odds reflect that reality, with NC State favored by 19.5 points and Vermont’s moneyline set at +2600.
A State at Odds with Sports Betting
While Vermont celebrates its March Madness berth, the state’s lawmakers are simultaneously reconsidering the legality of VT sports betting, less than two years after its introduction. A proposed bill, H133, aims to repeal not only sports wagering but also the state lottery. Representative Troy Headrick, a co-sponsor of the bill, argues that gambling is a
“camouflaged form of regressive taxation”
that disproportionately affects lower-income residents.
Despite these concerns, Vermont’s sports betting market has shown strong initial success. The state generated $21.9 million in gross revenue from nearly $200 million in wagers during its first year, with over $6.3 million in tax revenue collected. Basketball has been the most popular sport among Vermont bettors, accounting for $54.5 million in handle — a figure that likely reflects interest in the Boston Celtics and March Madness itself.
The repeal effort faces steep odds. No state has ever rolled back legal sports betting after launch, and Vermont’s revenue figures suggest a growing, sustainable market. Governor Phil Scott, who signed the original bill into law, would need to approve any repeal, making its passage unlikely. Industry advocates also highlight Vermont’s responsible gambling initiatives, which aim to mitigate the very risks lawmakers are citing.
As Vermont’s women’s basketball team prepares to take the national stage, the contrast between athletic celebration and legislative skepticism is striking. March Madness captivates fans across the state, fueling interest in both competition and wagering. But while the Catamounts embrace the unpredictability of the tournament, Vermont lawmakers seem eager to limit the risks of betting on those very same games. Whether the state’s team can defy the odds against NC State remains to be seen — just as the future of Vermont sports betting hangs in the balance.
