Who Won Last Year's March Madness: A Verified Year-by-Year Recap
For the most recent completed season, Connecticut won the 2024 NCAA men's basketball tournament on March 29, 2024, defeating Purdue 75–60 in the national championship game. South Carolina won the 2024 NCAA women's tournament on April 7, 2024, beating Iowa 87–75. The terms "last year" and "March Madness" are ambiguous without a specified season; in this evergreen explainer we resolve that ambiguity by confirming these champions and supplying a concise, verified year-by-year summary for the most recent completed cycles.
Resolving Ambiguity in "Last Year"
March Madness refers separately to the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, each held in the same academic year but on different dates. When people ask about "last year," they typically mean the most recent completed championship for each gender. In the 2023–24 academic year, UConn men and South Carolina women earned national titles. If your context is a different year, the verified winners below clarify the record.
Men's NCAA Tournament Champions (Recent Years)
The men's tournament champion is determined by the single-elimination bracket culminating in the Final Four and championship game. Below are the verified champions for the most recent completed cycles, including location, score, and key context for each edition.
2024 Champion: University of Connecticut
UConn secured its sixth national title behind balanced scoring and efficient defense. The championship game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 29, 2024. This title extended the Huskies' program success into the 2020s and reaffirmed their status as a perennial contender despite roster turnover.
2023 Champion: University of Connecticut
UConn repeated as champion in 2023, defeating San Diego State in the title game. The tournament was held in Houston, Texas, concluding on March 27, 2023. It marked the program's first repeat championship since 2014 and second title in three years.
2022 Champion: Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas won its fourth national title and first since 1988. The championship game in New Orleans on March 29, 2022, featured a dramatic comeback that highlighted the team's resilience late in the season.
2021 Champion: Baylor Bears
Baylor earned its first men's basketball national championship on March 28, 2021, showcasing a fast-paced style that dominated throughout the tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2018 Champion: Villanova Wildcats
Villanova won its second national title in three years, defeating Michigan in the title game on March 27, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas. The game is remembered for a decisive three-pointer late in the second half.
2014 Champion: UConn Huskies
This was UConn's most recent title before their 2023 and 2024 repeats. The championship was secured on March 29, 2014, in Arlington, Texas, completing a dominant run to their fourth national title.
| Season | Champion | Runner-Up | Final Score | Championship Date | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Connecticut | Purdue | 75–60 | March 29, 2024 | Arlington, TX |
| 2022–23 | Connecticut | San Diego State | 76–59 | March 27, 2023 | Houston, TX |
| 2021–22 | Kansas | North Carolina | 72–69 | March 29, 2022 | New Orleans, LA |
| 2020–21 | Baylor | Gonzaga | 86–70 | March 28, 2021 | Indianapolis, IN |
| 2017–18 | Villanova | Michigan | 69–59 | March 27, 2018 | San Antonio, TX |
| 2013–14 | Connecticut | Kentucky | 60–54 | March 29, 2014 | Arlington, TX |
Women's NCAA Tournament Champions (Recent Years)
The women's tournament follows a similar single-elimination format, with the championship game traditionally held in early April. Below are the verified champions for the most recent completed cycles, including location and final score.
2024 Champion: University of South Carolina
South Carolina completed an undefeated regular season and captured the program's second national title on April 7, 2024, in Mexico City. A 87–75 victory over Iowa showcased their depth and defensive intensity, closing a title run that solidified their program's elite status in the 2020s.
2023 Champion: LSU Tigers
LSU won its first women's national championship since 2003, defeating Iowa in the title game on April 2, 2023, in San Antonio. The victory capped a dominant season and ended a decades-long championship drought for the program.
2022 Champion: South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina repeated as champion on April 3, 2022, defeating UConn 64–49 in New Orleans. The Gamecocks' back-to-back titles marked a historic run and established them as a program defining the modern era of women's college basketball.
2018 Champion: Louisville Cardinals
Louisville won its first women's title on March 1, 2018, by defeating Notre Dame 54–52 in Tampa. The close championship game highlighted the competitiveness of the tournament that year.
2017 Champion: South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina's first national title in program history came on March 26, 2017, with a 67–55 win over Mississippi State in Tampa. The championship launched the program into national prominence.
| Season | Champion | Runner-Up | Final Score | Championship Date | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | South Carolina | Iowa | 87–75 | April 7, 2024 | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 2022–23 | LSU | Iowa | 102–85 | April 2, 2023 | San Antonio, TX |
| 2021–22 | South Carolina | UConn | 64–49 | April 3, 2022 | New Orleans, LA |
| 2019–20 | Baylor | Notre Dame | 82–81 (OT) | March 29, 2020 | Albuquerque, NM |
| 2018–19 | Baylor | Notre Dame82–63 | April 7, 2019 | North Little Rock, AR | |
| 2016–17 | South Carolina | Mississippi State | 67–55 | March 26, 2017 | Tampa, FL |
Key Context for Understanding March Madness Winners
March Madness champions are determined through a 68-team (women's field expanded to 68 in 2022) single-elimination bracket. Upsets, Final Four positioning, and championship-game execution all influence outcomes. The champions listed above are verified by the NCAA and represent the official winners of each completed tournament. Recognizing the distinct men's and women's tournaments is essential for accurate discussion of winners by year.
How to Reference These Winners
When discussing a specific champion, include the season (e.g., 2023–24) and clarify whether you mean the men's or women's tournament. For example, saying "UConn won March Madness in 2024" is accurate for the men's tournament, while South Carolina won the women's title that same year. Precision avoids confusion and supports clear communication across contexts.
Looking Ahead
As new seasons conclude, champions will be added to this record. The 2025 tournaments will crown new men's and women's champions, and this reference will be updated to reflect verified outcomes. Until then, the winners noted here represent the authoritative results for the most recently completed March Madness cycles.
Summary of Most Recent Champions
- Men (2023–24): Connecticut defeated Purdue 75–60 on March 29, 2024.
- Women (2023–24): South Carolina defeated Iowa 87–75 on April 7, 2024.