Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), the only former Division I woman athlete in Congress, released her bracket for the 2025 March Madness Women’s Basketball Championship.

“Women’s college basketball is growing at an incredible pace, inspiring the next generation of athletes to pick up a ball and chase their dreams – just like stars such as JuJu Watkins, Paige Bueckers, and so many others,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I see it firsthand with my daughters, who helped me fill out this year’s bracket. We’re all in for the Trojans and can’t wait to watch the action unfold.”

CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s 2025 March Madness Bracket

Trahan, who was recruited to play volleyball at Georgetown University, is the author of the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, the most pro-athlete NIL legislation introduced at the federal level. She also introduced the Fair Play for Women Act to close Title IX loopholes that colleges use to overcount the number of women athletes in their programs. On the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she has been a vocal advocate for protecting the rights athletes have secured in recent years, including in a recent hearing where she raised concerns about schools’ plans to adopt a revenue-sharing model that would shortchange women athletes and violate Title IX. Last year, she invited University of California, Los Angeles Quarterback Chase Griffin to testify before Congress in opposition to legislation that would curtail athletes’ rights.

In November, Trahan led members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus in requesting that the U.S. Department of Education issue guidance on how Title IX applies to college athlete pay. Following the lawmakers’ request, the Department issued a fact sheet clarifying colleges’ obligation under Title IX to offer equal opportunity to college athletes with respect to publicity, support services, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) offerings, and direct payments. In February, the Trump Administration rescinded the guidance, arguing that it lacked “a credible legal justification.”

Prior to the 2022 March Madness tournaments, Trahan partnered with Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to host a virtual summit on inequities in college athletics. She hosted a panel with women athletes and advocates, including former Oregon Women’s Basketball player Sedona Prince, former Cornell Women’s Volleyball player Sydney Moore, and Former Division I athlete and award-winning author Katie Lever.

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