Barack Obama exclusively filled out his bracket predictions for the 2016 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship with ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo - marking the seventh straight year the President has filled out a women's bracket. His Women's Final Four prediction has UConn claiming its fourth straight title in Indianapolis. The President is predicting a Women's Final Four of UConn, Florida State, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He has the Huskies topping the Fighting Irish for the third straight year in the title game.
"Filling out the brackets with President Obama the past three years has been a highlight of my March, and he again surprised us with an underdog pick to go to the Final Four this year," said Lobo. "He is knowledgeable of the women's game, not afraid to pick a few underdogs along the way and it seems like he enjoys this process each and every year. I wonder if he'll buy a big white board and fill out the brackets with Andy next year, and if so, I hope I'm invited to help fill out the women's!"
The interview will also be available on ESPN.com, on subsequent editions of
SPORTSCENTER and various
ESPN platforms, following the debut.
This marks the seventh year he has publicly provided his bracket for the women's tournament. Lobo - who will serve as a studio analyst on ESPN's coverage of the entire NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - interviewed the President for the third straight year for his women's bracket selections.
Andy Katz - a regular contributor to ESPN.com, his role on-air has continued to grow, which now includes hosting Emmy and Murrow-award winning
OUTSIDE THE LINES series when Bob Ley is unavailable and ESPNU's Katz Korner - conceived the idea of the President filling out a bracket on air following an interview with him in 2008. He has conducted the interview with the President on his tournament predictions all eight years.
President Obama's women's bracket will appear alongside those from the millions of fans expected to play in ESPN.com's free
ESPN Women's Tournament Challenge presented by Capital One.
History of President Obama's Final Four & Championship Predictions
The President has included Connecticut in his Final Four all seven years and Notre Dame (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010) on six occasions. Baylor (2013, 2012, 2011) and Stanford (2014, 2011, 2010) have been predicted to reach the Final Four three times, South Carolina (2016, 2015) and Tennessee (2011, 2010) twice, and California (2013), Florida State (2016), Louisville (2014), Princeton (2015) and St. John's (2012) one each.
President Obama has picked two different teams to win the championship in his seven women's brackets: Baylor (over Notre Dame in 2013, 2012) and Connecticut (over Notre Dame in 2016, 2015, 2014, over Baylor in 2011 and Stanford in 2010). The President's record in selecting the Women's National Champion is 4-2 over the last six years, picking UConn correctly in 2015, 2014 and 2010, and Baylor in 2012.
In 2015, President Barack Obama finished in the 71 percentile with a rank of 42,735 of his women's bracket entry, correctly picking Connecticut to win it all.
NCAA Women's Basketball Championship
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and WatchESPN will combine to show the entire the 2016 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Presented by Capital One beginning with first-round action beginning Friday, March 18. Play culminates with the NCAA Women's National Championship game on Tuesday, April 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET on
ESPN from Indianapolis.
Image courtesy of
ESPN Press
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