‘I’m living out the dream.’ Gig Harbor grad Brynna Maxwell shares March Madness adventure

One reason I chose to play basketball at Utah after my high school career at Gig Harbor was because I wanted to be part of building something, doing something that hadn’t been done before. My first two years at Utah were building years - hard work and sacrifices tag teamed with plenty of losses and learning. But, this year, it all came together. The University of Utah is a No. 7 seed in the West Region.

If it had been like the past two years, I would be sitting on my couch watching the madness start. But this year is different. Spotlights, chartered planes, catered meals. It has all been so surreal. This year I’m living out the dream I have had as long as I can remember. The NCAA Tournament is here. It all starts tomorrow and The University of Utah is a No. 7 seed.

It’s all so surreal and it’s felt like a blur. This has been the hardest year of my life and has gone a totally different direction than what I anticipated at the beginning of the season. But we’re here. I’m living every young hooper’s dream. I don’t know how the tournament is going to unfold. Obviously, I hope we make one of those magical Cinderella runs that I’ve seen play out time and time again.

Our team has relished being the underdog since day one. In the preseason we were picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12. We were a six seed in the Pac-12 tournament. Even now, in the NCAA tournament, not one bracket cast has us making it past the first round. However, time and time again, this Utah team has beaten the odds. We finished in the top six in the conference. In the Pac-12 tournament we went on a record-breaking run by making the finals for the first time in school history. Utah women’s basketball keeps surprising people, and we are not done yet.