Rare photo of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Hailey Van Lith together from Youth Olympics sets the stage for March Madness 2024

With March Madness just around the corner, a throwback picture of three of the biggest college women’s basketball stars has gone viral on social media. The snap features Caitlin Clark, Hailey Van Lith and Paige Bueckers from their days playing for Team USA at the Junior Olympics.

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The trio was a part of the USA women's basketball team at the Youth Olympics in 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They helped the team win a gold medal.

Team USA met France in the final of the 3x3 competition and registered a thumping 18-4 win to take the top spot. Bueckers also participated in the shootout contest and finished fourth, just missing out on a medal.

Fast forward to 2024, the trio will be up against each other to fight for the national title. It remains to be seen who comes out on top this time.

March Madness to tipoff on March 17

March Madness will begin on March 17. The single-game elimination tournament will have 68 teams from around the country divided into four regions. While some teams will get an automatic place by winning their conferences, others must wait for Selection Sunday to know their fate.

The 2022-23 women's championship was won by the Hailey Van Lith and Angel Reese-led LSU Tigers, defeating Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Clark, who has since become the leading scorer in college basketball, will be looking to end her college career by finally winning the title that eluded her last year.

She was unanimously voted the Big Ten Player of the Year, while Reese took the award for the SEC. Paige Bueckers won the Big East award and would be looking forward to the NCAA Tournament as much as any ordinary fan.

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