March Madness Across the World: NCAA Basketball’s Global Impact

As March Madness begins, NCAA basketball takes center stage not just in the U.S. but across the world. The 2025 Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships feature student-athletes from 65 nations and territories (including the U.S.) who played in the regular season, highlighting the sport's growing global reach. From Canada to Nigeria, Spain to Australia, here's a look at how international talent shapes March Madness. (Note: This data is pulled from stat files for the 2024-25 season and does not include student-athletes who have not competed this season.)

The international influence on March Madness

• 264 international student-athletes are competing in the Division I men's and women's tournaments, approximately 15% of all players.
• 45 nations and territories (including the U.S.) are represented in the women's tournament, with 130 international players making up 15% of the field.
• 52 nations and territories (including the U.S.) are represented in the men's tournament, with 134 international players making up about 14% of the bracket.

Top international representatives

NCAA basketball's international presence continues to expand, with student-athletes from every corner of the world taking the court. The top five nations and territories (outside the U.S.) represented in the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are:

1. Canada: 29.
2. Spain: 26.
3. Australia: 23.
4. Nigeria: 13.
5. Serbia: 9. 

Breaking it down further:

• Women's tournament: Spain leads the way with 21 players, followed by Canada (16) and Australia (13). Brazil features five players, while Finland, France, Nigeria, Greece and Sweden have four players each.
• Men's tournament: Canada tops the list with 13 players, trailed by Australia (10), Nigeria (9), Serbia (7) and Lithuania (6).

A growing global pipeline

The international presence in NCAA basketball isn't just a March Madness phenomenon — it's a trend that has been steadily growing, according to NCAA data: 

• The number of international student-athletes in Division I men's and women's basketball has more than doubled since the 2009-10 season, going from 668 to 1,838 in 2024-25. Men's basketball increased from 406 to 888 in that time, while women's basketball skyrocketed from 262 in 2009-10 to 950 in 2024-25.
• Europe contributes the most talent, with 879 student-athletes in Division I men's (505) and women's basketball (374) this season. The women's total is up from 112 and the men's from 179 in 2009-10.
• Africa has also seen a steady increase, with its representation in Division I men's basketball growing from 69 players in 2009-10 to 174 in 2024-25, while also growing from 15 to 79 in women's basketball during the same period.
• Broken down by nations and territories, Canada led total representation in Division I men's and women's basketball with 312 combined in 2024-25, followed by Spain (182), Australia (177), France (72) and the United Kingdom (64).
• On the women's side, Spain led the way with 163 student-athletes, followed by Canada (149), Australia (113), France (36) and Sweden (35).
• On the men's side, Canada had the most representation with 163 student-athletes, followed by Australia (64), the United Kingdom (41), Nigeria (39) and France (36). 

Why it matters

March Madness is not just a national spectacle — it's a global event. NCAA basketball has become a premier destination for international talent, offering a pathway to professional leagues, including the NBA, WNBA and elite leagues worldwide, while also producing 154 Olympians for 15 different nations and territories at the 2024 Paris Games. For many, NCAA basketball is a bridge to higher education, blending athletic and academic opportunities in a way that's unmatched across the world. 

As the tournament progresses, expect to see international stars make their mark on the biggest stage.