UMBC

The UMBC Retrievers embody the spirit of achieving the impossible, a culture of academic excellence, and the proud, resilient identity of their Baltimore home. UMBC athletics is immortalized in sports history for authoring the single greatest upset in the annals of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: the historic night in 2018 when the No. 16 seeded Retrievers didn't just beat, but dominated, the No. 1 overall seed Virginia. That legendary victory shattered the one remaining barrier in college basketball, making UMBC a permanent symbol of hope for every underdog and a household name overnight. The university's giant-killer DNA is also found on the soccer pitch, where the men's team made its own improbable run to the 2014 NCAA College Cup semifinals. This is built upon a foundation of sustained success in the America East Conference, highlighted by a dominant swimming and diving program that has captured countless conference titles. The UMBC Retrievers will forever represent the magic of the underdog, a proud and intelligent program that proved to the world that on one shining night, the impossible is possible.