
Before No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Illinois step on the hardwood for the start of the 2026 Final Four, a student-athlete will perform the national anthem at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It turns out UConn track and field senior captain Chloe Trudel has been tasked with performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Indianapolis. She'll have the chance to win over the crowd before the Huskies try to secure another trip to the national title game.
Trudel, a New Hampshire native, has enjoyed plenty of success at UConn. During the 2025 outdoor season, she finished fourth in the 10,000m at the Big East Championships. She also ran a personal best in the 5,000m at Penn Relays.
"I’m lucky to say that in my 12 years of running, my love for this sport has never faltered. My favorite aspect of XC has always been the team. When you’re all working towards a common goal, motivation becomes intrinsic and creates a sort synergy," Trudel wrote on Instagram. "UConn XC has been the greatest experience of my life. The friendships I’ve formed with my teammates are ones I will hold onto tightly. We’ve been through it together."
Although she's known for her skills on the track, Trudel will get to showcase her voice this evening.
On Friday night, Trudel shared a photo from her Final Four rehearsal. It sure looks like she's ready to rock.
"See you tmr night at the Final Four," the UConn track star wrote on her Instagram Story.
After narrowly defeating Furman in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, UConn took care of business against UCLA and Michigan State to secure a spot in the Elite Eight.
Despite trailing by 19 points to Duke in the East Region final, UConn stole a win thanks to a game-winning shot from Braylon Mullins.
"I wanted to get the ball to Alex [Karaban], he had just hit a shot I think a minute before that, and he ended up throwing the ball back to me," Mullins said. "I knew there was like 0.4 seconds left on the clock, so I thought that was the best opportunity we were gonna get."
We'll see if UConn makes it to Monday's national championship game.
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