Before tipoff at the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours, a few student-athletes took center stage — not with a ball, but with a mic. Known for their athletic talents, these student-athletes also shone as vocalists.
At this weekend's Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, their voices were on full display as they performed the national anthem in front of tens of thousands of fans and millions more watching from home. Learn more about each of them below.
Men's Final Four singers
In a long-standing Final Four tradition, four student-athletes — each representing one of the 2025 Men's Final Four teams of Houston, Florida, Duke and Auburn — came together to sing the national anthem before the semifinal games in San Antonio.
Moorea Mitchell, Duke
A former hammer thrower for the Blue Devils now in graduate school at Duke, she left her mark on the track by qualifying for the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where she recorded the second-best hammer throw in school history. Off the track, she has performed with Duke's a cappella group Out of the Blue and the a cappella group Soundsisters. In addition, she sang the anthem at a Duke baseball game and toured the United Kingdom with the Los Altos United Methodist Church's musical "Borderless."
AC Fitzpatrick, Florida
Fitzpatrick was a key contributor over three seasons for the Gators women's volleyball team after transferring from Penn State. The Ocala, Florida, native and lifelong Gators fan finished her Florida career with more than 500 kills across her final two seasons. Off the court, she finds joy in music and the outdoors. She grew up in a musical family where Christmas performances were a tradition, inspiring her to learn piano and later teach herself guitar — a hobby she continues to this day.
Mary Katherine Malone, Auburn
A freshman distance runner from Mountain Brook, Alabama, Malone contributed to multiple state championship cross country teams in high school before joining Auburn's cross country and track and field programs. She competed in three cross country races in the fall and has raced in the mile, 800- and 1,500-meter events this spring. In addition to running, Malone plays piano and enjoys singing.
Jenna Kerkman, Houston
Kerkman is a junior on Houston's swimming and diving team, where she specializes in sprint freestyle, breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. Off the pool deck, she's an English major with dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter. She writes her own music, often sharing original songs on social media or performing at local open mics. Last August, she sang the national anthem before a Houston Dash match.
Women's Final Four singer
Ayla Brown, Boston College
A former women's basketball player at Boston College (2006-10) and a Top 16 finisher on "American Idol," Brown has seamlessly blended sports and song. She has recorded several albums, toured nationally and performed the anthem at numerous NCAA and professional sporting events — including the 2016 Women's Final Four. The daughter of former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, she's also sung with the Boston Pops Orchestra and served as the anthem singer for the Philadelphia 76ers. On Sunday, she returned to the NCAA stage to perform before the national championship game in Tampa.
