INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament selection committee announced today a significant overhaul to its ranking methodology, confirming that teams are now primarily evaluated on their 'vibe.' The shift, which saw Minnesota unexpectedly crack the top 16, marks a departure from outdated metrics such as offensive efficiency and strength of schedule.

“We realized that while numbers are great, they don’t truly capture the essence of a team,” explained Brenda Fitzgerald, a committee spokesperson, while adjusting her aura-reading glasses. “Does a team *feel* like a Sweet Sixteen team? Do they project an undeniable main character energy? These are the real questions we’re asking now.”

The new system reportedly involves committee members attending games in person, not to scout plays, but to gauge the collective spirit and 'team chemistry aura.' One anonymous committee member confessed, “Sometimes, a team just has that ‘it’ factor. You know, like, do their warm-up outfits coordinate in a way that suggests spiritual alignment? That’s big.”

Critics argue the new approach introduces subjectivity, but the NCAA maintains it fosters a more holistic understanding of athletic prowess. “It’s about more than just who scores the most points,” Fitzgerald added. “It’s about who looks like they’re having the most fun, who has the best sideline dance moves, and frankly, who we’d most like to see in a Netflix docuseries.”

Future bracketology reports are expected to include new categories such as 'Collective Team Glow-Up Potential' and 'Likelihood of Inspiring a Viral TikTok Trend.'