Cinderella team
Unlikely tournament darling
A Cinderella team is an underdog that unexpectedly advances deep into a tournament or competition, defying expectations like the fairy tale character rising from obscurity to the ball.
The term appears most often in sports, especially during March Madness when a low-seeded college basketball team defeats higher-ranked opponents: This year's Cinderella team made it all the way to the Final Four.
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- underdog storyTale of unlikely victor
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
- bracketSupport or category
March Madness · glass slipper · pumpkin carriage · clock strikes twelve · longshot · dark horse · giant killer · buzzer beater · tournament · fairy tale · improbable · scrappy · heartwarming · unlikely · stunning · bracket buster · plucky · overlooked
- Upsetsupset, upset victory, upset win, underdog victory, underdog win
- underdogsunderdog, underdogs, sleeper, dark horse, long shot
- sports loreImmaculate Reception, superstitions, lucky charm, playoff beard, rally cap
Cinderella teamfavorite
Most liked option
top seed · number one seed · chalk · frontrunner · safe bet
Cinderella teamjuggernaut
Overwhelming, crushing force
powerhouse · dynasty · Goliath · blue blood · giant
Cinderella, cinder, cinders, team, teams, teamed, teaming, teammate, teammates