"Andreina Sofia Ruiz, we cannot wait to meet you," wrote Maria and John Ruiz
Credit: Courtesy of John Ruiz
NEED TO KNOW
- A basketball-loving couple expecting their first child created a “Maternity Madness” bracket to name their baby on the way
- After the tournament finally came to end this week, the couple revealed her full moniker
- The couple also shared that her middle name ended up being inspired by another team
The basketball gods have spoken!
An expectant couple from Florida made headlines when they announced that they’d be letting the winner of this year's March Madness tournament determine the name of their first child.
The basketball-loving couple selected the name with the help of their “Maternity Madness” bracket, where they paired a hand-picked choice for their daughter with each of the teams in the tournament, saving their top picks for schools with a higher chance of doing well.
After this week's final, when the University of Michigan won, the couple could finally reveal their daughter's full name.
“Our very own One Shining Moment!” John and Maria Ruiz wrote in a joint post on Instagram on Tuesday, April 7. “Andreina Sofia Ruiz, we cannot wait to meet you 🏀🎀 Thanks to everyone who followed along, it was fun.”
As for her middle name, the couple explained that choice came from another team that ended up losing right before the final.
“Thanks for the name @umichbball and thanks @dukembb for the meltdown that inspired the middle name,” wrote John and Maria, who graduated from UNC, Duke's top rival.
Credit: Courtesy of John Ruiz
Throughout the tournament, the couple kept their loved ones regularly updated on the results of their "Maternity Madness" experience via Instagram, even mounting the bracket in blue masking tape on their living room wall.
As the tournament continued, names continued to fall off the list, from Olivia and Princess to Hermione and Khaleesi.
Fortunately, by the time there were less than 16 teams remaining, John told their followers that only one of the couple's top four names was already out of the running.
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After the couple announced their daughter's final name, their social media post was filled with positive comments.
“Andreina!!! It was meant to be," wrote one commenter as another replied, "beautiful name."
"The basketball gods thought so too!" John wrote.
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