03/30/2026
A week ago, March Madness Alaska came to a close. But one of the stories that stuck with us most didn't end with a trophy.
After Typhoon Halong displaced families from Kipnuk to Anchorage last fall, coach Annmarie Paul got a call asking if she wanted to lead a team — and she said yes. With no van at first, she drove her own car to pick up all nine players scattered across their new, temporary city, just so they could practice together and compete. "We're family right now," she said.
That family fought their way to the Anchorage C-Team title game, falling just short to Chugiak 39–34.
Through our sponsorship of March Madness Alaska, Moda was proud to gift 30 golden tickets to these families — giving players and their loved ones unlimited access to every tournament game, a small way to celebrate a team that showed up, stuck together, and reminded us that health starts with community and the chance to play.
Watch their amazing story here: http://spklr.io/6183EyYtU.
In a season full of turmoil, the Kipnuk girls basketball team emerged with an identity.