When March Madness ends, curiously NYT crossword clue

The answer to the clue “When March Madness ends, curiously” is APRIL. Although the NCAA basketball tournament is famously known as March Madness, the championship game—and therefore the end of the tournament—almost always takes place in April. The clue uses the word “curiously” to highlight this amusing mismatch between name and timing.

This kind of clue relies on a blend of general knowledge and a bit of irony. APRIL is a fitting answer that reveals a small twist in logic, making it both clever and satisfying for solvers familiar with the sporting calendar.