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Senior Madison Hart & Lady Cats Play Friday
Senior Madison Hart & Lady Cats Play Friday
Posted: Mar 18, 2026

Preview of the 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball Final Site

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –[SCHEDULE | BRACKET] The 44th Annual NAIA Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Sterling and Bomgaars, will tip off for the 28th time in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday, March 19, at 1 p.m. CT. The single-elimination championship runs through March 24 at the Tyson Events Center.

The round of 16 tips off with Naismith Quadrant No. 1 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) competing in the 1:00 p.m. game on Thursday afternoon, squaring off against No. 5 Hastings (Neb.).

The 2025 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship final site is broadcast FREE on the NAIA Channel of the Urban Edge Network and the NAIA Network for all games at the final site in Sioux City, Iowa. For more information and to pre-register, click HERE.

Join us of the Urban Edge Network for the Round of 16 Preview Show at 2:30 p.m. CT. 

The Tyson Event Center is a clear bag facility. The Tyson Events Center seeks to create a safe and secure venue on event and non-event days. For more information on what is acceptable CLICK HERE

  • Seven of the 16 final site teams qualified with an automatic bid. 
  • Twelve of the First and Second Round hosts advanced to Sioux City. 
  • There are nine teams that remain in the championship field that have won one or more titles: Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Dordt (Iowa), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Hastings (Neb.), Indiana Wesleyan, Marian (Ind.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Saint Francis (Ind.) and Shawnee State (Ohio). 
  • Campbellsville (Ky.) leads the field in championship appearances at 34. 
  • Seven conferences will be represented at the final site: Cascade Collegiate Conference, Crossroads League, Frontier Conference, Great Plains Athletic Conference, Heart of America Athletic Conference, Mid-South Conference and River States Conference. 
  • The Mid-South Conference advanced the most teams, with five, while the Crossroads League followed with four. 
  • This is the third consecutive year that Bethel (Tenn.) has advanced to the final site. In 2025, the Wildcats advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history. 
  • Bethel (Tenn.) and Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) have met in championship play one other time in 2017 Second Round where the Warriors won 69-58. 
  • Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) last advanced to the Round of 16 in 2023. 
  • Dakota State (S.D.) and Indiana Wesleyan have met twice in championship history, once in the Round of 16 in 2024, when Dakota State won 76-65. 
  • Dakota State (S.D.) last advanced to the Round of 16 in 2024. 
  • Dordt (Iowa) is making its fifth Round of 16 appearance in as many years. 
  • Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) and Georgetown (Ky.) have met in championship play twice in 2004 and 2008, both in the early rounds. The Lions hold a 2-0 record against the Tigers. 
  • Hastings (Neb.) and Saint Francis (Ind.) have met twice before in championship history in 2002 and 2005. The teams are 1-1 with this year's Round of 16 game settling the tie. 
  • Hastings (Neb.) and Georgetown (Ky.) were last in the Round of 16 in 2025. 
  • This is Marian (Ind.), Indiana Wesleyan and Campbellsville (Ky.) sixth consecutive Round of 16 appearance.

 

Watch for a preview of the Lady Wildcat game versus Lewis-Clark State later at www.bethelathletics.com