Justin Peak Video and Scouting Operations Coordinator | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Justin Peak Video and Scouting Operations Coordinator | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The Illinois women's basketball team has been selected to participate in the first Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) and will face Missouri State on Thursday, March 21. The NCAA announced this development on Sunday, confirming that the game will be held at State Farm Center and will start at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
The WBIT is a new 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament, created by the NCAA to promote equity between men's and women's basketball postseason opportunities. This tournament is distinct from existing events and operates as a separate NCAA-funded entity.
The WBIT format includes 32 teams with 16 seeded teams, organized into four sections of the bracket. The initial three rounds are scheduled to occur at campus sites, with semifinal and championship games set for Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Each round's higher-seeded team with an available facility will host games at their campus sites.
The schedule for the tournament is as follows: the first round on March 21, second round on March 24, quarterfinals on March 28, semifinals on April 1, and the championship game on April 3. Tipoff times beyond the first round have not been announced yet.
Tickets for WBIT games are managed by the NCAA. Illinois season ticket holders should expect emails regarding ticket purchases, while non-season ticket holders can buy tickets starting at 4 p.m. CT on Monday, March 18. Ticket prices range from $10 for students/youth to $25 for courtside seats.
Illinois season tickets are not valid for WBIT games due to NCAA sponsorship of the event. Fans can follow all WBIT games through ESPN platforms; preliminary rounds will stream on ESPN+, semifinals will air on ESPNU, and the championship game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
No neutral-site WBIT games are planned for State Farm Center. The WBIT serves as an equivalent to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in men's basketball.
Historically, Illinois last hosted a postseason women's basketball game during the first two rounds of the 2012-13 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), advancing to the quarterfinals. In total, Illinois has hosted postseason events across different tournaments during 13 seasons.
If Illinois wins against Missouri State on Thursday night, they would host a second-round WBIT game.
For more information or questions about the WBIT that have not been addressed here, interested parties are encouraged to reach out directly or check official communications.
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