KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The eighth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team will play as the No. 2 seed in next week's MIAA Championship Tournament, slated for March 4-8 inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
FHSU's run to a title will begin Thursday in the quarterfinals against either the No. 7 seed Missouri Southern or the No. 10 seed Nebraska-Kearney at 2:15 p.m. Should the Tigers emerge victorious, they would play the No. 3 seed or the No. 6 seed in the semifinals on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. before a potential Sunday championship game at 1 p.m.
The Tigers are 24-14 all-time in the tournament, playing in seven championship games in 16 appearances while cutting down the net in 2019 and 2022. This is the third time the Tigers have been the No. 2 seed in the tournament, with FHSU racking up a 5-1 record as the second seed in the field. The Black and Gold won it all as the No. 2 seed in 2022 before finishing runner-up as the second seed last year.
Fort Hays State has advanced to semifinal Saturday each of the last eight years, the longest active run in the conference. No school has reached the semis more than the Tigers since FHSU joined the league in 2006.
Fans can still take advantage of discounted all-session passes for the 2026 tournament by stopping by the Fort Hays State Athletics office before Wednesday (March 4) at noon. All-session passes are significantly discounted when purchased through the athletic department compared to the box office in Kansas City.
2026 MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4:
Opening Round Games
Game One – #8 Northeastern State vs #9 Emporia State – 12 pm
Game Two – #7 Missouri Western vs #10 Nebraska Kearney – 2:15 pm
THURSDAY, MARCH 5:
Women's Quarterfinals
Game Three – #1 Central Missouri vs Winner of Game One – 12 pm
Game Four – #2 Fort Hays State vs Winner of Game Two – 2:15 pm
FRIDAY, MARCH 6:
Women's Quarterfinals
Game Five – #4 Missouri Southern vs #5 Northwest Missouri – 12 pm
Game Six – #3 Washburn vs #6 Pittsburg State – 2:15 pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 7:
Women's Semifinals
Game Seven – Winner of Game Three vs Winner of Game Five – 12 pm
Game Eight – Winner of Game Four vs Winner of Game Six – 2:15 pm
SUNDAY, MARCH 8:
Women's Championship
Winner of Game Seven vs Winner of Game Eight – 1 pm
