INDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State Women's Basketball received an at-large bid into the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship, announced on Selection Sunday (March 8). The Tigers will play as the No. 3 seed in the Central Regional, drawing No. 6 seed Harding in the quarterfinal round.
The Tigers and Lady Bisons will play in the regional quarterfinals at 12 p.m. on Friday (March 13) inside the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University. The Mavericks earned hosting rights after picking up the top seed in the region.
Fort Hays State enters the tournament 24-5 overall. The Tigers posted their 15th-straight 20-win season, the longest active streak in Division II.
This is Fort Hays State's 11th selection to play in the NCAA Tournament, including 10 trips to the dance in the last 12 years. The Tigers are in the tournament for a third-straight year, qualifying every year of head coach
Talia Kahrs' tenure. This is also the third-straight year they are the No. 3 seed.
The Tigers are 9-9 all-time in the tournament, 2-1 against teams from the GAC, 2-2 as the No. 3 seed and 2-0 against the No. 6 seed. This will be the first time the FHSU women play a regional at Minnesota State or within the state of Minnesota.
Following Friday's quarterfinal round, semifinals are on Saturday (March 14) evening and the regional title game is on Monday (March 16) night.
The Central Region champion will join seven other regional champions in Pittsburgh, Pa. at the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight March 24-28.
More information on the regional will be released as it becomes available.
2025 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship Central Region Tournament Quarterfinal Matchups
12 p.m. – No. 3 seed Fort Hays State (24-5) vs. No. 6 seed Harding (24-6)
2:30 p.m. – No. 2 seed Concordia-St. Paul (24-6) vs. No. 7 seed Northwestern Oklahoma St. (25-6)
5 p.m. - No. 1 seed Minnesota State (29-3) vs. No. 8 seed Minnesota Duluth (20-8)
7:30 p.m. – No. 4 seed Central Missouri (25-6) No. 5 seed vs. Washburn (24-7)
