TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona (19-13) women's basketball team was selected as a #2 seed to play in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) and will take on NAU (26-7) Thursday, March 20, the NCAA announced Sunday. The game will take place at McKale Center with tip off at 6 p.m. MST on ESPN+.
What is the WBIT?
The Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) is a newly created 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament owned and sponsored by the NCAA. The competition is the second-best women's basketball postseason tournament available (behind the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament) and is in its first year of existence.
Created to ensure equity between the NCAA's men's and women's basketball postseason opportunities, the WBIT does not replace any existing event and will instead be held as a separate NCAA-funded entity.
What is the format for the WBIT?
The WBIT features 32 teams and will run from the first round (March 20) through the championship game (April 2). The single-elimination tournament features 16 seeded teams, with the top four seeded teams in four separate sections of the bracket. The first three rounds will take place on campus sites, while the semifinal and championship games will take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. In each of the first three rounds, the higher-seeded team with an available facility will host the contest at campus sites.
Dates for each round of the tournament have already been determined.
- First round: Thursday, March 20
- Second round: Sunday, March 23
- Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 27
- Semifinals: Monday, March 31
- Championship game: Wednesday, April 2
Tipoff times past the first round have yet to be announced.
With a win on Thursday night, Arizona would host the second round.
