KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The No. 6 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) women's basketball has been chosen as a host for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament First and Second Round, marking the beginning of the 64-team tournament Friday and Saturday, March 13-14.

Host Locations Named for 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship First & Second Round

"We're honored to once again host the First and Second Round of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament," said Vice President for Student Life and Athletics Mike McCaffrey. "Hosting the First and Second Rounds is a reflection of the commitment our student-athletes, coaches, and staff have shown throughout the year. We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase both our university and the Fort Wayne community on a national stage. We look forward to welcoming outstanding programs and fans for the exciting two days of basketball."

Each First & Second Round site will feature four teams in the first two rounds of a single-elimination tournament. The winner of each four-team site will advance to Sioux City, Iowa, and the Tyson Events Center, for the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Final Site March 19-24.

The full field of qualifiers will be revealed on Thursday, March 5, at YouTube.com/PlayNAIA.

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Leadership and Business; Nursing; and  Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.