KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 44th Annual NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship, presented by Sterling and Bomgaars, is set to commence for a remarkable 27th time in Sioux City, Iowa. The tournament will kick off on Thursday, March 20, at 1 p.m. CT, with the single-elimination contests running until March 25 at the Tyson Events Center.
Round of 16 Matchups
The excitement begins in the round of 16, where Cramer Quadrant No. 1 Bethel (Tenn.) takes the court in the 1:00 p.m. game on Thursday, challenging No. 4 Hastings (Neb.).
Watch the Championship Live
Fans can catch every game of the 2025 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship final site for FREE on the NAIA Channel of the Urban Edge Network, as well as the newly redesigned NAIA Network. To find out more information or to pre-register, click HERE.
Safety Measures at Tyson Events Center
For a secure and enjoyable experience, the Tyson Event Center has implemented a clear bag policy. For details on acceptable items, click HERE.
Championship Highlights
A total of 64 teams have qualified to compete in the 2025 championship field. Following the initial rounds at 16 locations nationwide, 16 teams advanced to the final site in Sioux City.
With an impressive 33 total appearances, Campbellsville (Ky.) leads in all-time championship history. This marks the second time Bethel (Tenn.) has progressed to the Round of 16 since 2022. Defending national champion Dordt (Iowa) returns to the final site, aiming to retain their title.
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) has made a notable return to the final site for the first time since the divisions merged, having last qualified in 2019. Georgetown (Ky.) looks to advance past the Second Round for the first time since 2012.
In a remarkable achievement, Governors State (Ill.) advances to the final site for the first time in only their second appearance in the championship field. Similarly, Langston (Okla.) is making history with their debut at the final site, previously reaching the quarterfinals back in 2007.
Mid-America Christian (Okla.) also celebrates their first progression past the First and Second Rounds, making their Round of 16 debut after qualifying for the first time in 2021. Southern Oregon returns to the final site for the first time since 2016 and stands out as the only undefeated team this season, boasting a perfect record of 33-0.
Xavier (La.) will also make their inaugural appearance at the final site, while Indiana Tech enters the championship as the lowest seed at No. 14. Notably, the No. 1 seeds are the only teams to have advanced through the First and Second Rounds across all four quadrants.
Among the remaining teams, five have qualified at-large: Hastings (Neb.), Indiana Wesleyan, Marian (Ind.), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), and Dordt (Iowa). Hastings leads with three championship titles, showcasing their legacy in women’s basketball.
The final site will represent a diverse array of competing conferences, including the Cascade Collegiate Conference, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Crossroads League, Great Plains Athletic Conference, Mid-South Conference, Red River Athletic Conference, Sooner Athletic Conference, and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. The Mid-South Conference stands out with five teams still in the running.
