If your team missed out on the Field of 68, their season isn’t over. However, with two different postseason tournaments-the WBIT and the WNIT-things can get confusing.
Here is the “Cheat Sheet” for the 2026 women’s postseason, plus the full schedule for the games tipping off on Thursday, March 19.
What is the difference between the WBIT and WNIT?
Here are the key differences in the WBIT vs WNIT for those who have not been following the past few years as the postseason tournament landscape has evolved a bit.
- WBIT (Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament): This is the official NCAA secondary tournament (equivalent to the men’s NIT). It features 32 teams, and all games are on the ESPN family of networks.
- WNIT (Women’s National Invitation Tournament): This is a 48-team tournament operated by Triple Crown Sports. It is the third-tier postseason event and features many mid-major automatic qualifiers.
WBIT First Round Schedule: Thursday, March 19
All preliminary rounds are on ESPN+ unless otherwise noted.
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Seed | Location |
| 6:30 PM | Georgia Tech vs. (2) Kansas State | 2 | Manhattan, KS |
| 6:30 PM | Utah vs. Eastern Kentucky | 1 | Richmond, KY |
| 7:00 PM | Santa Clara vs. (3) California | 3 | Berkeley, CA |
| 9:00 PM | LMU vs. (2) Stanford | 2 | Stanford, CA |
| TBD | Wisconsin vs. Oregon State | 3 | Corvallis, OR |
WNIT First Round Schedule: Thursday, March 19
The WNIT features a massive 12-game slate on Thursday.
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Location |
| 6:00 PM | Bradley at George Washington | Washington, D.C. |
| 6:00 PM | Binghamton at Mercyhurst | Erie, PA |
| 6:00 PM | Lehigh at Monmouth | West Long Branch, NJ |
| 7:00 PM | UMBC at Ohio | Athens, OH |
| 9:00 PM | UC Davis at Pepperdine | Malibu, CA |
| 9:00 PM | Sam Houston at Portland | Portland, OR |
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WBIT vs WNIT FAQ
Question 1: Which is better, the WBIT or the WNIT? Answer: The WBIT is considered the superior tournament as it is owned and operated by the NCAA. It acts as the official secondary tournament for the “First Four Out” of the NCAA Tournament. The WNIT is an independent, third-tier tournament.
Question 2: Where can I watch the WBIT in 2026? Answer: All preliminary WBIT games (First Round, Second Round, and Quarterfinals) are broadcast on ESPN+. The Semifinals move to ESPNU, and the Championship will be on ESPN2 on April 1.
Question 3: Where is the 2026 WBIT Championship being held? Answer: The 2026 WBIT Semifinals and Championship will be hosted by Wichita State at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
