Top WNBA pick could headline women’s teams coming to Wichita for NCAA March Madness
The Wichita regional teams have been finalized with the release of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament bracket on Sunday night.
While the opening rounds of March Madness will play out this weekend on campus sites, Wichita State will prepare to host Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at Intrust Bank Arena on Saturday, March 26 and Monday, March 28. Tickets are available for purchase through Select-A-Seat.
The top four seeds in the Wichita regional are No. 1 Louisville (25-4), No. 2 Baylor (27-6), No. 3 Michigan (22-6) and No. 4 Tennessee (23-8). Other teams that could make it to Wichita include No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 BYU, No. 7 Mississippi, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 9 Gonzaga, No. 10 South Dakota, No. 11 Villanova and No. 12 Belmont.
If the top seeds hold, fans will be able to watch the likely No. 1 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft play in Wichita in Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith, who was the Big 12 Player of the Year.
Wichita Heights senior star Zyanna Walker, a Louisville signee, would also welcome the Cardinals coming to her hometown. Louisville also features former Kansas high school basketball standout Peyton Verhulst, a Bishop Miege product who made the All-ACC Freshman team this season.
Hosting the regional rounds is the most prestigious honor given to Wichita yet from the NCAA. The city last hosted the NCAA women’s basketball tournament in 2011, but only the opening rounds. Wichita also hosted the opening rounds of the 2018 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
.jpg)