The Ivy League Announces Strategic Women’s Basketball Scheduling Partnership with American Conference, Atlantic 10 and Missouri Valley
7/9/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. — The Ivy League has announced a strategic non-conference scheduling partnership with the American Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), and the Missouri Valley Conference, designed to elevate early-season competition amongst some of the top NCAA Division I women's basketball conferences.
The agreement is a two-year partnership for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons and features a tournament-style event on opening weekend each year, bringing together top programs from the four highly competitive conferences. Each league will designate its top two teams to participate annually, creating a high-level showcase that provides non-conference resume-building opportunities for each conference and enhances national visibility for women's basketball.
Collectively, the partnership brings together four conferences that have each earned multiple bids into the NCAA Tournament at least once in the last five years. Additionally, the four leagues have each finished in the top-10 of the conference NET rankings at least three times in the last five years.
The 2026 field alone features a concentration of Top-75 programs by NET ranking, creating an early-season environment designed to mirror the intensity and quality of postseason play and resume-building opportunities.
"This partnership reflects the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to elevating women's basketball," said Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris.
"By joining with the Missouri Valley Conference, American Conference and Atlantic 10, we're creating exceptional early-season opportunities that challenge our student-athletes, strengthen our programs and showcase the high level of competition across our conferences. We're proud to be part of an initiative that will continue to advance the growth and visibility of the game."
Event Format
The 2026 event will take place at two host sites:2026 Matchups
Day 1 (Friday, November 6)
The agreement is a two-year partnership for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons and features a tournament-style event on opening weekend each year, bringing together top programs from the four highly competitive conferences. Each league will designate its top two teams to participate annually, creating a high-level showcase that provides non-conference resume-building opportunities for each conference and enhances national visibility for women's basketball.
Collectively, the partnership brings together four conferences that have each earned multiple bids into the NCAA Tournament at least once in the last five years. Additionally, the four leagues have each finished in the top-10 of the conference NET rankings at least three times in the last five years.
The 2026 field alone features a concentration of Top-75 programs by NET ranking, creating an early-season environment designed to mirror the intensity and quality of postseason play and resume-building opportunities.
"This partnership reflects the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to elevating women's basketball," said Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris.
"By joining with the Missouri Valley Conference, American Conference and Atlantic 10, we're creating exceptional early-season opportunities that challenge our student-athletes, strengthen our programs and showcase the high level of competition across our conferences. We're proud to be part of an initiative that will continue to advance the growth and visibility of the game."
Event Format
The 2026 event will take place at two host sites:
- Robins Center – University of Richmond (Richmond, Va.)
- Curb Event Center – Belmont University (Nashville, Tenn.)
2026 Matchups
Site 1: Richmond, Virginia – Robins Center
Day 1 (Friday, November 6)
- Rice (American) vs. Murray State (MVC)
- Richmond (A-10) vs. Princeton (Ivy League)
- Richmond (A-10) vs. Rice (American)
- Princeton (Ivy League) vs. Murray State (MVC)
Day 1 (Friday, November 6)
- South Florida (American) at Belmont (MVC)
- Rhode Island (A-10) vs. Columbia (Ivy League)
- Rhode Island (A-10) vs. South Florida (American)
- Columbia (Ivy League) at Belmont (MVC)
Building a Stronger Non-Conference Landscape
This initiative is rooted in a shared goal: to create more competitive and compelling non-conference opportunities for the top programs in each respective conference. By matching elite teams from each conference in a structured, high-profile setting, the partnership aims to:- Enhance strength of schedule resumes for the four conferences and participating programs
- Provide fans with marquee early-season matchups
- Increase early-season national exposure and media interest
- Support the continued growth of women's college basketball
Friday, April 24
Monday, April 06
Thursday, April 02
Wednesday, April 01
