MWC Women’s Basketball Tournament: Schedule, Seeds & Preview | 2026
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – The Midwest Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for a familiar venue as Ripon College will host the league championship for the eighth consecutive season, beginning this Friday, .
Ripon, the top seed and ranked 18th nationally, secured hosting duties after completing an undefeated conference season and winning its MWC-record eighth consecutive conference title. The Red Hawks (23-2 overall) will face fourth-seeded Cornell College in the first semifinal on evening at 5:00 PM CT from Weiske Gymnasium.
The second semifinal will pit second-seeded Lawrence University against third-seeded Knox College at 7:00 PM CT. The tournament championship game is scheduled for , at 3:00 PM CT.
Ripon’s dominant regular season performance has positioned them as the clear favorite. Winners of 18 consecutive games, they are aiming for their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. Their two regular season matchups against Cornell resulted in victories, suggesting a strong advantage heading into the semifinal.
Lawrence University (20-5, 13-3 MWC) enters the tournament as the second seed for the second year in a row. This marks the Vikings’ third consecutive postseason appearance, but they are still searching for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1999. Lawrence swept Knox during the regular season, indicating a favorable matchup in the semifinals.
Knox College (13-12, 11-5) returns to the postseason after a one-year absence. This will be the Prairie Fire’s fifth MWC Tournament appearance in the last six seasons. A pair of wins this weekend would secure Knox its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons. Notably, Knox claimed the MWC Tournament title during the 2022-23 season, a victory achieved on Ripon’s home floor.
Cornell College (15-9, 9-7) is making its third postseason appearance in the last four seasons as the fourth seed. The Rams are seeking their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018, a tournament they also competed in while hosted by Ripon.
The tournament schedule offers a compelling set of matchups. Ripon’s consistent success and undefeated conference record make them the team to beat. However, Lawrence’s strong overall record and recent tournament experience, coupled with Knox’s history of success in the event, suggest a competitive field. Cornell, despite being the fourth seed, has demonstrated the ability to compete with the top teams in the conference and will look to make a statement.
The Midwest Conference tournament promises a weekend of intense competition as these four teams battle for the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Ripon’s home-court advantage and recent dominance will be significant factors, but Lawrence, Knox, and Cornell are all capable of challenging for the title. The tournament is set to conclude on with the championship game, determining which team will represent the MWC in the national tournament.
Fans can find the latest updates and information on the 2026 MWC Women’s Basketball Tournament page.
2026 MWC Women’s Basketball Tournament Schedule
Friday,
Semi-Final #1 – 5:00 PM CT — No. 1 Ripon vs. No. 4 Cornell
Semi-Final #2 – 7:00 PM CT — No. 2 Lawrence vs. No. 3 Knox
Saturday, – Tournament Championship Game — 3:00 PM CT
Winner of Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final #2
In addition to the on-court action, the Mountain West Conference Women’s Basketball Championship is also underway. According to the Mountain West Conference website, the Credit Union 1 2026 Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship will be held from to at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Single and all-session tickets are currently available.
San Diego State clinched the Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship outright with a 66-64 win at Boise State on .