The Washington women’s basketball team (15-14, 7-11) is postseason bound for the first time since 2017. Washington was selected as an automatic qualifier to the 25th Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), tournament officials announced on Sunday. On Monday the Huskies learned that they will be hosting a round 1 game. The Huskies will take on San Francisco in the first round, scheduled to tip off Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m. PT in Alaska Airlines Arena.
“We couldn’t be more excited for postseason play,” head coach Tina Langley said. “It has been such a special year for these young women. Everything they have accomplished – from daily improvements to milestone wins – is a testament to their character and daily commitment to individual growth for the betterment of the team. We are grateful to have the opportunity to continue learning together and fighting for each other.”
This will be UW’s 27th overall postseason appearance in 49 seasons. The last time Washington received a postseason berth was at the end of the 2016-17 season, when they went to the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Sweet Sixteen.
This will be Washington’s seventh WNIT appearance, the last time coming in the 2013-14 season when they made it to the Quarterfinals. The Huskies have made it to the WNIT Quarterfinals in three of their six appearances.
In Langley’s final year at Rice before coming to Washington, she led the Owls to a 2021 WNIT Championship.
Tickets to the Round 1 WNIT game in Alaska Airlines Arena can be purchased through the Husky Ticket Office HERE
About the WNIT
Tournament History
The Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament began in 1998 with 16 teams playing for a postseason crown. The event has undergone four expansions throughout which its mission has remained the same: To give deserving teams a quality opportunity to play exciting games for a postseason title. Following the inaugural year, the field doubled to 32 teams and remained that way until 2006 when a renewed commitment was made to schools.
The WNIT expanded to a 40-team field to give spots to teams that won their regular-season conference title but did not win their conference tournament and therefore were excluded from the NCAA Tournament. The WNIT furthered that commitment to conferences in 2007, when it expanded to 48 teams and awarded an automatic berth to each conference. The number of at-large berths remained at 17 until 2010, when the WNIT felt that the level of women’s basketball warranted an expansion to the 64-team field.
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