FARMINGTON, Utah (March 17, 2026) – Three Big Sky Women's Basketball teams keep their season alive with postseason bids as Big Sky Champions, Idaho will compete in NCAAs, while Montana State and Northern Colorado have earned WNIT bids.
Big Sky Women's Basketball Weekly Notes (Postseason)
Idaho Wins First Tournament Title Since 2016
The Idaho Vandals won the 2026 Big Sky Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship on Wednesday afternoon at Idaho Central Arena, completing the season sweep of titles.
The Vandals defeated reigning tournament champions Montana State, who they split games with in the regular season, by a score of 60-57. This will be Idaho’s first trip back to the NCAA Tournament since 2015-16. The Vandals will take an 18-game win streak into the NCAA tournament; their last loss came against Montana State on January 10th.
Idaho also took down No. 9 seed Weber State and No. 5 seed Sacramento State en route to the tournament crown.
Idaho's Hope Hassmann was named Tournament MVP after an 11-point championship game performance.
2026 Women’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
Hope Hassmann, Idaho (MVP)
Debora Dos Santos, Idaho
Kyra Gardner, Idaho
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State
Addison Harris, Montana State
Natalie Picton, Sacramento State
Vandals Draw #4 Oklahoma in NCAAs
Big Sky Women’s Basketball regular season and tournament champions, Idaho, will head to the Sooner state to face #4 Oklahoma in the opening round of the NCAA tournament
Tipoff between #4 Oklahoma and #13 Idaho is set for Friday, March 20th at 8:00 p.m. MT. The winner advances to face either No. 5 Michigan State or No. 12 seed Colorado State in Norman.
This will be Idaho’s first trip back to the NCAA Tournament since 2015-16.
The Sooners enter the NCAA Tournament with a 24-7 record overall, while going 11-5 in the SEC this season. Oklahoma’s SEC Tournament run came to an end in the quarterfinals when they fell to sixth-seeded LSU.
Bears, Bobcats Earn WNIT Bids
Montana State and Northern Colorado will both continue their season in the WNIT.
Northern Colorado has a first-round matchup set against in-state rival Air Force on Thursday, March 19th.
Montana State has earned a first-round bye and will await the winner of San Francisco/Utah Valley in the second round.
Vandals Claim Trio of All-Conference Awards
Second-year head coach Arthur Moreira has already led the Vandals to the crown in just two years of work.
Coaches around the league have recognized his success by voting him coach of the year. He has led the Vandals to a top-three finish in the league in his first two seasons.
Kyra Gardner earned Newcomer of the Year honors after a successful first year in the league after transferring from Washington State. Debora Dos Santos was also named Top Reserve after her contributions off the bench.
The two Vandals are two of five Vandals averaging more than 10 ppg for the Black and Gold.
Big Sky Women’s Basketball 2025-26 Individual Award Winners
Most Valuable Player – Taylee Chirrick, Montana State
Newcomer of the Year – Kyra Gardner, Idaho*
Defensive Player of the Year – Taylee Chirrick, Montana State
Top Reserve – Debora dos Santos, Idaho
Freshman of the Year – Naomi White, Northern Arizona
Coach of the Year – Arthur Moreira, Idaho*
* Unanimous Selection
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball First Team All-Conference
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State*
Naomi White, Northern Arizona
Kyra Gardner, Idaho
Hope Hassmann, Idaho
Addison Harris, Montana State
Kacey Spink, Idaho State
Tasia Jordan, Idaho State
* Unanimous Member of the All-Big Sky First Team
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Second Team All-Conference
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Debora dos Santos, Idaho
Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington
Ella Gallatin, Eastern Washington
Avery Waddington, Montana
Tatum West, Northern Colorado
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention
Neenah George, Northern Colorado
Antoniette Emma-Nnopu, Weber State
Rubi Gray, Sacramento State
Kyleigh Brown, Portland State
Heather Baymon, Northern Colorado
2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball All-Defensive Team
Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (DPOY)
Kacey Spink, Idaho State
Ana Pinheiro, Idaho
Benthe Versteeg, Sacramento State
Tatum West, Northern Colorado
2025-26 Big Sky Women's Basketball Schedule (Postseason)
Thursday, March 19
Northern Colorado at Air Force // 6:30 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Friday, March 20
#13 Idaho at #4 Oklahoma // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated to stay connected.