BYU and Utah were among the first four teams that missed the cut for the NCAA women’s basketball tournament this season.
As a result, the two in-state rivals are two of the four No. 1 seeds in this year’s Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, the sport’s equivalent of the NIT on the men’s side.
If things go well, both BYU and Utah could be playing for a WBIT championship on April Fool’s Day.
If that were to happen, it would result in a fourth matchup between the schools this season because they are on opposite ends of the 32-team WBIT bracket, which was revealed Sunday evening.
Before another potential rivalry game could even be possible, though, the Cougars and Utes start the postseason Thursday with first-round matchups.
Details on the WBIT - 32-team field, a tournament in its third year of existence
The WBIT, which is in its third year of existence, plays the first three rounds on campus sites, and this season, the semifinals and championship game will be at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas, on March 30 and April 1.
While it’s a small sample size, each of the first two WBIT winners — Illinois in 2024 and Minnesota in 2025 — earned spots in the NCAA Tournament the next season.
What’s at stake for Utah
Utah’s first-round matchup
- When: Thursday at Eastern Kentucky, 4:30 p.m. MDT
- Where: Baptist Health Arena (Richmond, Kentucky)
- Livestream: ESPN+
- Radio: 700 AM
This is the Utes’ fifth straight national postseason appearance, though it snaps a four-year streak of making the NCAA Tournament.
While Utah is a No. 1 seed, the Utes are one of three higher seeds unable to host the first round due to a facility conflict, according to the WBIT, along with Missouri and Wisconsin.
If the Utes win Thursday in Kentucky, the school plans to host second and third-round games, if they advance that far, a school official told the Deseret News.
The winner of Thursday’s game will face the winner of Navy and Harvard in the second round Sunday.
The tournament will give four seniors — Lani White, Maty Wilke, Samantha Crispe and Alyssa Blanck — one last chance to play together before their playing days at Utah are up.
White competed in the WBIT last year with Virginia Tech. She averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the Hokies’ two games in the tournament.
The postseason experience could also prove valuable for young players like freshmen LA Sneed, Avery Hjelmstad and Evelina Otto, as well as sophomores Brooke Walker and Grace Foster.
What’s at stake for BYU
BYU’s first-round matchup
- When: Thursday vs. Alabama A&M, 7 p.m. MDT
- Where: Marriott Center (Provo)
- Livestream: ESPN+
- Radio: BYU Radio
This is the program’s first postseason appearance since 2024, when BYU played in the inaugural WBIT. That year, the Cougars lost their first-round game at Santa Clara under then-coach Amber Whiting.
The winner will face the winner of Missouri and Seton Hall on Monday in the WBIT’s second round.
Though second-round games are being played Sunday, BYU coach Lee Cummard said the Cougars will be permitted to play Monday if they advance, KSL BYU beat writer Sean Walker reported, in line with the school’s no-Sunday play policy.
BYU made a strong push for the NCAA Tournament, winning five straight (including twice over Utah) before falling to No. 10 TCU in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals.
Instead, Arizona State, a team the Cougars beat twice, earned one of the final NCAA at-large invites. The Sun Devils had a better NET ranking than BYU, who was the first team out of the NCAA Tournament.
Playing in the WBIT could prove especially beneficial for BYU, though, as it provides further game experience for a youthful team led by sophomores Delaney Gibb and Brinley Cannon, as well as freshmen Olivia Hamlin and Sydney Benally.
It also provides three seniors — Laura Rohkohl, Hattie Ogden and Heather Hamson — one and possibly more games in front of the home crowd.