KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The 16 host locations for the 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship First & Second Round have been announced, marking the beginning of the 64-team tournament Friday and Saturday, March 13-14. For the sixth consecutive season, the Marian women's basketball team has been named as a host for the NAIA National Championship First and Second Round.

The full field of qualifiers will be revealed Thursday, March 5, at YouTube.com/PlayNAIA.

Each First & Second Round site will feature four teams in the first two rounds of a single elimination tournament. The winner of each four-team site will advance to Sioux City, Iowa, and the Tyson Events Center, for the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Final Site March 19-24.

All 48 games in the 2026 First & Second Round will air live on Urban Edge Network. For links to mobile and smart TV apps, visit NAIA.org/Watch.

The Knights have served as a host each season since the field expanded to 48 teams in the 2020-21 season, and continued hosting after the tournament grew to 64-teams the following year. Marian is one of three teams in the Crossroads League hosting this season, joining Spring Arbor and Saint Francis. Three men's team in the Crossroads League will host in 2026, with that being Indiana Wesleyan, Grace, and Huntington. 

A breakdown of Marian's opponents in the 2026 NAIA First and Second Round will be made later this week following the selection show. 

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