No. 10-seed Indiana Wesleyan Women's Basketball is set to compete against No. 3-seed Dakota State in the Round of 16 at the 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship. This marks the 18th occasion the Wildcats have advanced to this stage, with the match scheduled for Thursday at 4:00 PM ET. The winner will face the victor of the matchup between No. 1-seed Freed-Hardeman and 5-seed Georgetown. Both teams have previously met, with Dakota State winning their last two encounters in recent tournaments.

By the Numbers
  • Indiana Wesleyan holds a record of 28-5 this season.
  • Dakota State ranks 9th in NAIA for Points Per Game at 83.1.
State of Play
  • Dakota State is in their 12th NAIA National Tournament appearance.
  • Both teams have faced off twice in the last four seasons, with Dakota State winning both previous matchups.
What's Next

The winner of this game will advance to the Quarterfinals, facing either Freed-Hardeman or Georgetown, each of which poses significant challenges.

Bottom Line

This matchup represents a critical opportunity for Indiana Wesleyan to break their losing streak against Dakota State and make a deeper run in the championship.