2025 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship field and pairings announced

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The beautiful Baha Mar resort welcomes a competitive eight-team college women’s basketball field for the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, Friday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran sports promoter bdG Sports announced the field Friday.

The eight-team field will be divided into separate, four-team brackets that will crown two champions.

Arkansas State, Houston, Kent State and Tulsa will battle each other in the four-team Goombay Division that tips off play each day. Action starts Nov. 28 with Kent State taking on Tulsa at 11 a.m. ET followed by Houston against Arkansas State at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 11 a.m. on Nov. 30 with the championship game to follow at 1:30 p.m.

Clemson, Michigan State, Temple and Western Carolina compete in the four-team Junkanoo Division that continues basketball action into the afternoon and evening each day. Play starts Nov. 28 with Clemson facing Western Carolina at 4 p.m., followed by Michigan State vs. Temple at 6:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 4 p.m. on Nov. 30 with the championship game set to start at 6:30 p.m.

Streaming details will be announced later.

“We are excited and proud to showcase a top-tier brand of hoops in the Bahamas once again as we continue to grow and expand women’s basketball and our events,” college basketball analyst and event contributor Debbie Antonelli said. “I’m proud of the quality programs, coaches and student-athletes competing in this event. I’m sure their experience will be first class and help aid in their team development as conference play nears.”

Arkansas State earned the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25, winning its first Sun Belt Conference Tournament title. Head coach Destinee Rogers’ Red Wolves, who led the nation in 3-pointers per game (10.4) last season, finished second in the Sun Belt at 15-3 and 21-11 overall.

Head coach Shawn Poppie continues to rebuild the Clemson program after posting a 14-17 overall mark in his initial season with the Tigers. He won 48 games with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in two seasons at Chattanooga prior to last season.

The Matthew Mitchell era is in its first season at Houston. Mitchell formerly coached at Kentucky from 2007-2020, leading the Wildcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, three Elite Eight showings and 10, 20-plus win seasons.

A year removed from appearing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Todd Starkey’s Kent State Flashes registered their third consecutive 20-plus win campaign last season with a 21-12 overall mark and fourth-place finish in the Mid-American Conference at 12-6.

Michigan State has registered back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances since head coach Robyn Fralick took over the head coaching position in East Lansing prior to the 2023-24 campaign. Last season saw the Spartans post a 22-10 overall mark while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Temple looks for its third consecutive 20-win season under head coach Diane Richardson in 2025-26. The Owls earned a 20-11 overall record and 13-5 league mark and fourth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference last season.

Tulsa made its third postseason appearance in four seasons under head coach Angie Nelp, advancing to the WNIT a year ago. The Hurricane registered a 17-15 overall mark and 11-7 showing in the American Athletic Conference in 2024-25.

The women’s basketball program at Western Carolina continues to take shape under second-year head coach Jonathan Tsipis. The veteran mentor formerly led programs at George Washington and Wisconsin and was a top assistant under Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame.

Pairings announced for 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – McNeese has joined a challenging women’s basketball field set to compete in the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship, Nov. 24 and 26 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran sports promoter bdG Sports announced the complete schedule with start times Friday.

McNeese joins Alabama, Belmont, Harvard, Minnesota, Ohio State, South Florida and West Virginia in the event. Seven of the eight teams advanced to postseason play last season.

The eight-team field will be divided into separate, four-team brackets that will crown two champions.

The Goombay Division tips off the event on Monday, Nov. 24 with Ohio State playing Belmont at 11 a.m. ET followed by West Virginia facing McNeese at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 11 a.m., with the championship game to follow at 1:30 p.m.

The Junkanoo Division gets underway on Monday, Nov. 24 with Minnesota taking on South Florida at 4 p.m. followed by Alabama battling Harvard at 6:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be played on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at either 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. The specific order of those games will be determined following conclusion of first-round play.

Streaming information will be announced later.

Alabama (2022), Ohio State (2023) and USF (2021) are making return trips to Baha Mar after previously competing in the Pink Flamingo Championship when it featured a non-bracketed format.

Eventual national champion UConn and regional finalist LSU each won its separate four-team divisions of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship last season.

Arkansas-Texas Tech to battle in Revocruit Rematch on Dec. 13 at American Airlines Center

DALLAS – A Texas-sized showdown comes to Dallas when Arkansas battles Texas Tech on Saturday, Dec. 13 at American Airlines Center. The two teams played an epic Sweet 16 game last season which saw the Red Raiders stage a furious comeback before winning 85-83 in overtime. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports announced the event today which is dubbed the “Revocruit Rematch.”

Tip time is slated for 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Networks.

Texas Tech is expected to be a top-10 team entering the new season coming off last season’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight finish. The Red Raiders return JT Toppin who was named the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year along with Christian Anderson after he earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors last season. Tech has bolstered its roster through the transfer portal with the additions of Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), LeJuan Watts (Washington State), Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro), Josiah Moseley (Villanova) and Luke Bamgboye (VCU) along with freshman Nolan Groves (Long Lake, Minnesota).

“We’re looking forward to returning to downtown Dallas and matching up against Arkansas,” Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland said. “This is a historic series that dates back to the 1940s and always proves to be a great game. I’m excited to play in front of our fanbase at American Airlines Center and to renew the rivalry.”

Excitement is high in Fayetteville once again as Hall of Fame coach John Calipari reloads for his second season with the Hogs. Arkansas welcomes the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class with two recruits in the top-11 of the ESPN 100 in Darius Acuff (No. 7) and Meleek Thomas (No. 11). The Razorbacks return four of their top contributors from last year’s NCAA team in D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond III as well as transfers Malique Ewin (Florida State) and Nick Pringle (South Carolina).

“We are excited to return to Dallas,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said. “Our experience last year in the American Airlines Center was first class and our fans and alums in the Metroplex helped make it great too. Dallas has traditionally been good to the Razorbacks, and we expect nothing different this year. The Arkansas-Texas Tech rivalry means a lot to both fan bases and, if recent history holds true, this game should be a great match-up. We like our team and have great respect for Coach McCasland. This game will help prepare both teams for another NCAA Tournament run.”

Tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster. For the latest information, fans can visit www.revocruitrematch.com or follow @bdglobalsports on social media.

Texas Tech owns a slight 41-40 advantage in the all-time series with Arkansas. The last four meetings between the two programs have either gone into overtime or been decided by three points or less in regulation.

Baylor to battle Indiana in exhibition contest on Oct. 26 in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS – With new rules permitting NCAA Division I schools to compete against each other in exhibition games, the Indiana men’s basketball team has scheduled an exhibition game against powerhouse-Big 12 opponent Baylor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, Oct. 26. The Indy Showdown will be managed by veteran event promoter bdG Sports, which made the announcement Friday.

Previously, NCAA rules only permitted Division I institutions to meet in an exhibition if the game was played for charity. But the rules were changed this year providing the schools this opportunity as long as no class time was missed.

“Adding Baylor to our exhibition schedule was an important piece to our non-conference slate,” Indiana head men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries said. “Baylor is always a talented, well-coached team that will help prepare us for our season. We are excited to showcase this game in front of Hoosier Nation in Indianapolis.”

For IU, this will be the first of two games played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. The Hoosiers will play Louisville there in a nationally televised CBS game on Saturday, Dec. 6.

DeVries, who tips off his first season as the head coach at IU, will have a top-10 portal class, per 247 Sports, led by Tucker DeVries (West Virginia), Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston State) and forward Reed Bailey (Davidson).

Circle City holds special significance in the history of the Baylor men’s basketball program as the Bears won the 2021 national championship there during the pandemic-impacted season. Baylor ranks as one of only five schools to be listed inside the top 10 in each of the last six seasons. Head coach Scott Drew led the Bears to their program-best sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago and has retooled his roster for the coming season with a Top-25 class from the portal according to 247 Sports. Michael Rataj (Oregon State), Obi Agbim (Oklahoma State), Dan Skillings (Cincinnati) and JJ White (Omaha) headline the list of portal newcomers.

“We are excited about returning to Indianapolis in October, a city that holds fond memories for the Baylor Family,” Drew said. “Playing against an opponent like Indiana in its home state is a great chance for our team to experience what it will be like playing on the road in the Big 12 Conference. We are grateful to bdG Sports for providing this unique opportunity to compete in an NBA arena against one of the nation’s most storied programs.”

Game time and television information for the exhibition will be announced later.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. ET at Ticketmaster.com.

The two teams met once before, in a regular-season game on Dec. 13, 1980, which IU won, 83-47.

Records and statistics accumulated in the exhibition matchup will not count toward regular-season totals.

Longtime foes Louisville and Cincinnati to meet in the Hoops Classic on Nov. 21

CINCINNATI – Longtime men’s basketball foes Louisville and Cincinnati will clash in the Hoops Classic presented in partnership with CareSource, a nonprofit managed care organization. This two-year, neutral-site series kicks off with a matchup on Friday, Nov. 21, at Heritage Bank Center in downtown Cincinnati.  Both schools, along with veteran event promoter, bdG Sports, announced the series on Wednesday. The second game will take place at Freedom Hall in Louisville during the 2026-27 campaign, marking the Cardinals’ first return to the venue since they moved to the KFC Yum! Center.

Start time and television information for the 2025-26 meeting will be announced later.

The atmosphere inside Heritage Bank Center will be electric with the two fan bases well represented within the neutral site arena. Tickets go on sale to the public starting Thursday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. ET, at HeritageBankCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com or through the Ticketmaster app.

Louisville and Cincinnati have met on the hardwood 100 times in series history with the Cardinals owning a 56-44 advantage. The teams have split the last 10 meetings, with UC earning an 81-62 victory in the last matchup at the 2022 Maui Invitational.

Dating back to 1921, the rivalry is the longest in program history for Louisville and second-longest for Cincinnati, behind only a 132-game series with Miami (Ohio). Through the years, the schools were league rivals during stints in the Missouri Valley Conference, Metro Conference, Conference USA, Big East Conference and the American Athletic Conference.

“Adding a neutral-site game against Cincinnati was just another great piece in our scheduling puzzle,” said Louisville head coach and Cincinnati native Pat Kelsey. “There is great history between our two programs as we were rivals for many years. I sense the fan bases on both sides are excited. I grew up going to the Riverfront Coliseum which is now Heritage Bank Center. In fact, it was the first place that I saw Coach Crum’s Louisville Cardinals play live – I’m excited to coach the 2025-26 edition of the Cards in the same venue.”

Louisville should enter the 2025-26 campaign ranked among the nation’s Top 15 teams, according to many preseason listings. Newcomers for Kelsey’s second squad include portal additions Isaac McKneely (Virginia), Ryan Conwell (Xavier) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) along with highly touted freshmen Mikel Brown and Sananda Fru. The Cardinals continue to build momentum after a rebirth a year ago that saw the program advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Louisville posted a 27-8 overall mark while tying for second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 18-2.

“We’re excited to renew our historic rivalry with Louisville at Heritage Bank Center,” UC head coach Wes Miller said. “It’s a great early season test against a tough opponent, and I know our fans will create an incredible environment. We’ve put together a challenging non-conference schedule to help us grow as a team, and this is another opportunity to compete at a high level and prepare us for Big 12 play.”

Miller gathered a Top 20 class through the portal this offseason for Cincinnati, including Moustapha Thiam (UCF), Jalen Celestine (Baylor), Kerr Kriisa (Kentucky), Sencire Harris (West Virginia) and standout incoming freshmen Shon Abaev and Keyshuan Tillery. The Bearcats have sights set on their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, after back-to-back NIT appearances and a showing in the College Basketball Crown over the past three seasons.

Cincinnati has played a game at Heritage Bank Center each of the past two seasons, taking on in-state rival Dayton in the “Hoops Classic.” The Flyers won the 2023 meeting, 82-66, before the Bearcats earned a 66-59 victory in a matchup of Top 25 teams last season.

CareSource is proud to sponsor The Hoops Classic, reflecting the organization’s commitment to community engagement and healthy lifestyles through sports. As part of their support for the game, CareSource will host a donation drive benefiting a local nonprofit organization. Fans will be encouraged to bring items to the game for a chance to win prizes. Additional details will be announced soon. This initiative reflects CareSource’s ongoing commitment to the communities it serves. Each year, CareSource and its employees support over 470 community-based organizations focused on crucial areas such as food security, access to healthcare, maternal and infant health, housing and mental health.

Kentucky Basketball announces BBN United Tipoff Classic Presented by Kentucky Tourism

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball will host Nicholls State University, Valparaiso and Eastern Illinois this coming November as part of the BBN United Tipoff Classic presented by Kentucky Tourism, the program announced on Monday.

The three game multi-team event completes the Wildcats’ regular-season schedule for 2025-26. Kentucky will host Nicholls on Nov. 4 in the season opener before facing Valparaiso on Nov. 7 and Eastern Illinois on Nov. 14. Game times and television assignments will be announced at a later date.

Tennessee-Illinois set to meet in Music City on Dec. 6 at Bridgestone Arena

NASHVILLE – College basketball madness takes over the Music City when Tennessee battles Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports announced the game today. Tip-off time will be announced at a later date and the game will be broadcast on ESPN networks.

Tennessee enters the 2025-26 season with high expectations following Elite Eight finishes in each of the past two NCAA Tournaments. Rick Barnes’ squad will be bolstered by the addition of top-five recruit Nate Ament (6-9 forward from Manassas, Va.) and Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.7 points per game last season). Barnes has transformed the Vols into one of the SEC’s elite programs with five straight top-4 finishes in the league including a regular season title in 2024 and an SEC Tournament crown in 2022.

“Our program is really looking forward to this matchup with Illinois,” Barnes said. “We have a great deal of respect for Brad Underwood and the Illini, and we know playing them will help prepare us for SEC action. The opportunity to compete in Nashville, a city filled with diehard Tennessee fans, is always special and we can’t wait to see Vol Nation pack Bridgestone Arena.”

Coach Brad Underwood has established Illinois as one of the best programs in the nation, year-in, year-out. The Fighting Illini have won two Big Ten Tournament titles since 2021 with a regular season crown in 2022. Illinois will have a heavy international feel next season with the additions of transfers Andrej Stojakovic (California) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas) along with newcomer David Mirkovic (Montenegro). The Illini return three key starters as well in Ivisic’s brother, Tomislav Ivisic, Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous.

“Coming off an extremely competitive home-and-home series with Tennessee, we are excited to continue that partnership and meet in Nashville on Dec. 6, along with a game in Chicago in 2027,” Underwood said. “Playing the SEC will prepare us well for the Big Ten race, and you know when you’re facing the Rick Barnes-led Vols that you are going up against as tough and talented a team as there is in college basketball. We’re excited to make our program’s first-ever visit to Bridgestone Arena and know the Illini FamILLy will travel to Nashville as well.”

The game in Nashville will mark only the sixth meeting between the two schools. Tennessee owns a 4-1 advantage in the series, including an 86-79 win in Knoxville in 2023 and a 66-64 victory in Champaign last season. Illinois claimed a 103-79 win in 1988.

The game is one of two being produced by bdG Sports in Nashville that weekend. The night before, Kentucky will battle Gonzaga at Bridgestone Arena as well.

For the Tennessee-Illinois game, tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster. For the latest information, fans can visit www.tennesseeillinois.com or follow @bdglobalsports on social media.

Nevada Men’s Basketball headed to Baha Mar Hoops Summer League

NASSAU, Bahamas – Fans of Nevada men’s basketball can partake in a memorable experience following the Wolf Pack this August when it plays two exhibition games against international competition as part of the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League at the stunning Baha Mar resort. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports made the announcement Tuesday.

The seven-day trip runs July 31-Aug. 6 and features two exhibition games at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center onsite at the resort. The Wolf Pack will play the University of Calgary on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 3 p.m. ET and the Bahamas on Monday, Aug. 4 at 1:30 p.m.

“We are allowed eight weeks of work during the summer and with nine new players and five new staff members this trip comes at the perfect time,” Nevada head coach Steve Alford said. “Per NCAA rules we get an extra 10 practices, which allows both staff and players to bond and work on the fundamentals of play needed to be successful with the upcoming season. With games slated in the Bahamas on Aug. 2 and 4, I’m excited to see our development over the next several weeks.

“This year’s group is more physical, more athletic, and we can really shoot the ball. With four returners and nine new guys, there’s a whole new identity forming within this team,” Alford continued. “The chemistry is building, and the energy in the gym has been different in a good way. We’re longer, deeper, and hungry. If we keep buying in, the potential is there for this team to make a serious run.”

NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour by an intercollegiate team once every four academic years. The Baha Mar Hoops Summer League is managed by bdG Sports, an event marketing firm which annually operates two dozen collegiate men’s and women’s basketball games at Baha Mar each November.

“Baha Mar is without question the hottest resort in the world with so many entertainment options onsite,” President and CEO of bdG Sports Brooks Downing said. “It will be a fantastic setting for Nevada basketball fans to watch the latest Wolf Pack squad up close.”

FAN PACKAGES AVAILABLE

The trip serves as a rare opportunity to catch the Wolf Pack in action at a premier destination location. Nevada fans interested in attending the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League can learn more about VIP packages and tickets at www.BahaMarHoops.com. Packages include accommodations at the Baha Mar resort, welcome dinner, game tickets, breakfast vouchers and other amenities.

MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

As part of Baha Mar Hoops, the resort welcomes 20 NCAA men’s and women’s teams for a three-tournament, regular-season event each November as well as holds a summer league that includes exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State, Rhode Island and Xavier for summer exhibition tours in recent years.

BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS

Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Murray State men’s basketball to take part in foreign exhibition tour at Baha Mar Hoops Summer League

NASSAU, Bahamas – Murray State men’s basketball fans can get an exclusive first look at Ryan Miller’s 2025-26 Racers squad when it plays three exhibition games against international competition as part of the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League this August at the stunning Baha Mar resort. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports made the announcement Wednesday.

The seven-day trip runs Aug. 1-7 and features three exhibition games, Aug. 4-6, at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center onsite at the resort. The contests will tip each day at 11 a.m. ET and include matchups against the University of Calgary and two teams from the Bahamas.

“The timing is perfect to take our team on a summer exhibition tour and we’re very much looking forward to it,” Miller said. “The workouts that we will have prior to the games and the team bonding a trip like this offers to our players will help us prepare for the 2025-26 season. This trip is about more than basketball and it will go a long way in our ability to bond as a team.”

Miller, who took the reins of the Murray State program in March after serving as the associate head coach at Creighton, has gained the reputation of a gifted recruiter and skilled developer of talent during his two-decades-plus coaching career. In all, Miller has coached in eight NCAA Tournaments, won five regular-season championships and one league tournament title combined during his coaching stays at Creighton, TCU, UNLV, Auburn, New Mexico and Pepperdine.

NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour by an intercollegiate team once every four academic years. The Baha Mar Hoops Summer League is managed by bdG Sports, a Lexington-based event marketing firm which annually operates two dozen collegiate men’s and women’s basketball games at Baha Mar each November.

“Baha Mar is without question the hottest resort in the world with so many entertainment options onsite,” President and CEO of bdG Sports Brooks Downing said. “It will be a fantastic setting for Racers’ basketball fans to celebrate the start to this new era.”

FAN PACKAGES ON SALE NOW

The trip serves as the first up-close opportunity to catch the Racers in action as the Miller coaching era begins. Murray State fans interested in attending the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League can learn more about VIP packages and tickets at www.BahaMarHoops.com. Packages include accommodations at the Baha Mar resort, welcome dinner, game tickets, breakfast vouchers and other amenities.

 MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

 ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

As part of Baha Mar Hoops, the resort welcomes 20 NCAA men’s and women’s teams for a three-tournament, regular-season event each November as well as holds a summer league that includes exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State, Rhode Island and Xavier for summer exhibition tours in recent years.

BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS

Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Seven of eight teams announced for 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – An amazing destination resort greets a standout collection of women’s basketball teams when Baha Mar plays host to the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship, Monday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 26 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran sports promoter bdG Sports announced seven teams scheduled to participate in the eight-team field Wednesday.

Confirmed teams set to compete include Alabama, Belmont, Harvard, Minnesota, Ohio State, South Florida and West Virginia. All seven of the squads announced Wednesday advanced to postseason play a year ago, including five that appeared in the NCAA Tournament.

Once the final team is added, the event will feature two separate, four-team divisions resulting in two champions being crowned. Matchups and game times will be announced later. All games will be streamed.

“We are excited and proud to showcase a top-tier brand of hoops in the Bahamas once again as we continue to grow and expand women’s basketball and our events,” college basketball analyst and event contributor Debbie Antonelli said. “I’m known for saying, ‘The Product is the Narrative’ because we create opportunities to compete and the players and coaches deliver. Teams are returning because they trust bdG Sports to deliver another first-class event in an incredible destination location, and rest assured, it will be entertaining given the quality of competition!”

Alabama (24-9 in 2024-25) made its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Kristy Curry a year ago. The Crimson Tide’s historic season included multiple program milestones, among them, a listing in the Associated Press poll in all but two weeks of the season (with its highest ranking of No. 18).

Belmont head coach Bart Brooks helped guide the Bruins (26-13) to a runner-up finish in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) en route to program’s 10th consecutive 20-plus win season in 2024-25. Enjoying its deepest national postseason run in school history last season, Belmont has won seven national postseason games over the last five years.

Under head coach Carrie Moore, Harvard (24-5) notched arguably its best season in program history in 2024-25, earning its most wins in school history, claiming its first Ivy League Tournament title and appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years.

Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit’s Minnesota (25-11) squad capped the 2024-25 campaign, winning the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

Ohio State (26-7) made its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25, hosting games as a top-16 seed for the third consecutive season. Kevin McGuff’s Buckeyes finished the season ranked No. 19 nationally and have won at least 25 games in each season since the pandemic.

USF (23-11) capped the 2024-25 season with its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Jose Fernandez, in his 25th season. The Bulls went 13-4 in conference play and secured their fourth league title by winning the 2025 American Athletic Conference Tournament, defeating Tulane, North Texas, and Rice on three consecutive days. The campaign marked Coach Fernandez’s 14th straight 19-win season and 12th 20-win season.

West Virginia (25-8) made its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. WVU advanced to the tournament’s second round for the second straight season a year ago and has posted back-to-back 25-win seasons under head coach Mark Kellogg. The Mountaineers ended the season ranked No. 21 in the nation.

Alabama (2022), Ohio State (2023) and USF (2021) are making return trips to Baha Mar after previously competing in the Pink Flamingo Championship when it featured a non-bracketed format.

Eventual national champion UConn and regional finalist LSU each won its separate four-team divisions of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship last season. 

TICKETS AND VIP PACKAGES ON SALE JULY 15

Tickets and VIP packets can be purchased at www.bahamarhoops.com beginning Tuesday, July 15.

Amenities of the VIP packages include a four-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, two courtside tickets to all games of the event, two tickets to the tournament’s VIP reception (Nov. 25) with dinner and open bar included, round-trip ground transportation from the airport and resort, two daily breakfast vouchers, welcome gifts and personal concierge service. (Airfare not included in the packages.)

MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

Baha Mar annually plays host to one of the largest regular-season events in the sport of college basketball. Each November around the Thanksgiving holiday, 20 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s teams visit the stunning resort to compete in various basketball tournaments. In total, 20 games will be played over an 11-day span.

Each August, the resort also holds the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, offering NCAA teams exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed men’s basketball teams from Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State, Rhode Island and Xavier for summer exhibition tours in recent years.

BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS

Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.