The Atlantic 10 Conference announced a two‑year partnership with the American Conference, the Ivy League and the Missouri Valley Conference, creating a joint tournament‑style showcase for women’s basketball that will debut in the 2026‑27 season.
A New Era for Early‑Season Women’s Basketball
Opening weekend is set for November 6 and 8, 2026, with each participating school scheduled for two games at the Robins Center in Richmond, Virginia, and the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The tournament will bring together the leading programs from each league, many of which have secured multiple NCAA Tournament bids and finished among the top‑10 in the NET rankings over the past five years.
A‑10 Commissioner Dan Leibovitz described the collaboration as a chance to “elevate the national profile of Atlantic 10 women’s basketball” and to give teams a marquee platform for building strong résumés.
The 2026 field features a concentration of Top‑75 programs by NET ranking, promising competitive matchups that will capture the attention of fans, analysts and media outlets alike.
Boosting Visibility and Opportunity
Staging the event at the Robins Center and the Curb Event Center puts the games on a national stage while showcasing Richmond and Nashville as capable hosts of high‑profile college basketball experiences.