A Milestone Matchup
Duke University’s men’s basketball program will open the 2026 Acrisure Series against Washington State in Palm Desert, California, on November 21, 2026. The game will be held at Acrisure Arena, a 11,000‑seat facility that has already hosted Los Angeles Lakers preseason contests and the inaugural Acrisure college basketball tournament.
Tickets for the Duke versus Washington State contest go on sale June 24, 2024, giving fans a limited window to secure seats for what the university describes as the most decorated team ever to appear in the series.
West Coast Swing
After the Palm Desert showdown, Duke will continue its western swing with a series of games in Las Vegas as part of a broader tournament that runs from November 21 to November 26, 2026. The schedule calls for all 28 participating teams to play two games apiece during the six‑day stretch.
Washington State enters the event as part of the newly configured nine‑team Pac‑12, a conference that has reshaped its identity ahead of the upcoming season. The Cougars finished last year with a 12‑20 record, but the program hopes the Acrisure Series will provide a springboard for improvement.
Acrisure Arena, built in 2022, has quickly become a hub for basketball action. In addition to its upcoming college showcase, the venue will serve as the home court for the G‑League Coachella Valley Lakers beginning this fall, further cementing its role in the regional sports ecosystem.
The tournament’s organizing partner, Total Sports Consulting, has highlighted the event’s ambition to blend elite competition with community engagement, leveraging the arena’s modern amenities and strategic location in the desert.