The Missouri Valley Conference announced that its women's basketball tournament will relocate to St. Louis beginning in 2027, aligning the event with the long‑standing men's championship that has been staged in the city since 1991.
A New Era for Arch Madness
The change is framed around the 'Arch Madness' brand, seeking to raise the profile of women's basketball and create a single, high‑profile championship weekend that captures the attention of fans and media alike.
The opening games are slated for March 3, with the men's tournament following on March 4, allowing the two competitions to back‑to‑back under the same roof.
A new tournament format will also take effect, granting byes to the top two seeds in each bracket, a move intended to reward stronger teams and add strategic depth to the competition.
Historical Context
Previously, the women's event rotated through venues in the Midwest, most recently in Moline, Illinois, Evansville, Indiana, and Coralville, Iowa, before settling on St. Louis.
Conference officials say the relocation reflects a broader ambition to showcase the league’s talent on a national stage and to provide a consistent, high‑energy environment for players, coaches, and spectators.