The Big West women’s basketball tournament begins Wednesday to see which team will top the conference and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In June 2023, The Big West Board of Directors approved an eight-team tournament despite having 11 teams in the conference. This tournament will send the top two seeds to the semifinals.
This season’s top seed, Hawaii, has won the past two conference championships. Last season, they defeated UC Santa Barbara. Two seasons ago, they overcame UC Irvine.
Prior to Hawaii’s domination, UC Davis won back-to-back conference championships, excluding the canceled 2020 tournament. UC Davis won in 2021 and 2019.
Part of the Big West Board of Directors decision included a 20-game conference slate. Hawaii excelled above the rest, finishing the regular season with just three conference losses to UC Davis, UC Riverside and Santa Barbara.
Lily Wahinekapu leads the Hawaii offense this season, posting 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She’s shooting 42.8 percent from the field, too.
Not since 2005 has a team in the Big West executed a three-peat. Back then, UC Santa Barbara won nine straight conference titles between 1997-05.
Here is everything you need to know about the women’s Big West tournament, including…
