Oklahoma City – For the second consecutive season, Langston University claimed the 2026 Sooner Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball regular season championship and the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. The tournament will begin on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Abe Lemons Arena in Oklahoma City. This year’s tournament is being presented by Athletic Solutions.
 
The Lions needed to defeat Nelson in the regular season finale to collect the top seed in the upcoming tournament. Mid-America Christian will enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed, with Nelson earning the No. 3 seed, while College of the Ozarks will be the No. 4 seed.
 
Langston will open tournament play at noon on Thursday, February 26, taking on No. 8 seed Texas Wesleyan. The Lions completed the regular season with an overall record of 24-4 and a league mark of 18-4 and are currently ranked 20^th in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll. The Rams join the tournament with an overall record of 13-15 and a league mark of 9-13. The Langston and Texas Wesleyan split their regular-season meetings this season.
 
In the 2:00 p.m. game on Thursday, College of the Ozarks will meet up with No. 5 seed Science & Arts. The Bobcats finished the regular season with an overall mark of 19-9 and a conference record of 16-6. The Drovers join the field with an overall record of 19-9 and a league mark of 14-8. College of the Ozarks swept the regular-season meetings between the schools this season.
 
The Evangels will open the evening session at 5:30 p.m. as they will face off against the No. 7 seed Wayland Baptist. Mid-America Christian won the tiebreaker over Nelson for the No. 2 seed and will join the field with an overall record of 22-6 and a league mark of 17-5, and is currently receiving votes in the latest coach’s poll. The Flying Queens join the tournament with an overall mark of 12-15 and a league record of 11-11. Mid-America Christian swept the regular-season meetings between the schools this season.
 
The final opening round contest will take place at 7:30 p.m. as Nelson will take on No. 6 seed John Brown. The Lions wrapped up the regular season with an overall record of 21-5 and a conference mark of 17-5, while the Golden Eagles claimed the tiebreaker over Wayland Baptist with an overall mark of 13-15 and a league record of 11-11. Nelson won both of the regular-season contests this season.
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For more information about the tournament and the link to purchase tickets for the event, please go to the Tournament Homepage.