Minnesota West Women’s Basketball Advances to Fifth-Straight NJCAA Division III National Tournament

The Minnesota West Lady Jays are once again headed to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament, their fifth straight appearance, after a huge weekend of playoff wins. The team rolled past Central Lakes in the semifinals and then took down Ridgewater in the Region 13A championship game.
The Lady Jays (23-5) are currently the No. 1 team in the nation and riding a 12‑game winning streak as they head into the national tournament. As the top seed, they’ll get a first‑round bye.
Head Coach Rosalie Hayenga has led the team through an outstanding season. Minnesota West went 23-5 overall and an undefeated 10-0 in MCAC South Division play, the first time the Lady Jays have gone perfect in the South Division in more than 25 years. After winning the division, they entered the North Plains A District Tournament as the No. 1 seed and defeated Ridgewater in the championship to punch their ticket to Nationals.

Join Us for a National Tournament Watch Party!

Help us cheer on the Lady Jays as they open their national tournament run.
📅 Thursday, March 12
⏰ Watch Party: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM 
📍 Student Commons – Worthington Campus
🏀 Game Time: 12:00 PM
We’ll be serving hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and a drink for $5, with all proceeds supporting the booster club.
Students, staff, community members, and fans of all ages are welcome. Come show your Lady Jays pride!

The 2026 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Tournament will take place March 11–14, 2026, at the Brownwood Coliseum in Brownwood, Texas. Full tournament details and results can be found here: https://njcaachampionship.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/div3/2025-26/national_championship/National_Championship_Results