MIAMI - Women's basketball (20-11) is set to host Stetson (20-11) in the first round of the 2026 Postseason WNIT on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. ET, set to be broadcasted on ESPN+.

FIU was named as the Automatic Qualifier from Conference USA after ending the season second in the conference and making it to the semifinals of the CUSA Basketball Tournament.

The second-seed is the highest seeding heading into the Conference USA tournament since the Panthers joined CUSA in the 2013-14 season. Additionally, it was the first time the Panthers made it to the semifinals of the CUSA Basketball Championships since 2014.

FIU standout Rhema Collins was awarded Conference USA Player of the Year as well as Newcomer of the Year, with fellow Panther Parris Atkins making First Team All-CUSA and CUSA All-Defense. 

This is the ninth time in program history and second time in three seasons that the Panthers have made the Women's National Invitation Tournament. 

The last time FIU was in the Postseason WNIT was in the 2023-24 season as the Panthers beat Stetson in the first round, before dropping their round two matchup at Troy.

FIU ALL-TIME IN POSTSEASON WNIT

FIU overall record in WNIT: 6-9

1991-92

Rd 1: at Hawaii – L, 73-83

Cons. 1: vs UAB – W, 95-74

Cons. 2: vs Wisc-Green Bay – L, 70-72 

1992-93

Rd 1: vs Butler – W, 79-75

Rd 2: vs SMU – L, 59-60

Third Place Game: vs Marquette – W, 93-87 

2000-01

Rd 1: vs UAB – L, 83-96

2002-03

Rd 1: at Florida State – L, 51-77 

2005-06

Rd 1: vs Cincinnati – W, 81-75 (OT)

Rd 2: at Miami – L, 83-95 

2011-12

Rd 1: vs Stetson – W, 75-47

Rd 2: at USF – L, 61-77 

2012-13

Rd 1: Florida – L, 68-75 

2023-24

Rd 1: Stetson – W, 60-47 

Rd 2: at Troy – L, 92-62 
 

2026 Full Tournament Field

Automatic Qualifiers*:

Abilene Christian (23-10) - WAC

Alcorn State (17-13) - SWAC

FIU (20-11) - Conference USA

Lamar (20-10) - Southland Conference

Mercyhurst (15-16) - NEC

Montana State (25-7) - Big Sky

Radford (22-12) - Big South

Maryland Eastern Shore (19-14) - MEAC

Youngstown State (24-9) - Horizon League

*-- Teams that were the 2-seed in their conference tournament that did not receive a bid into the NCAA Tournament or WBIT.

At-Large:

Air Force (16-18) - Mountain West

Arkansas State (24-9) - Sun Belt

Army (24-7) - Patriot League

Austin Peay (19-13) - ASUN

Binghamton (19-12) - America East

Bradley (20-12) - Missouri Valley

Cleveland State (24-9) - Horizon League

Drexel (21-10) - CAA

Florida Gulf Coast (16-15) - ASUN

George Washington (15-17) - Atlantic 10

Illinois State (20-13) - Missouri Valley

La Salle (18-13) - Atlantic 10

Lehigh (17-14) - Patriot League

Loyola Chicago (14-17) - Atlantic 10

Marshall (23-9) - Sun Belt

Merrimack (19-12) - MAAC

Middle Tennessee State (16-15) - Conference USA

Monmouth (20-11) - CAA

Morehead State (18-14) - OVC

NJIT (18-12) - America East

Norfolk State (18-14) - MEAC

Northern Colorado (22-10) - Big Sky

Ohio (18-13) - MAC

Pepperdine (19-12) - WCC

Portland (18-14) - WCC

Purdue Fort Wayne (20-13) - Horizon League

Sam Houston (18-12) - Conference USA

San Francisco (18-14) - WCC

South Alabama (16-18) - Sun Belt

South Dakota (23-9) - Summit League

Southern Indiana (21-10) - OVC

Southern Utah (19-12) - WAC

St. Bonaventure (16-15) - Atlantic 10

Stetson (20-11) - ASUN

UC Davis (23-10) - Big West

UMBC (16-14) - America East

Utah Valley (16-14) - WAC

UTRGV (20-13) - Southland

Wake Forest (14-17) - ACC

TICKETS

For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@fiuwbb), Twitter (@FIUWBB), and Facebook (@FIUWBasketball) for all the latest Women's Basketball news. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.