Kansas Women's Basketball's Season Ends in WBIT Semifinals

Jayhawks miss NCAA tournament for second straight year, but next season looks promising with talented roster returning

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:10pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, representing the action and movement of a women's basketball game in an abstract, deconstructed manner.A fractured, cubist illustration captures the intensity and energy of a women's basketball game, reflecting the Jayhawks' season of promise and setbacks.Wichita Today

The Kansas women's basketball team's season came to an end with a loss in the semifinals of the WBIT (Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament) against BYU. Despite high expectations and a talented roster, the Jayhawks missed the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. However, with key players like S'Mya Nichols and Jaliya Davis returning, as well as the addition of 2026 McDonald's All-American Cydnee Bryant, next season appears promising for the program.

Why it matters

Kansas women's basketball has been building momentum in recent years, with an NCAA tournament appearance in 2022 and a WNIT run in 2023. Missing the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons is a setback, but the team's strong recruiting and returning talent suggest they have the potential to regain their place as a consistent NCAA tournament contender.

The details

The Jayhawks entered the season with high expectations, returning key players like S'Mya Nichols, Elle Evans, and Regan Williams, while also adding valuable transfer Lilly Meister and highly touted freshman Jaliya Davis. However, injuries hindered the team's ability to reach its full potential, with both Williams and Davis missing significant time. Despite the challenges, Kansas still had a chance to make a run in the Big 12 Conference tournament, but an early exit effectively ended their NCAA tournament hopes. The Jayhawks then fell short in the WBIT semifinals against BYU, ending their season.

  • The Jayhawks' season came to an end on March 30 in Wichita, Kansas.
  • Kansas missed the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.

The players

S'Mya Nichols

A key returning player for the Jayhawks, Nichols was named an honorable mention All-American and made the All-Big 12 first team.

Jaliya Davis

A highly touted freshman, Davis was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and also made the All-Big 12 first team.

Brandon Schneider

The head coach of the Kansas women's basketball team, who is looking to regain the program's momentum after missing the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons.

Cydnee Bryant

A 2026 McDonald's All-American who has committed to play for Kansas, adding to the team's promising future.

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What they’re saying

“I would first want to really thank our fan base and the Jayhawks for creating an exceptional environment, even though it's about a two-hour and 15-minute drive from our campus. So, really appreciate them. Also want to thank everybody involved in the community that helped put on this event. It was really extremely well done and first class, and we were grateful for the opportunity to compete.”

— Brandon Schneider, Head Coach

What’s next

Next season will be an important one for Schneider and the Jayhawks, as they look to regain their momentum and secure an NCAA tournament berth after missing out the past two years.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointment of missing the NCAA tournament, Kansas women's basketball has a talented roster returning and a promising recruit joining the team. If the Jayhawks can stay healthy and build on their recent success, they have the potential to make a deeper run in the NCAA tournament next season.