Big 12 Players Complain About New Slippery LED Glass Court

The conference's new interactive digital court is drawing criticism from players at the Big 12 Tournament.

Mar. 5, 2026 at 7:30pm

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The Big 12 Conference debuted a new state-of-the-art glass LED video court at this year's Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament in Kansas City, but multiple players have complained that the court is slick and slippery, creating a different and challenging playing experience compared to a traditional hardwood basketball court.

Why it matters

The new interactive digital court is a high-tech innovation aimed at enhancing the fan experience, but it seems to be creating issues for the players actually competing on the surface. This raises questions about whether the benefits of the advanced court outweigh the potential drawbacks for the athletes.

The details

After just one day of games on the new court, several Big 12 women's basketball players reported that the glass floor was slick and caused them to slide around more than usual. BYU's Brinley Cannon said 'It's really cool looking, but it definitely is a little bit of a different feel you have to get used to.' Arizona State's Marley Waashenitz also acknowledged the court played differently, with players needing to adjust to the lines and other elements of the digital surface.

  • The Big 12 women's basketball tournament began on March 5, 2026.
  • The Big 12 men's basketball tournament is scheduled to begin on March 10, 2026.

The players

Brinley Cannon

A player for BYU's women's basketball team.

Marley Waashenitz

A guard for Arizona State's women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I was sliding a little bit. It's really cool looking, but it definitely is a little bit of a different feel you have to get used to.”

— Brinley Cannon, BYU Women's Basketball Player (Front Office Sports)

“When we were dribbling, we were talking about how it was a little different. It took a little getting used to with some of the lines and stuff like that.”

— Marley Waashenitz, Arizona State Women's Basketball Player (Front Office Sports)

What’s next

The Big 12 men's basketball tournament, which will also use the new LED glass court, is scheduled to begin on March 10, 2026.

The takeaway

The Big 12's new interactive digital court is an innovative attempt to enhance the fan experience, but it seems to be creating challenges for the players who have to compete on the slick, unfamiliar surface. As the men's tournament approaches, the conference will need to carefully consider whether the benefits of the advanced court outweigh the potential drawbacks for the athletes.