Queens University Headed to First NCAA Tournament

The Royals will face No. 2 Purdue in the Round of 64 after winning the ASUN Conference title.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:10am

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Queens University, a small private school in Charlotte, North Carolina, is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Royals, who compete in the ASUN Conference, earned an automatic bid by winning their conference tournament. As a No. 15 seed, they will face No. 2 Purdue in the Round of 64.

Why it matters

Queens University's NCAA Tournament appearance is a major milestone for the school, which was once a women-only institution before becoming co-ed in the late 1980s. The Royals' success shines a spotlight on the school and its basketball program, which is making its first-ever March Madness appearance.

The details

Queens University is located just three miles south of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. The private liberal arts school has an undergraduate enrollment of around 1,225 students. The Royals joined the ASUN Conference in 2022 and won the league's tournament title this season to clinch their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

  • Queens University was founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute.
  • The school became co-ed and admitted its first residential male students in 1988.
  • Queens University joined the NCAA Division I ASUN Conference in 2022.
  • The Royals won the ASUN Conference tournament in 2026 to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

The players

Queens University of Charlotte

A private liberal arts university located in Charlotte, North Carolina that was founded in 1857 and became co-ed in 1988.

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What’s next

Queens University will face No. 2 seed Purdue in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64 on March 21, 2026.

The takeaway

Queens University's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance is a testament to the growth and evolution of the school, which transitioned from a women-only institution to a co-ed university in the late 20th century. The Royals' success on the basketball court has brought national attention to the small Charlotte school.