Summit League Tournament Wide Open This Year

Multiple men's and women's contenders come to Sioux Falls with dreams of dancing

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Summit League basketball tournaments in Sioux Falls are usually dominated by the top seeds, but this year looks different. On the men's side, North Dakota State is the #1 seed but faces challenges from teams like St. Thomas and South Dakota State. The women's tournament is also wide open, with North Dakota State and South Dakota State both having strong cases to win the title.

Why it matters

The Summit League tournaments are a major event in Sioux Falls, with the home-court advantage often giving South Dakota State an edge. However, this year the field appears more balanced, setting up the potential for some exciting upsets and Cinderella stories as teams vie for NCAA tournament berths.

The details

In the men's tournament, North Dakota State is the #1 seed after going 14-2 in conference play. But they've shown vulnerability, with two of their three losses coming by two points or less. Second-seeded St. Thomas, now eligible for the NCAA tournament after a transition from Division III, could be a sleeper. South Dakota State, the #7 seed, has upset potential as they've done it before in Sioux Falls. On the women's side, North Dakota State ended South Dakota State's 67-game Summit League winning streak and won the regular season title, but the Jackrabbits bounced back to beat the Bison late in the season, setting up an intriguing championship game matchup.

  • The Summit League tournaments take place March 7-10, 2026 in Sioux Falls.
  • North Dakota State earned the #1 seeds in both the men's and women's tournaments.

The players

North Dakota State

The #1 seed in both the men's and women's Summit League tournaments, the Bison are the favorites but have shown vulnerability this season.

South Dakota State

The perennial power in the Summit League, the Jackrabbits women's team has won the tournament three straight years but faces a tough challenge from North Dakota State this season.

St. Thomas

The Tommies men's team is making its first appearance in the Summit League tournament after transitioning from Division III, and could be a Cinderella story as an NCAA tournament-eligible team.

South Dakota

The Coyotes women's team is a sleeper, having beaten South Dakota State late in the regular season and earning the #3 seed.

Oral Roberts

The Golden Eagles men's team has struggled this season but pulled off an upset of South Dakota, showing they could be a dangerous lower seed.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Summit League tournament champions will receive automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments.

The takeaway

This year's Summit League tournaments in Sioux Falls are shaping up to be the most wide-open and unpredictable in recent memory, with multiple contenders on both the men's and women's sides capable of pulling off upsets and earning NCAA tournament berths.