- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Vermillion Today
By the People, for the People
Coyotes Fall Short in WNIT Championship Bid
South Dakota's women's basketball team reaches Fab Four before losing to Illinois State
Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:19pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Coyotes' WNIT run highlighted the team's grit and determination, as they battled through a challenging tournament field before falling just short of the championship.Vermillion TodayThe University of South Dakota women's basketball team made a deep run in the 2026 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), advancing to the Fab Four before falling to Illinois State 67-60 in the semifinal round. The Coyotes, who won the WNIT title in 2016, were one game away from returning to the championship game.
Why it matters
The Coyotes' WNIT appearance and near-championship run showcases the continued growth and competitiveness of the women's basketball program at the University of South Dakota. Despite falling short of the title, the team's performance highlights their ability to compete at a high level and build on their past WNIT success.
The details
South Dakota earned a first-round bye in the WNIT before defeating Northern Colorado and Pepperdine to reach the Great 8, where they beat Montana State 65-56. In the Fab Four matchup, the Coyotes faced Illinois State at home in Vermillion. The Redbirds built a lead in the second half and held on for a 67-60 victory, ending South Dakota's tournament run one game shy of the championship.
- South Dakota defeated Northern Colorado 80-60 in the second round of the WNIT.
- The Coyotes beat Pepperdine 73-57 to advance to the Great 8.
- South Dakota defeated Montana State 65-56 to reach the Fab Four.
- The Coyotes hosted Illinois State in the Fab Four on April 1, 2026.
- Illinois State defeated South Dakota 67-60 to end the Coyotes' WNIT run.
The players
Carrie Eighmey
Head Coach of the University of South Dakota women's basketball team.
Elise Turrubated
Forward for the University of South Dakota women's basketball team.
What they’re saying
“What's interesting about the WNIT games is you're playing teams that are decently unfamiliar. In the Montana State game, they played such a unique style that I felt like in the first quarter, our team really took some time to figure out how to attack their defense.”
— Carrie Eighmey, Head Coach
“They had the ball one possession and it was just like blaring loud. I was like, you know, what if that was me bringing down the floor and there's all these fans screaming. I'd be a little discombobulated.”
— Elise Turrubated, Forward
What’s next
The Coyotes will look to build on their WNIT success and make a return to the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.
The takeaway
The University of South Dakota women's basketball team's deep run in the 2026 WNIT, including a trip to the Fab Four, demonstrates the program's continued growth and competitiveness at the national level, despite falling just short of the championship.
