Norfolk State women win MEAC Championship, earn 3rd straight NCAA Tournament bid

Spartans defeat Howard 68-56 to clinch conference title and automatic NCAA Tournament berth

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Norfolk State women's basketball team defeated Howard University 68-56 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship game, earning the Spartans their third consecutive automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Kierra Wheeler led Norfolk State with 19 points, while Diamond Johnson scored 7 crucial points in the decisive third quarter to help the Spartans pull away.

Why it matters

Norfolk State's victory continues the program's recent dominance in the MEAC, as they have now won the conference tournament title three years in a row. This automatic NCAA Tournament bid is a significant accomplishment for the Spartans, who will look to make noise in the Big Dance after falling in the first round the past two seasons.

The details

In a rematch of last year's MEAC Championship game, Norfolk State once again emerged victorious over Howard. The Spartans led by just 3 points at halftime, but a strong third quarter performance, including 7 points from junior guard Diamond Johnson, allowed them to pull away for the 68-56 win. Senior forward Kierra Wheeler paced Norfolk State with a game-high 19 points.

  • The MEAC Championship game was played on March 11, 2026.
  • This is Norfolk State's third consecutive MEAC title and NCAA Tournament berth.

The players

Kierra Wheeler

A senior forward for Norfolk State who scored a game-high 19 points in the MEAC Championship victory.

Diamond Johnson

A junior guard for Norfolk State who scored 7 crucial points in the third quarter to help the Spartans pull away.

Norfolk State Spartans

The women's basketball team from Norfolk State University, who have now won the MEAC Championship and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament three years in a row.

Howard Bison

The women's basketball team from Howard University, who were the No. 2 seed in the MEAC Tournament but fell to Norfolk State in the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“We've worked so hard to get to this point, and I'm so proud of my team for stepping up when it mattered most. This is a special moment for our program.”

— Kierra Wheeler, Norfolk State Senior Forward (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

What’s next

Norfolk State will await their seeding and first-round opponent when the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

Norfolk State's third straight MEAC title and NCAA Tournament berth is a testament to the program's consistency and competitiveness in the conference. The Spartans will look to make some noise in the Big Dance and prove they can compete with the nation's elite women's basketball teams.