(Thursday, March 5; Sioux Center, Iowa) The Dordt Defender women's basketball team learned its assignment for the 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball First & Second Rounds presented by Ballogy.  The Defenders are the no. 1 seed in the 16-team Cramer quadrant and will host Simpson (California) at 5:30pm on Friday, March 13.  The second first-round game features Rocky Mountain (Montana) against Southern Oregon scheduled for a 7:30 tipoff.

Full Bracket (PDF)

The winners will play Saturday, March 14 at 3pm for the right to advance to the 16-team final site in Sioux City, Iowa. Play in Sioux City begins on Thursday, March 19 and runs through the title game on Tuesday, March 24.

Six Great Plains Athletic Conference teams qualified for the 64-team field announced Thursday night by the NAIA.

More details on the teams and matchups will be posted in coming days.