FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 26, 2026) – The first installment of participants of the fifth annual Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off was unveiled today, bringing four premier programs to Southwest Florida. Ultimately, eight teams will participate in the 2026 event that will help shape the landscape of the 2026-27 college basketball season.

Georgia Tech, Kansas State, NC State and Villanova will compete in the event on Nov. 27-28 in Fort Myers at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. The remaining teams and complete event schedule will be announced at a later date.

Scripps Sports/ION returns as the event’s broadcast partner, with every game airing nationwide. ION is available in every U.S. television household via pay TV, connected TV, free ad-supported streaming platforms and over-the-air.

Event travel packages will become available later this Spring and will include tickets to all games of the event, hotel accommodations at a host hotel and parking at the venue. To register to receive updates on travel package sale dates and add event information, please visit www.womensfortmyerstipoff.com/travel. Ticket-only packages will be available in August.

NC State

• Head coach Wes Moore is one of the most accomplished active coaches in Division I, owning 877 career wins and is in his 13th season at NC State, where he has built a perennial national contender.
• The Wolfpack have made 30 NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Final Four trips and multiple Elite Eight runs. The most recent Final Four trip came in 2024, falling to eventual champion South Carolina.
• NC State has earned 10 NCAA Tournament berths under Moore and have reached Sweet 16 in each of the past seven tournaments.

Kansas State

• Jeff Mittie enters the season with 687 career wins and is in his 12th season at Kansas State.
• Kansas State has earned 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2025.
• Under Mittie, the Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament six times and made nine total postseason appearances.

Georgia Tech

• Karen Blair was hired in April 2025 and brings more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience to Atlanta, including extensive Power Five background.
• Georgia Tech has recorded 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, with Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2021.
• The Yellowjackets have reached the postseason multiple times this decade, including consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, the squad has been ranked as high as No. 17 in the country over the past two seasons.

Villanova

• Denise Dillon owns 465 career wins and is in her sixth season at Villanova, where she has elevated the program’s national profile.
• Villanova has made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2023.
• Wildcats posted a program-record 30 wins in 2022–23 and has produced 20-win seasons in each of the last five campaigns.

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