NICEVILLE, FLA. — NCAA Tournament second-round participants Alabama, Creighton and Syracuse headline an eight-team field in the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic Women’s Basketball Tournament, presented by Global Sports.
Alabama State, UAB, Clemson, Missouri and Wichita State also are competing in the tournament.
Championships will be determined in two brackets. Alabama, Alabama State, Clemson and UAB will play in the Bay Bracket. Creighton, Missouri, Syracuse and Wichita State comprise the Beach Bracket.
Games will be played Nov. 25 and 26 at Raider Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.
Syracuse and Creighton were ranked Nos. 20 and 23, respectively, in the final Associated Press women’s basketball poll.
“We have assembled a great field in this inaugural year of the event and we hope to make this one of the top preseason women’s college basketball events annually,” said tournament director Maury Hanks, who is also chief executive officer for Global Sports.
Syracuse, under the direction of ACC Coach of the Year Felisha Legette-Jack, posted a 24-8 record while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Creighton, which finished second in the Big East Conference, went 26-6 and also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Alabama had a 24-10 record.
“We are ecstatic about hosting this women’s basketball tournament at Northwest Florida State College,” said Ramsey Ross, director of athletics at Northwest Florida. “The entire northwest Florida region thrives on collegiate athletics and we welcome the opportunity that this women’s tournament presents.”
Global Sports has produced 55 multi-team college basketball tournaments since 2007, with three more coming during the 2024-25 season.
