Northwest Mississippi women’s basketball earns 23rd seed for NJCAA Division I Tournament

The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team has secured the 23rd seed in the 24-team field for the 2026 NJCAA Division I National Tournament, set to be hosted by McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The Rangers will face the 10th seed Dodge City Community College of Kansas in the opening round. The winner will advance to play the seventh seed, College of Southern Idaho, which earned a first-round bye.

Head coach LaTaryl Williams, in his first trip to the national tournament as a head coach, expressed confidence despite the low seed. “Preparing for Dodge City, getting a scouting report, and watching film are our priorities,” Williams said. “Everyone is zero and zero right now, and we feel really confident in how we’ve been playing the last two months.”

Sophomore guard and Region 23 Tournament MVP Takera Bland said the team is motivated by their seeding. “It’s motivation knowing that we are that low,” she said. “We didn’t expect to be number 23, but it pushes us to keep going. We’re glad we made it, but we’re also aiming for another championship.”

Williams reflected on his past tournament experience, recalling a run to the Final Four in 1998 as a lower seed. “To be 23rd, I feel like it was a snub, but we’re excited about the opportunity,” he said. “In ’98, we beat the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds, so we know what’s possible.”

The tournament begins Tuesday, with first-round games scheduled through Wednesday. The Rangers will play on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. against the winner of the matchup between #9 State Fair (Missouri) and #24 Central Georgia Tech. The top eight seeds will enter the tournament in the knockout rounds beginning Thursday. The event will be streamed on ESPN+, with the championship game airing on ESPNU.

Fans can follow the Rangers’ journey online at nwccrangers.com or through the team’s social media channels.

Source: Original Article