National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball National Tournament (NIWBT)
APRIL 1-4: MCKALE CENTER
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
M: No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 6 SW Minnesota State, 8:30 a.m. (Third Place)
W: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Texas Arlington, 11 a.m.
M: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Auburn, 1:30 p.m.
The championship games of the 2026 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball National Tournament (NIWBT) are all set for Saturday at the McKale Center at ALKEME Arena located on the University of Arizona campus.
On the women’s side, No. 1 Alabama will take on No. 2 Texas-Arlington at 11 a.m. and No. 1 Alabama will play No. 2 Auburn for the men’s national championship at 1:30 p.m.
The Alabama men have four national championships (2013, 2018, 2019, 2023) and Auburn will be playing for the first title in program history. The Alabama women have eight national titles (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and Texas-Arlington has two (2016, 2018).
For the men, Alabama and Auburn are 3-3 against each other this season with Auburn beating Alabama 68-64 in the last outing on March 6. The Alabama women have a 5-2 edge on Texas-Arlington with UTA winning the last match 56-54 on March 15.
The Tournament MVP awards will be handed out after the championships but here are the season awards handed out prior to the tournament:
MEN AWARDS
Preston Howell, Alabama (Second Team All-American)
Jake Eastwood, Auburn (Second Team All-American)
Drew Beutel, Auburn (All-Rookie Team)
Davis Taylor, Auburn (All-Rookie Team)
WOMEN AWARDS
Ixhelt Gonzalez, Alabama (Player of the Year)
Ixhelt Gonzalez, Alabama (First Team All-American)
Abby Bauleke, Alabama (First Team All-American)
Loeiza Vari Le Roux, Alabama (Second Team All-American)
Joy Haizelden, Alabama (Second Team All-American)
Bailey Moody, Alabama (Second Team All-American)
Mary McLendon, Alabama (Second Team All-American)
Isabel Martin, Alabama (All-Rookie Team)
Jian Jackson, Alabama (All-Rookie Team)
Brittany Yeomans, UTA (Sportsmanship Award)
Harmonee Ruetes, UTA (First Team All-American)
Zoe Voris, UTA (First Team All-American)
Quinn Meyer, UTA (First Team All-American)
Laura Davoli, UTA (All-Rookie Team)
