Five MCAC basketball teams have qualified for the 2026 NJCAA National Tournaments. Three women's teams will compete in Brownwood, TX, and two men's teams will make their way to Herkimer, NY, to pursue a national championship from Wednesday, March 11, through Saturday, March 14.
NJCAA Women's Basketball National Tournament:
At the NJCAA Women's Basketball National Tournament, Minnesota West Community and Technical College was awarded the #1 seed after an outstanding regular season and a title win in the NJCAA North Plains District 13B Tournament. The Lady Jays are 23-5 overall and went 10-0 in the MCAC South Division, claiming the MCAC South title. This was the first season in over 25 years in which the Lady Jays finished the MCAC South Division regular season undefeated. Led by head coach Rosalie Hayenga, the 2025-26 MCAC South Division and Region 13A Coach of the Year, Minnesota West seeks a finish as they had in 2024 when they won the NJCAA National Championship. Competition for the Lady Jays will begin on Thursday, March 12, at 12:00 PM CT against the winner of the #8 vs. #9 matchup.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College earned the #2 seed at this year's national tournament after winning the Region 13B Championship title. The Golden Rams finished the regular season as the second-place team in the MCAC South Division. With a 22-5 overall record and an 8-2 MCAC South record, Anoka Ramsey's only division losses came at the hands of Minnesota West, but with a strong win over MCAC North Division foe, Northland Community and Technical College, in the regional title game, Anoka-Ramsey was the clear selection for the #2 seed at nationals. Anoka-Ramsey is led by head coach Samantha Doucette, the 2025-26 Region 13B Coach of the Year. The Golden Rams return to the national tournament after finishing third in 2025 and fifth in 2024. They get an opening round bye and will play the winner of the #7 vs. #10 matchup at 4:00 PM CT on Thursday, March 12.
Northland Community and Technical College was selected as the first at-large team to make the NJCAA National Tournament field of 12. The Pioneers experienced a heartbreaking loss to Anoka-Ramsey in the Region 13B Championship Game and had to rely on the NJCAA Women's Basketball Committee to name them as one of the four at-large teams. Northland deserved that opportunity after finishing their regular season and region tournament play with a 23-5 overall record and a 10-0 record in the MCAC North Division. The Pioneers also earned the MCAC North Division title. Northland, the 2025 NJCAA National Tournament 5th-place finisher, is led by 2025-26 MCAC North Division Coach of the Year Shannon Nelson. The Pioneers were named the #6 seed in the national tournament and will play the #11 seed, Dallas College-Richland, at 6:00 PM CT on Wednesday, March 11.
NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament:
With two very strong men's teams earning the right to compete at the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament, both from the MCAC South Division, the MCAC should be well represented on championship Saturday.
Riverland Community College earned the #2 seed in the tournament after winning the Region 13/North Plains District Championship, defeating Ridgewater College. The Blue Devils completed their incredible regular season and region tournament run with a 29-2 overall record and an 11-1 MCAC South Division record. The Blue Devils claimed the MCAC South title. Head coach Derek Hahn, the 2025-26 MCAC South and Region 13 Coach of the Year, leads his team back to the national tournament after a 5th-place finish in 2025. The Blue Devils will begin their pursuit for a national championship on Thursday, March 12, at 5:00 PM CT when they take on the winner of the #7 vs. #10 matchup.
Ridgewater College enters the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament as the #11 seed following an impressive 2025-26 regular-season campaign. The Warriors finished second in the MCAC South Division with a 9-3 division record. They entered the Region 13 Tournament as the only MCAC South team to defeat top-seeded Riverland in division play. A rematch took place in the Region 13 title game, and after a 40-minute battle, the Warriors fell and awaited the NJCAA Men's Basketball Committee's decision regarding at-large selections. Boasting a strong schedule with quality wins, Ridgewater was selected as one of the four at-larges. Led by head coach Nathan Thooft, Ridgewater will open its national tournament competition on Wednesday, March 11, at 5:00 PM CT against #6 Montgomery County Community College.
About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system, as well as select colleges in North Dakota and Wisconsin. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.