Huskers to Battle Old Conference Rivals at Pentagon in 2026, 2027
Lincoln – The Nebraska women’s basketball program will return to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in both 2026 and 2027 to play a pair of former conference rivals.
The games were announced Tuesday, Feb. 24 by Sanford Sports, as part of The Invitational at the Pentagon, and will feature a game between the Huskers and Kansas on Nov. 14, 2026, along with a matchup between the Big Red and Kansas State on Nov. 6, 2026.
Minnesota will join Nebraska in representing the Big Ten Conference in contests against the Kansas schools from the Big 12 over the next two years as well.
“These four programs represent some of the best women’s basketball in the country,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of Sanford Sports. “All four schools have tremendous players, coaching staffs, and fanbases within driving distance of Sioux Falls. We’re grateful to be able to host them for the next two years at the Sanford Pentagon.”
The doubleheaders in 2026 and 2027 are the renewal of “The Invitational,” which the Sanford Pentagon has hosted twice previously. In a 2021 doubleheader, South Carolina defeated South Dakota, while Arizona topped Louisville. 2022 featured a single game where South Carolina returned to Sioux Falls and defeated South Dakota State. Those two events featured six future WNBA first-round draft picks and four nationally ranked teams.
For Nebraska, The Invitational will mark their third and fourth straight seasons playing a non-conference game at the Pentagon. The Cornhuskers defeated South Dakota 113-70 on Nov. 16, 2024, and topped North Dakota State 82-70 on Nov. 16, 2025.
"We are thrilled to return to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls again the next two seasons," Nebraska Coach Amy Williams said. "It is an incredible basketball venue, and Husker fans have proven that for both men’s and women’s basketball games the past two seasons. Playing quality opponents and old conference rivals like Kansas and Kansas State the next two years should give Husker fans some great reasons to be excited about following us to the Pentagon.”
The Nebraska men's basketball team defeated Oklahoma 105-99 at the Pentagon on Nov. 15, 2025, prior to the Husker women's victory over North Dakota State the following afternoon. The Big Red men and women also played back-to-back dates at the Pentagon in 2024.
The Invitational will be the second and third appearance at the Sanford Pentagon for Kansas. The Jayhawks previously lost to Iowa 71-58 on Nov. 20, 2024.
"We are excited to take our team back to the Sanford Pentagon the next two years,” said Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider. “It is a terrific venue, and we will have a chance to compete against two Big Ten programs. We always set out to schedule strong non-conference games to help prepare our team for Big 12 play, and there's no doubt that games against Nebraska and Minnesota will do that for us."
The Kansas State women’s basketball program will be making its first two appearances at the Sanford Pentagon during The Invitational.
“This is a great opportunity for us to play good competition in a really good basketball venue,” Kansas State Coach Jeff Mittie said.
The Sanford Pentagon hosted nine Division I basketball games in 2025 and celebrated its 100th NCAA D-I game overall on Nov. 10 as Iowa State defeated Mississippi State 96-80 in men’s basketball.