Times Union Center Awarded 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Regional
ALBANY, NY - The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee has awarded regional-round hosting duties for the 2021 and 2022 championships to seven cities.
Selected to host regionals in 2021 are Albany, New York (Times Union Center); the Austin, Texas, area (H-E-B Center in Cedar Park); Cincinnati (Cintas Center); and Spokane (Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena), with play taking place March 26-29. Albany, which also will serve as a regional host site in 2019, has hosted twice previously, in 2015 and 2018. Austin, which has hosted an NCAA championship-record 18 regional games at the Frank Erwin Center, will host in 2021 at the H-E-B Center as the University of Texas at Austin will be transitioning from the Erwin Center to a new on-campus facility. The Cintas Center in Cincinnati will be hosting regional play for the first time after hosting first- and second-round action in 2001, 2010 and 2011. An experienced host site, Spokane previously welcomed regional play in 2001, 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2018.
In 2022, Bridgeport, Connecticut (Webster Bank Arena); Greensboro, North Carolina (Greensboro Coliseum); Spokane; and Wichita, Kansas (Intrust Bank Arena) will serve as the four regional sites, March 25-28. Bridgeport, which previously hosted regional play in 2006, 2013, 2016 and 2017, is currently tied for third on the all-time regional games hosted list with 12 along with another 2022 regional host venue, the Greensboro Coliseum, which hosted regional games in 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2015. Intrust Bank Arena will be hosting regional championship action for the first time, previously hosting first- and second-round play in 2011.
"It is great to once again host the NCAA Women's Basketball Regional with Siena College. Being able to host this event shows our commitment to the city from our league," noted MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. "Albany is a premiere site for NCAA competition."
Vice President and Director of Athletics at Siena College John D'Argenio, said "Siena is excited to once again host with the MAAC, Times Union Center and Albany County to bring NCAA Women's Basketball to the Capital Region in 2021." Added D'Argenio, "The regional is a great opportunity for people from other parts of the country to get to know Albany and to find out how passionate this community is about college basketball."
Bob Belber, SMG Manager of the Times Union Center, said, "The Times Union Center is honored to be selected to host the 2021 Division I Women's Basketball. We have a long, rich history with the NCAA and we are excited to continue the tradition of hosting outstanding championships."
"Our Times Union Center is a first-class sports entertainment facility and today's announcement that it will host the 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional speaks volumes," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. "This decision builds on a proud legacy of Albany County welcoming NCAA basketball to our home court, including this year's Women's Basketball Regionals, the 2019 Division I Women's Basketball Regionals and the 2020 Division I Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds, which continues to make our thousands of local fans proud."
Here is a full list of upcoming regional sites for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship from 2019 to 2022:
| 2019 Dates |
Host(s) |
City, State |
Facility |
| March 29-April 1 |
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Siena |
Albany, New York |
Times Union Center |
| March 29-April 1 |
DePaul |
Chicago |
Wintrust Arena |
| March 29-April 1 |
Atlantic Coast Conference |
Greensboro, North Carolina |
Greensboro Coliseum |
| March 29-April 1 |
Oregon State |
Portland, Oregon |
Moda Center |
| 2020 Dates |
Host(s) |
City, State |
Facility |
| March 27-30 |
SMU and Dallas Sports Commission |
Dallas |
Moody Coliseum |
March 27-30 |
Purdue Fort Wayne |
Fort Wayne, Indiana |
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum |
March 27-30 |
Southern Conference |
Greenville, South Carolina |
Bon Secours Wellness Arena |
March 27-30 |
Oregon State |
Portland, Oregon |
Moda Center |
| 2021 Dates |
Host(s) |
City, State |
Facility |
March 26-29 |
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Siena |
Albany, New York |
Times Union Center |
March 26-29 |
Texas |
Austin (Cedar Park), Texas |
H-E-B Center |
March 26-29 |
Xavier and Cincinnati USA Sports Commission |
Cincinnati |
Cintas Center |
March 26-29 |
Idaho |
Spokane, Washington |
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
| 2022 Dates |
Host(s) |
City, State |
Facility |
March 25-28 |
UConn and Fairfield |
Bridgeport, Connecticut |
Webster Bank Arena |
March 25-28 |
Atlantic Coast Conference |
Greensboro, North Carolina |
Greensboro Coliseum |
March 25-28 |
Idaho |
Spokane, Washington |
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
| March 25-28 |
Wichita State |
Wichita, Kansas |
Intrust Bank Arena |
About the NCAA:
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for nearly half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. For more information on all of the NCAA championship sites awarded, log on to
www.ncaa.com/site-selections.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.