HONOLULU, Hawaii --- The Winona State Warriors are set to kick off the 2026-27 in Hawaii as a part of the Hoops in Hawaii Classic, taking place Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
 
The Warriors will open the tournament against Lubbock Christian at 12 a.m. CST/ 7 p.m. HST on Oct. 30. The matchup will mark the first time that the two programs have met in a contest. Following the match with LCU, The Warriors will either face Hawaii Pacific or Western Colorado.
 
ABOUT THE HOOPS IN HAWAII CLASSIC

• The Warriors are set to participate in the Hoops for Hawaii Classic for the first time in program history
• The tournament is a three-day tournament taking place Chaminade and St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii
• The Tip-Off Classic brings eight men's and eight women's NCAA Division II Teams, each competing in a traditional bracket format event
• The women's field features four NCAA Division II Tournament Teams from last season
• Winona State will either face Hawaii Pacific or Western Colorado on day two of the tournament
• Also participating in the tournament is St. Mary's (Texas), Chaminade, Colorado Mesa, and Alaska Anchorage

 
SCOUTING THE LADY CHAPS

• Lubbock Christian returns 10 players from a team that won 23 games last season and reached the NCAA Division II Tournament, including three starters
• Kennedy Chapple averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season to lead the Lady Chaps
• Meg Meekins averaged 12.6 points per game and led the team with 52 made 3-pointers last season
• LCU was picked to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference (LSC)

 
KEY STORYLINES

• Winona State will look to improve off of last season's 17-13 (13-9 NSIC) campaign
• The Warriors will look to get back to the NSIC Tournament this season, after advancing to the quarterfinals last season
• WSU meets Lubbock Christian for the first time in program history
• The Warriors were picked to finish ninth overall in the NSIC and sixth in the NSIC South Division
• Warrior senior Vivica Bretton was picked as the Winona State Player to Watch after averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game last season
• Winona State returns 11 players off of the 2025-26 roster, while welcoming three newcomers to the 2026-27 team
• The Warriors also return their third leading scorer Megan Schuman who averaged 10.8 points per game, and their fourth leading scorer Sadie Jarmolowicz, who averaged 10.2 points per game
• Ana Wurtz enters her fifth year at the helm of the Winona State Women's Basketball team

 
NSIC PRESEASON POLL

• Winona State was picked to finish ninth overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Poll
• The Warriors were also picked sixth overall in the NSIC South Division
• Last season, the Warriors finished sixth overall and fourth in the South Division (17-13, 13-9 NSIC)
• Minnesota State was picked first overall with 215 points, while Concordia St. Paul followed in second with 194 points.

 
BRETTON PRESEASON PLAYER TO WATCH

• Vivica Bretton was named the Winona State Player to Watch by the NSIC on Oct. 15
• Bretton is a senior from Rochester, Minn.
• She returns to the Warriors after averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game last season
• Bretton also averaged 32.9 points per game
• Head Coach Wurtz on Bretton, "Viv has approached every day since her first season with intention, competitiveness, and a relentless work ethic. She chases greatness in everything she does."

Stay connected with Winona State University Athletics all season long by following the Warriors on social media at @WinonaStateATH (X/Instagram), @winonastatewarriors (YouTube) and Winona State Warrior Athletics (Facebook). Catch full schedules, scores and stories at winonastatewarriors.com.