FHSU Athletics
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The eighth-ranked Fort Hays State women's basketball team is ranked second in the latest release of the 2025-26 NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, released Wednesday (Feb. 25) by the NCAA office.
After listing the top 10 teams in the region alphabetically last week, this is the first time this season the teams are officially ranked.
The Tigers are one of three MIAA programs listed in this week's rankings alongside No. 5 Central Missouri and No. 6 Washburn. The NSIC boasts four of the top 10 teams in the region, with the other three hailing from the GAC.
Fort Hays State has played five regionally ranked teams this season, including three in the Central and two in the West, going 5-2 in those contests.
The Tigers are 24-3 overall, however the team has an overall DII record of 23-3 after playing one NAIA opponent and an in-region record of 22-3 after playing one out of region DII team (Eastern New Mexico).
Fort Hays State has played in nine of the last 11 regional championship tournaments, serving as the top overall seed four times and playing in three regional finals.
Final selections for the field of eight teams will be announced on Sunday, March 8. The three conference tournament winners in the GAC, MIAA and NSIC will be joined by five at-large teams in the regional tournament, set for March 13-16 at the top overall seed. The regional champion will then advance to Pittsburgh, Pa. March 24-28 for the DII Elite Eight.
The Tigers will wrap up the regular season Thursday (Feb. 26) when they host Nebraska-Kearney beginning at 5:30 p.m.
2026 NCAA DII Central Region Rankings - February 25
Rank - Team - Overall DII Record - In-Region Record
1 - Minnesota State - 26-1 - 22-1
2 - Fort Hays State - 23-3 - 22-3
3 - Harding - 22-4 - 21-4
4 - Concordia-St. Paul - 21-6 - 21-6
5 - Central Missouri - 19-5 - 17-5
6 - Washburn - 19-7 - 18-6
7 - Arkansas Tech - 17-6 - 17-6
8 - Northwestern Oklahoma - 16-8 - 16-8
9 - Minnesota Duluth - 19-7 - 19-7