The University of Hawai‘i women's basketball team drew UNLV during Sunday's Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament selection show on Sunday.
Tipoff time for Thursday's first-round contest is set to be announced at a later date.
The Rainbow Wahine of the Big West (22-9) will take on the Rebels of the Mountain West (25-7). Both teams won their respective conference regular season titles before falling in their conference tournaments, falling short of an NCAA Tournament bid.
Hawai‘i is competing in the WBIT for the second straight year. The WBIT debuted in 2024 as the second most prominent postseason tournament in women's basketball behind the NCAA Tournament.
"We still have an opportunity to continue to play," Hawai‘i head coach Laura Beeman said on Sunday. "This team has done some really special things this year."
After winning the Big West regular season title in 2024, the Rainbow Wahine fell in the conference tournament semifinals to UC Davis. The 'Bows were then sent to face Cal in the WBIT season opener, losing 65-60.
Beeman has guided the Rainbow Wahine to nine postseason appearances in her 13 seasons as the helm but has yet to win a postseason game. Come Thursday, the 'Bows will have an opportunity to earn that elusive victory.
"We're going to have a conversation about what it takes at this stage to overcome the disappointment [of not making the NCAA Tournament], but to also have an opportunity to end your season on a win," Beeman said. "End it on a note that sits a little bit better than what happened in the conference tournament."
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
