A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship to Remain in Virginia

The Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship has extended its partnership to host the event at Henrico Sports & Events Center in Henrico, Virginia, through 2026.

The announcement continues the partnership that began in 2024 and will continue into the next two years, including when the A-10 celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2025–2026.

The Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship was played at the Henrico Sports & Events Center for the first time in 2024, with over 16,000 people attending the five-day event. The extension through 2026 guarantees three years for the A-10 in the 3,500-seat venue, which opened in 2023.

“We are thrilled to continue hosting the A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship through 2026,” said Dennis Bickmeier, executive director of the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority. “Together with our partner, Richmond Region Tourism, we are committed to providing an exceptional experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans. We look forward to many more exciting tournaments in Henrico.”

Henrico offers a location in the middle of the conference’s geographic footprint, with Richmond and VCU both in the city of Richmond and George Mason and George Washington about 100 miles away. The 2024 Championship set attendance records, with the estimated economic impact for the region at $1.3 million in indirect spending.

“We’re very pleased to extend our partnership with the Henrico Sports & Events Center to provide a home for the Women’s Basketball Championship through 2026,” said Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “We had a wildly successful first year in 2024, with record crowds and thrilling finishes and we expect to continue that success for the next two years.”

The 2026 event will be the ninth time in 12 years the championship has been hosted in the Richmond region. From 2014–2018, the tournament was played at the Richmond Coliseum. In 2021, VCU hosted the tournament on campus at the Siegel Center.