The West Virginia University women’s basketball team, led by head coach Mark Kellogg, will take center stage at the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship, set for Nov. 24 and Nov. 26 at the stunning Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Sports promoter BDG Sports announced Wednesday that the Mountaineers will join an elite eight-team field, with seven teams confirmed so far. Read more:WVU Women’s Basketball to Compete in Elite 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship.
Those seven teams are West Virginia, Alabama, Belmont, Harvard, Minnesota, Ohio State, and South Florida. All seven teams competed in postseason play last year, with five earning NCAA Tournament berths. One final team will complete the lineup, with matchups and game times to be announced later. All games will be available for streaming.
Tournament Format and History
The 2025 championship will feature two four-team divisions, each crowning its own champion. This format follows last year’s event, where national champion UConn and regional finalist LSU claimed victories in their respective divisions. Notably, West Virginia (2024) Alabama (2022), Ohio State (2023), and South Florida (2021) are returning to the Pink Flamingo Championship, which previously operated in a non-bracketed format.
Related: WVU Football Bolsters 2026 Class with Commitments from Rickey Giles and Malachi Thompson.
West Virginia’s Momentum
West Virginia (25-8 in 2024-25) enters the tournament riding a wave of momentum, having secured their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last season. The Mountaineers advanced to the second round for the second straight year and finished the season ranked No. 21 nationally, marking back-to-back 25-win seasons under Kellogg’s leadership
Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship
Alabama
Alabama (24-9), coached by Kristy Curry, celebrated its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024-25. The Crimson Tide achieved a historic season, appearing in the Associated Press poll for all but two weeks, peaking at No. 18.
Belmont
Belmont (26-13), under head coach Bart Brooks, brings a strong resume with a runner-up finish in the 2024-25 Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). The Bruins, who notched their 10th consecutive 20-win season, have won seven national postseason games over the past five years, including their deepest postseason run in program history last season.
Related: No Shortage of Options: WVU’s RB Room Ready for Rich Rod’s Return
Harvard
Harvard (24-5), led by head coach Carrie Moore, is coming off a landmark 2024-25 season. The Crimson secured their most wins in program history, claimed their first Ivy League Tournament title, and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years.
Minnesota
Minnesota (25-11), coached by Dawn Plitzuweit, capped their 2024-25 season by winning the WBIT, showcasing their competitive edge.
Ohio State
Ohio State (26-7), under Kevin McGuff, made their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, hosting games as a top-16 seed for the third straight year and finishing the season ranked No. 19 with at least 25 wins in each season since the pandemic.
South Florida
South Florida (23-11), led by veteran coach Jose Fernandez in his 25th season, earned their 10th NCAA Tournament berth in 2024-25. The Bulls went 13-4 in conference play, clinched their fourth American Athletic Conference Tournament title with wins over Tulane, North Texas, and Rice, and marked Fernandez’s 14th consecutive 19-win season.
Looking Ahead
With a talented field and a vibrant destination resort setting, the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship promises high-energy competition, with West Virginia poised to make a strong case for the title.
“We are excited and proud to showcase a top-tier brand of hoops in the Bahamas once again as we continue to grow and expand women’s basketball and our events.”
“I’m known for saying, ‘The Product is the Narrative’ because we create opportunities to compete and the players and coaches deliver. Teams are returning because they trust bdG Sports to deliver another first-class event in an incredible destination location, and rest assured, it will be entertaining given the quality of competition!”-Debbie Antonelli (college basketball analyst and event contributor).
