Big 12 Adjusts Women’s Basketball Tournament To Accommodate BYU
Jun 3, 2022, 2:10 PM | Updated: 2:58 pm
The Big 12 Conference adjusted its women's basketball schedule to work with BYU's Sunday policy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
IRVING, Texas – When the Big 12 Conference formally invited BYU as a member, changes to schedules in all sports would happen.
Being owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU sports do not compete on Sunday. Once considered a thorn in the side of BYU’s hopes for a seat in a Power Five conference, it appears to not be an issue.
Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament will move to T-Mobile Center, same venue as the men’s championship.
No games in the women’s tournament will be played on Sunday.https://t.co/pEJX37sV9Y#BYU #Big12 @kslsports pic.twitter.com/jEpJpZJZzH
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) June 3, 2022
After the Big 12’s Spring Business Meetings, the conference gave the first glimpse of the willingness to accommodate BYU’s No Sunday policy.
The Big 12 announced the Women’s Basketball Tournament would occur at the same venue as the men’s tournament, T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. With that announcement came the dates, which consisted of Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday.
The men’s basketball tournament will then take place from Tuesday-Saturday.
Big 12 crowned its women’s basketball tournament champion on a Sunday this past March.
“I wouldn’t call it a concern. I would call it a consideration. We had very open and frank discussions about it,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby last September when asked about BYU’s Sunday policy. “Everybody has their eyes wide open, and we understand that there are scheduling considerations that are going to have to be taken into account.
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby: "#BYU is an attractive enough institution that [no Sunday play consideration] is a reasonable accommodation and won't be an issue."#BYUCougars #Big12 #GoCougs
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2021
“Like all of our members, some are in remote locations, some have more difficult transportation issues than others, and some are a longer ways away. Those are all things that you think about as you consider institutions, and even as you work together within your league, that is something that is baked in, and we don’t feel like it was going to be an issue.”
Big 12 Basketball Tournament extends with Kansas City
Along with the venue and date changes to the women’s basketball tournament, the Big 12 also announced a two-year extension to the basketball championships in Kansas City. The basketball tournaments for both the men and women will continue there for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
🚨 Big 12 and Kansas City Sports Commission Announce Two-Year Extension for Basketball Championships#Big12WBB x #Big12MBB
📰 https://t.co/8y3LQdzGHS pic.twitter.com/wk3rsYYfEL
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) June 3, 2022
“Kansas City has been a valued partner, showcasing a true dedication to making these tournaments the best postseason basketball event in the country,” stated Bowlsby. “As we prepare to welcome four new schools in the coming years, I’m confident Kansas City will continue to deliver a first-class Championship experience for our athletes, administrators, fans and partners.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
