July 11, 2024
Teams announced for 2024 Cancun Challenge
Field of 10 revealed for Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Mexico
On Thursday, the 10 women’s college basketball teams that will be participating in the 2024 Cancun Challenge were announced. The event is set to take place over Thanksgiving weekend at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. This will be the 19th time that this tournament is being held for women’s basketball teams.
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“We are pleased to draw another intriguing mix of teams to the Cancun Challenge. These matchups are attention-getters, as we feature a competitive environment that teams love to see before the conference schedule begins,” said Sarah Molina, Cancun Challenge director.
The women’s teams will be split up into two divisions, the Riviera Division and the Mayan Division. The Mayan Division will consist of three games played round robin style, featuring Providence, San Diego State, VCU, and Wisconsin. BYU, Idaho State, Iowa, Rhode Island, Rice and Vermont make up the teams in the Riviera Division and will each get two games.
Basketball fans are in for a treat with these match ups as VCU has only faced Wisconsin once in school history in 2022 and this will be the first time San Diego State and Providence will go head to head. For Iowa, this will be their fifth time playing in the tournament and will have the chance to compete against Rhode Island and Rice for the first time. In 2021, Idaho State and Iowa both competed in the 2021 tournament, however, the Hawkeyes had to pull out due to COVID-19. They’ll be entering the tournament under new head coach, Jan Jensen, as Lisa Bluder announced her retirement in May 2024.
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This will be the first time Rice, Rhode Island, San Diego State, VCU, BYU, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Vermont will be playing in the tournament. Last year, Green Bay became tournament champs in the final game, beating Washington State 59-48. Neither team are competing in the tournament this year.
The 2024 Cancun Challenge will be played from November 28-30.
