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RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women’s basketball is headed back to Southwest Florida this November as one of the four premier programs selected for the fifth annual Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Wolfpack will join Georgia Tech, Kansas State and Villanova for the two-day showcase on Nov. 27-28 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. The remaining four teams and full event schedule will be announced later this spring.

For head coach Wes Moore and the Wolfpack, the Tip-Off represents another high-profile, early-season opportunity to test themselves against top competition — exactly the kind of environment that has defined NC State’s rise as a national contender under his leadership.

Moore, one of the most accomplished active coaches in Division I with 877 career victories, enters his 13th season in Raleigh having built the Wolfpack into a perennial powerhouse. NC State has made 30 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time, including two Final Four trips and multiple Elite Eight runs. The most recent Final Four appearance came in 2024, when the Pack fell to eventual national champion South Carolina. Under Moore, NC State has earned 10 NCAA Tournament berths, reached the Sweet 16 in each of the last seven tournaments, and consistently competed at the highest level.

The 2026 field features three other strong programs that will provide tough early tests:

1. Kansas State: Jeff Mittie brings 687 career wins into his 12th season with the Wildcats. Kansas State owns 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2025. Under Mittie, K-State has reached the NCAA Tournament six times and posted nine postseason appearances.
2. Georgia Tech: Karen Blair was hired in April 2025 and arrives with more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience and a deep Power Five background. The Yellow Jackets have made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by Sweet 16 runs in 2012 and 2021, and have been ranked as high as No. 17 nationally in recent seasons.
3. Villanova: Denise Dillon enters her sixth season with 465 career wins and has elevated the Wildcats’ national profile. Villanova owns 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2023, a program-record 30-win season in 2022-23, and five straight 20-win campaigns.

Scripps Sports/ION returns as the event’s national broadcast partner, with every game airing live across the country on ION, which reaches every U.S. television household through pay TV, connected TV, free ad-supported streaming and over-the-air.NC State fans looking to make the trip south will have options soon. Event travel packages — which include tickets to all games, hotel accommodations at the host hotel and venue parking — go on sale this spring. Ticket-only packages will be available in August. To receive updates on sale dates and event details, visit http://www.womensfortmyerstipoff.com/travel and register for alerts.

To stay up to date on all NC State women’s basketball news, ticket information and more, visit GoPack.com, Fort Myers Tip-off site or follow the official Intersport Basketball accounts on X and Instagram at @IntersportHoops. Wolfpack fans, circle November 27-28 on your calendars. This is going to be a special weekend in Fort Myers.