A Game Built for a Loud Crowd
Wolfpack Nation, mark your calendars and start packing. The 2026 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off is more than just another early-season tournament. It is a destination event with sunshine, high-level basketball, and a clear chance for NC State to start the season with momentum.
On November 27-28 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida, the Wolfpack will face LSU and Kansas State in the Island Division. The matchup against Jeff Mittie’s Kansas State Wildcats is one NC State is expected to control, and it is the kind of game that rewards fans who show up in person to back the Pack.
This Is a Game Built for a Loud Wolfpack Crowd
Kansas State comes into the season reloading after a 19-18 campaign that ended in the WBIT. The Wildcats have added size and international talent, featuring players like Taryn Sides, Gina Garcia, and a frontcourt group that includes Ramiya White, Ivona Šćekić, and newcomer Tzoana Tampakou. They can be physical on the glass and opportunistic if opponents get careless, but they lack the overall star power and consistency of a true national contender.
NC State holds a 4-1 series lead over Kansas State, including a dominant 89-57 win in the 2022 NCAA Round of 32. This neutral-court meeting gives Zoe Brooks, Khamil Pierre, and the rest of the Pack a chance to set an early tone and build confidence heading into the rest of the tournament and ACC play.
Key Storylines for Wolfpack Fans
Zoe Brooks will again be central. As NC State’s primary ball-handler and two-time All-ACC performer, she will look to dictate tempo against Taryn Sides and Gina Garcia. How Brooks creates for teammates and keeps the offense flowing will be important.
Khamil Pierre remains a focal point on both ends. Her scoring and rebounding against Kansas State’s length in the frontcourt will help the Pack control the paint and limit second-chance opportunities.
Other matchups to watch include Qadence Samuels and Destiny Lunan working on the perimeter against Sides and Garcia, and the frontcourt group of Pierre, Maddie Cox, and Khady Leye battling White, Šćekić, and Tampakou on the glass.
Why You Need to Be There in Person
Television is fine. Being in the building is better. Fort Myers in late November means warm weather, a compact two-day tournament, and the chance to surround the Wolfpack with a loud, traveling fan base. A strong home-away-from-home atmosphere can help the Pack stay focused and push the energy higher when it matters.
These early neutral-site games often set the tone for the entire season. A professional, focused win over Kansas State would give NC State early momentum and give every fan who made the trip a memory worth sharing.
For full details on travel packages, hotels, and how to join the Wolfpack in sunny Fort Myers this Thanksgiving, check out our previous guide here: https://packwbb.com/2026/08/08/escape-the-cold-join-the-nc-state-wolfpack-in-sunny-fort-myers-this-thanksgiving/. Travel packages that include tickets to both Island Division games, hotel stays, and parking are already available. The arena is on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus, and the entire event is designed to be fan-friendly.
Bottom Line
Kansas State is physical and capable of making things uncomfortable, but this is a game the Wolfpack should handle with the right focus and energy. Zoe Brooks running the show, Khamil Pierre controlling the glass, and a deep NC State roster looking to start strong on a neutral floor in Florida: this is the kind of early-season opportunity fans will want to experience in person.
Don’t just watch from home. Get to Fort Myers. Be loud. Be proud. Help the Pack own the Fort.
Tickets and travel packages are available now through the official Fort Myers Tip-Off site and NC State athletics channels. See you in the stands.
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