Kansas State women's basketball announced Tuesday afternoon that the Wildcats scheduled games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Minnesota Golden Gophers as part of “The Invitational” at the Sanford Pentagon, with one game scheduled in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Make no mistake, matchups between the Big 12 and Big Ten are rare, giving Wildcats fans a chance to see how Kansas State stacks up against top-tier competition in neutral-site contests.
Revisiting K-State’s history with Nebraska and Minnesota
The Wildcats haven’t taken on Nebraska since the 2011 season, the same year the Huskers left the Big 12, moving to the Big Ten. Kansas State leads the all-time series against Nebraska 46‑33, a mark dating back to 1975.
Headed to the City of Hustle in '26 and '27 for The Invitational
— K-State Women's Basketball (@KStateWBB) February 24, 2026
📄 https://t.co/YBGsdI4N0c#EMAW x @sanford_complex pic.twitter.com/Sdxg7TTeuk
Kansas State’s recent history with Minnesota goes a little further, the last meeting with the Gophers being in 2004 and Kansas State’s last win over Minnesota coming in 1995. Unlike Nebraska, Minnesota has no Big 12 ties, making this a rare out-of-conference game continuing the Big 12 vs. Big Ten narrative.
Historically, the Wildcats hold an 11‑6 advantage over Minnesota.
Minnesota ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a 21‑7 record and is ranked No. 22 nationally. The Gophers are among the conference leaders in defensive efficiency, allowing just 55.9 points per game while forcing 10.1 turnovers per game. Numbers like those are statements, and make the Gophers a tough outing.
Last time out for the Wildcats in neutral-site matchups
Earlier this season, Kansas State played a neutral-site regular season tournament in Cancun, dropping two of three games against Columbia, North Carolina and South Dakota State.
The Wildcats’ lone win came 95‑92 against Columbia, with Taryn Sides scoring 30 points while logging 34 minutes, six assists, and three rebounds. In the double-digit loss to South Dakota State, Sides scored 27 points, with four teammates also in double figures.
In 2024, the Ball Dawgs Classic ended in a split, with a loss to Duke and a 92‑66 win over DePaul. Former Wildcats Serena Sundell and Ayoka Lee combined for 38 points in the win, a game in which Kansas State never trailed.
What to expect from the Wildcats in 2026‑27
In the modern landscape that is the transfer portal and college athletics, looking ahead to next season with any sort of direction is almost impossible. There are, however, a few things to note.
Returns from a few current Wildcats are possible, including Taryn Sides, Nastja Classens, Jordan Speister, and Gina Garcia, just to name a few. Outside of the single matchup with Minnesota, the full 2026‑27 Kansas State schedule has not been released, but these early contests will serve as a test for the Wildcats against Big Ten competition.
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