The Detroit Sports Commission announced the Big Ten Conference has selected Detroit to host its 2028 Women’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit March 1-5, 2028.
With the conference’s recent expansion to include four teams from the West Coast, the 2028 tournament is likely to attract fans from all over the nation.
“The Detroit Sports Commission is extremely proud to be selected by the Big Ten Conference to host the 2028 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament,” says Dave Beachnau, executive director of the Detroit Sports Commission. “Landing this impressive event is the result of our efforts to prioritize women’s sports and to position Detroit as a premier destination for major sporting events, as well as our longstanding partnership with 313 Presents and Little Caesars Arena.
“The 2028 Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament in Detroit is the culmination of our organization attending various Big Ten championship events over the years, building relationships with conference leadership and staff, and gaining an understanding of how their selection process works. We value the partnership we’ve established with the Big Ten and will continue to pursue and create future opportunities in Detroit with the conference in a variety of sports.”
The DSC’s long-time commitment to women’s sports was reinforced through the recent development of its Living Legacy Initiative, designed to promote youth literacy and sports, with a special emphasis on empowering girls in sports across Detroit and neighboring communities. DSC has committed to integrating the Living Legacy Initiative into all major sporting events in the region, including the 2028 Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament, which will include a significant community engagement effort aimed at leaving behind a tangible, enduring impact in the Detroit region and for local women’s basketball.
“We look forward to partnering with the city of Detroit as they host the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament,” says Tony Petitti, commissioner of the Big Ten. “Detroit will be an exciting post-season opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans, both locally and from across the country.”
Centrally located within the Big Ten footprint, Detroit is a short drive from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. The city hosted the Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament in 2015 and 2017 and has welcomed numerous NCAA and in-season collegiate events featuring Big Ten institutions.
Notable events include the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional, the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds. Detroit also will host the 2027 NCAA Men’s Final Four, with MSU serving as the host institution.
Little Caesars Arena regularly features games with Michigan State and Michigan men’s basketball, and also is home to the annual “Duel in the D” hockey game between Michigan and MSU. Additionally, Ford Field hosts the Detroit College Football Bowl Game, formerly known as the Quick Lane Bowl, which has welcomed Big Ten members Rutgers, Maryland, and Minnesota since 2014.
“We’re thrilled with the announcement Little Caesars Arena has been chosen by the Big Ten Conference as the host site for the 2028 Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament,” says Howard Handler, president of 313 Presents. “As Detroit’s premier live entertainment company, in partnership with the Detroit Sports Commission, bringing this momentous event to our guests is the epitome of our mission — to provide access to amazing entertainment and alive moments.”
