HAMPTON, Va. (August 19, 2025) … The 2025-26 Hampton women's basketball non-conference schedule was finalized last week as the Pirates will compete in the inaugural HBCU Hoops Invitational Tournament to be held December 4-7 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

Hampton and Cheyney will tangle on Friday, December 5 at 2 p.m. inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Bethune-Cookman and Edward Waters will face off at 7 p.m. that evening. The losers of those games will play for third place on Saturday, December 6 at 3 p.m., while the winners will play for the championship on Sunday, December 7 at noon.

Cheyney is the only HBCU to advance to the NCAA Division I women's Final Four in 1982.

A four-team men's tournament will coincide with the women's event as Florida A&M, Florida Memorial, Tuskegee and Barber-Scotia will compete.

The HBCU Hoops Invitational is positioned as a legacy basketball invitational exclusive to HBCUs men's and women's programs providing a multi-day tournament experience. This inaugural event is taking place December 4-7, 2025, in Orlando, Florida at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports.

This prestigious national basketball invitational is designed to illuminate and elevate Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through the lens of competitive athletics, education, and cultural celebration.

The HBCU Hoops Invitational exists to elevate sports at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the powerful platform of college basketball and to address several critical needs by:

• Increasing national visibility for HBCU athletic programs
• Promote enrollment at HBCUs by exposing students and families to their value and legacy
• Provide resources and support for scholar-athletes, including academic services and scholarships
• Career Preparation – Internships, leadership development, and job readiness
• Foster a pipeline of opportunity for underserved youth through education, sport and mentorship

The aim of the event is to inspire youth, foster educational pathways and celebrate Black excellence in academics and athletics. This tournament will serve as a gateway for middle and high school students to consider HBCUs as not just a collegiate option, but a destination for growth, heritage and pride.