Home / Sports / WSSU & FSU Crowned CIAA Hoops Champions
WSSU & FSU Crowned CIAA Hoops Champions
2 Mar
Summary
- Winston-Salem State and Fayetteville State won championships.
- Baltimore hosted the CIAA tournament at CFG Bank Arena.
- The event generated over $27 million in economic impact last year.
The 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament has concluded in Baltimore, with Winston-Salem State University's women's team and Fayetteville State University's men's team emerging as the champions. The tournament, hosted at CFG Bank Arena, marked the end of a spirited week of competition within the nation's oldest Historically Black athletic conference.
The championship finals featured intense matchups, with Winston-Salem State defeating Fayetteville State 60-43 in the women's game and Fayetteville State narrowly beating Bluefield State 71-68 in the men's final. The event celebrated Black excellence and HBCU pride, drawing an estimated 65,000 attendees who closed out Black History Month.
Beyond the basketball, the tournament significantly impacted the Baltimore economy, generating over $27 million in economic impact and over $15 million in direct spending last year alone. It also provided numerous opportunities through Career Day, Education Day, and various seminars focusing on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, offering scholarships and job connections to attendees.
CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker highlighted the tournament's role in showcasing excellence on and off the court, fostering community, and driving inclusive growth. Visit Baltimore and city and state officials emphasized the event's importance as a cultural and economic engine for the city, celebrating its role in investing in young people and spotlighting Black-owned businesses.
