Minnesota West to mark national tournament opener with party

The Worthington campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College will host a national tournament watch party for the Lady Jays women's basketball team on Thursday.

All fans are invited to help us cheer the Lady Jays on as they open their national tournament run. The party will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Commons, and the game is scheduled to begin at noon. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and a drink will be served for $5, with all proceeds supporting the booster club. 

Minnesota West will also celebrate a year's worth of athletic achievement next week, as students, staff, families and community members are invited to join together to honor the school's volleyball, wrestling and women’s basketball teams for their remarkable seasons and national‑level accomplishments. That event will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Center for Health & Wellness gym on the Worthington campus. 

The Lady Jays volleyball team capped off a record-setting season with a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament. Under the leadership of Head Coach Brittney McNab, who recently celebrated her 100th career win and earned back-to back MCAC Southern Division Coach of the Year honors, the team finished with 38 total wins, the most ever by the program. 

The Minnesota West wrestling program sent three competitors to the 2026 NJCAA National Championships, which took place this past weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Lady Jays women's basketball team competes this week at the national tourney in Brownwood, Texas.