Elon hosting 2021 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship this week

After an abrupt ending to the 2021 tournament in Schar Center, Elon University will again play host to the CAA Women's Basketball Championship, slated for March 10-13.

On March 11, 2020, the Elon women’s basketball team defeated Hofstra in the opening round of the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Championship. The next day, the conference canceled the remainder of the tournament due to growing concerns about COVID-19.

The decision brought an abrupt ending to the first-ever CAA women’s tournament hosted inside Elon’s Schar Center. As a result, the conference announced that Elon would again serve as the tournament’s host this year.

Nine teams will compete inside Schar Center in the 2021 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship, presented by SonaBank, with the winner claiming conference bragging rights and the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Elon women enter this year’s competition as the sixth seed and will begin tournament play Thursday at 9:30 p.m. as they take on #3 Drexel. Head coach Charlotte Smith and the Phoenix are in pursuit of their third conference championship since 2017 and the tournament’s third trip to the NCAA Tournament.

As the Phoenix waits in the wing, this year’s CAA Championship begins with an opening-round matchup between #8 Charleston and #9 UNCW Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Schar Center. Tournament play continues on Thursday with #4 Towson vs. #5 Hofstra at 11 a.m., #1 Delaware vs. the winner of Game 1 at 2:30 p.m., and #2 James Madison vs. #7 Northeastern at 6 p.m.

The CAA Tournament semifinals are scheduled for 2:30 and 6 p.m. on Friday, and the winners of each game will compete for the conference title in this year’s CAA Women’s Basketball Championship at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

There will be no public sale of tickets for the CAA Women’s Basketball Championship. Attendance at the championship will be limited to families and guests of student-athletes and coaches. All eight games can be seen on FloHoops.com.

For more information about the 2021 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship, visit the official championship website at CAASports.com.

2021 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship, presented by SonaBank

March 10-13 – Schar Center – Elon, N.C.

Wednesday, March 10 – First Round
Game 1 – #8 Charleston vs. #9 UNCW – 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 11 – Quarterfinals
Game 2 – #4 Towson vs. #5 Hofstra – 11 a.m.
Game 3 – #1 Delaware vs. Charleston/UNCW winner – 2:30 p.m.
Game 4 – #2 James Madison vs. #7 Northeastern – 6 p.m.
Game 5 – #3 Drexel vs. #6 Elon – 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 12 – Semifinals
Game 6 – Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3 – 2:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5 – 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 13 – Championship
Game 8 – Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 7 – 5 p.m.