NC State Women’s Basketball Set to Face LSU, Kansas State in Fort Myers Tipoff

NC State Women’s Basketball is headed back to a marquee early-season stage.

The Wolfpack will compete in the 5th annual Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tipoff next season, where they’ll face LSU and Kansas State.

The event will take place November 27-28, though the specific matchup dates have not yet been announced.

Scouting the Field

LSU (29-6)
LSU enters the event as one of the premier programs in the country, finishing No. 8 in the AP Poll this past season. The Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to Duke.

Historically, LSU has had the edge in the matchup, holding a 4-1 record over NC State all-time. Most recently, the Tigers knocked off the Wolfpack 80-73 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and have won the last three contests.

Kansas State (19–18)
Kansas State is coming off a down year, finishing below .500 and missing the NCAA Tournament after making three of the previous four.

NC State has had success in this matchup, owning a 4–1 all-time record against the Wildcats and riding a two-game winning streak. The most recent meeting came in Raleigh, where the Wolfpack rolled to an 89-57 victory.

This early-season tournament presents a strong test for NC State, offering both a high-level measuring stick in LSU and a familiar opponent in Kansas State.

With neutral-site matchups and national exposure, the Fort Myers Tipoff will be one of the first major checkpoints of the Wolfpack’s 2026-27 campaign.