NCAA Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Illinois Wesleyan University was awarded hosting responsibilities for two future NCAA Championships, the national office announced Wednesday, Oct. 14. IWU was selected as the host of the 2025 NCAA Division III Softball Championships and the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships. 

"We are honored and humbled that the NCAA has selected Illinois Wesleyan to host these prestigious events," exclaimed IWU Athletic Director Mike Wagner. "The opportunity to represent the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), IWU, and the Bloomington-Normal community is something we take great pride in.  We have been so fortunate to host many different levels of NCAA Championship play and have always strived to create a first-class experience for the student-athletes and teams involved as they visit our campus and the greater Bloomington-Normal community. I would like to thank the NCAA Championship Committee, the National Committees for Volleyball & Softball, and Jan Gentry, Associate Director for Championships and Alliances, for trusting us to create life-long memories for the teams that earn the right to compete at these National Championship events."

-  Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park will serve as the venue for the NCAA Division III Softball Championships in May of 2025.

-  The Shirk Center will serve as the venue for the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships November of 2025.

Inspiration Field, the home of the IWU softball team, has a long tradition of hosting NCAA Tournament regional and super regional competitions. 

The Titans first hosted an eight-team regional in 2002, followed by others in 2003, 2009, and 2012. In 2014, Illinois Wesleyan served as the host of regional and super regional play. IWU was also selected to host regionals in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019, along with super regionals in 2018 and 2019.

Inspiration Field and Bloomington, Ill. will be the first midwest city to host the softball championship since Eau Claire, Wis. did so in 2013. Additionally, the 2025 championship will mark just the third time the event has taken place in the state of Illinois since 1982. The 1988 championship took place in Elmhurst, Ill., while the 1993 rendition was played in Decatur.

"I am ecstatic for this tremendous opportunity to showcase our incredible facilities and beautiful campus," IWU Head Softball Head Coach Tiffany Prager added. "We have a rich history of community support and look forward to providing them the opportunity to watch our sport at the highest level. Our goal year in and year out is to compete for a national championship, and now we are even more excited to play for the chance to accomplish that goal on our home field."

The Shirk Center was previously the site of the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships as well as a regional host in 2017. IWU is one of two Illinois institutions to host the event, joining Elmhurst University, which was home to the 1984, 1985, and 1987 Division III Volleyball Championships. 

"I am thrilled that we will have the opportunity to host the NCAA Championships again," IWU Head Volleyball Coach Kim Nelson-Brown said. "We're excited to have the event back for the first time since 2008 and show off our campus and community. Peers who competed in the event when we hosted in 2007 and 2008 spoke highly of the experience and environment at the Shirk Center. We look forward to once again offering a first-class student-athlete experience and hope to compete in the championship in 2025."

Wednesday's announcement came as the NCAA announced the host sites for more than 450 preliminary rounds and final rounds of predetermined championships across Division I, II, and III to be held 2023-24 through 2025-26.

The NCAA received upwards of 3,000 bid submissions from NCAA member schools, conferences, sports commissions, and cities. More than 450 sites were selected for the upcoming cycle. Sites were chosen based on bid proposals reviewed by the NCAA sports committees and divisional championships cabinets/committees for each respective sport.

Forty-three states plus the District of Columbia were selected to host at least one NCAA championship event, with California garnering the most, with 34. Texas was second with 30, while North Carolina totaled 28, followed by Pennsylvania with 27 and Ohio with 25.

Criteria for selecting the host sites included creating what will be an exceptional experience for the student-athletes, along with adherence to NCAA bid specifications. Specifications can include, but are not limited to, providing optimal facilities; ease of travel to the location and ample lodging; and adherence to NCAA principles, which include providing an atmosphere that is safe and respects the dignity of all attendees. 

To view the complete list of NCAA championship sites, click here.