 With more than a decade of history drawing talented teams and enthusiastic fans to basketball heaven, tournament officials at the Women’s Cancun Challenge have confirmed nine of the 10 participating NCAA D-I women’s programs heading to Mexico in 2018.
The 14th edition of the women’s event welcomes a rich pool of talent -- skilled and successful teams from the most accomplished conferences, along with an intriguing mix of mid-major teams looking to flex their muscle. The Women’s Cancun Challenge will be held Nov. 22-24 at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula. The three-game round-robin portion of the Cancun Challenge will feature Kansas State, Princeton, Syracuse and one more team to be announced later this winter. The two-game portion of the event will feature George Washington, Georgia Tech, Idaho State, Kennesaw State, Michigan State and NC State. This will be the third trip to the Yucatan for Kansas State (2007, 2011), Michigan State (2007, 2011) and Idaho State (2011, 2016). It’s the second time to the Hard Rock Hotel for Princeton (2014), NC State (2015) and Georgia Tech (2015), while 2018 marks the debut appearances for Syracuse, Kennesaw State and George Washington. “We are fortunate to draw passionate fans and a great mix of the most well-regarded programs in the nation,” said Renee Carlson, executive director of the event. “Our repeat customers know, and our first-timers are soon to see, the depth of the competition and the unique chance to enjoy a warm-weather vacation in November that puts teams and fans shoulder-to-shoulder in a relaxed, refreshing location.” The Cancun Challenge is one of the premier basketball events held each year and was rated as a top-five preseason tournament by Sports Illustrated in 2014. Teams stay and play at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. The resort’s convention center ballroom is converted into an arena, which provides fans a special close-up view of the games. Once arriving to the hotel, teams and fans are treated to a spectacular all-inclusive rock star vacation with games, practices, unlimited dining and drinks, world-class entertainment and fun all in one location. Located just off the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya offers the ultimate vacation for guests of all ages with both the adults-only and family friendly resort experiences. With a combined 1,264 ultra-posh and lavishly appointed guestrooms boasting balcony, terrace views or new, expansive sky terrace options with picturesque views, hydro tubs in each room, world-class shopping and endless style, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is nothing short of the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Complete with expansive outdoor pools and private beach, this all-inclusive escape offers nine world-class restaurants, eight bars and lounges, in addition to 88,915 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space ideal for elegant banquets, themed parties, weddings, concerts, and more. Seating is limited for this exclusive event, and all fans should book land travel packages through Triple Crown Sports for admission into games in Mexico. Travel packages are the only way to guarantee admission to games at this time. For travel package information, contact Sarah Sullivan at 970-672-0533 (email to sarah@triplecrownsports.com) or visit the website at www.cancunchallenge.net. About Triple Crown Sports Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing college and youth events for more than 30 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men’s and women’s Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown is also powering “WNIT” concept events in D-I softball (NISC) and volleyball (NIVC), with those two events debuting in 2017. TCS youth fastpitch tournaments (including the 1,000-team Sparkler/Fireworks event) draw the nation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes. |
