The Whitworth University Pirates captured the 2026 Northwest Conference regular-season title with an impressive 14–2 conference record and a 20–5 mark overall. With the title, Whitworth earns the No. 1 seed and the right to host the NWC Men’s Basketball Tournament for the third consecutive year.
Joining the Pirates in the four-team field are the University of Puget Sound, Willamette University, and Lewis & Clark College. Puget Sound secured the No. 2 seed after finishing 12–4 in conference play, followed by Willamette at 10–6. Defending tournament champion Lewis & Clark claimed the No. 4 seed with a 9–7 record.
The NWC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held February 27–28 at Whitworth University. Friday’s semifinal round opens with No. 2 Puget Sound facing No. 3 Willamette at 6:00 p.m. The host Pirates will then take on No. 4 Lewis & Clark at 8:00 p.m. in a rematch of the 2025 semifinal.
The championship game is set for Saturday at 6:00 p.m., with the semifinal winners meeting to decide the tournament title and the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.