Huskers Plan Thanksgiving Trip to Florida for Emerald Coast Classic
The Nebraska women's basketball team will travel to Florida to compete in the second annual Emerald Coast Classic ahead of the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 24-25), Global Sports announced on Tuesday, June 17.
Nebraska, which finished 21-12 and advanced to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament, will play two games in the four-team Beach Bracket at Raider Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla.
“Our team is excited to be a part of the Emerald Coast Classic this November,” Nebraska Coach Amy Williams said. “It is great to get back in a tournament Thanksgiving week in Florida, and we are thrilled to be able to return home to Nebraska to celebrate the holiday together after we play. The teams in our side of the bracket will provide us with great challenges as we prepare for the Big Ten season ahead of us.”
Nebraska's opening-round game will come on Monday, Nov. 24, when the Huskers face off with Purdue Fort Wayne at 5 p.m. (CT). The Mastodons finished with a 27-9 record (18-2, Horizon League) and advanced to the WNIT Great 8 in 2025.
The other first-round game in the Beach Bracket will include Virginia (17-15) taking on Northwestern State (16-16) at 7:30 p.m. The Cavaliers won four of their final five games in 2024-25, including a 78-75 win over No. 8 North Carolina to close the regular season and a 20-point win over Stanford. Virginia finished 8-10 in the ACC. Northwestern State earned a trip to the first round of the 2025 WNIT after the Lady Demons went 12-8 in the Southland Conference.
The winners of the first-round battles will meet in the Beach Bracket championship game on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. The title game will be preceded by the third-place game at 5 p.m.
The eight-team Emerald Coast Classic also includes a four-team Bay Bracket that features Mississippi State, Providence, Middle Tennessee State and Alcorn State. Bay Bracket games will follow a similar format with games at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 and 25.
Online tickets for the tournament will go on sale later this summer through www.emeraldcoastclassic.com. FloSports will live stream all of the games in the Emerald Coast Classic.
Emerald Coast Classic
Niceville, Fla. (Northwest Florida State College)
Beach Bracket
Monday, Nov. 24
Nebraska (21-12) vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (27-9), 5 p.m. (CT) - FloSports
Northwestern State (16-16) vs. Virginia (17-15), 7:30 p.m. (CT) - FloSports
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Third-Place Game, 5 p.m. (CT) - FloSports
Championship Game, 7:30 p.m. (CT) - FloSports
Bay Bracket
Monday, Nov. 24
Middle Tennessee State (26-8) vs. Providence (13-19), 11 a.m. (CT) - FloSports
Alcorn State (14-18) vs. Mississippi State (22-12), 1:30 p.m. (CT) - FloSports
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Third-Place Game, 11 a.m. (CT) - FloSports
Championship Game, 1:30 p.m. (CT) - FloSports