Field set for 2026 OVC Women's Basketball Championship Presented by United Fidelity Bank. 2/28/2026 3:30:00 PM The field for the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Championship Presented by United Fidelity Bank has been set on the final day of the regular season. Western Illinois claimed a share of the OVC regular season championship and will be the No. 1 seed after finishing 16-4. The Leathernecks earn the top spot due to a tiebreaker, as WIU split with Morehead Stte. It is the first OVC title in program history in any sport and the first since winning the Summit League title in 2016-17. The Leathernecks produced a 24-5 overall record and earned a double bye to the semifinals, opening play on Friday afternoon. Lindenwood defeated WIU on the final day to earn a share of the OVC regular season title and will serve as the No. 2 seed after finishing 16-3 in OVC action, 24-7 overall, and receives a double bye to the semifinals. Southern Indiana (14-6) will be the No. 3 seed and earn a single bye to the quarterfinals, where they will open play on Thursday afternoon. The No. 4 seed, also earning a single bye, is Morehead State (13-7). The field is rounded out by No. 5 Little Rock, No. 6 UT Martin, No. 7 SIUE and No. 8 Southeast Missouri. The Cougars claimed the seventh spot and the Redhawks the eighth due to a threeway-tiebreak with Tennessee Tech. SIUE This year marks the ninth-straight year the event has been held at the Ford Center, which opened in 2011 and is located in the core of Evansville's downtown district. The event is scheduled to be at the venue through at least 2032. This event marks the 45th time the OVC Women's Basketball Postseason Championship has been held; the OVC will provide the first entrant to the 2026 NCAA Women's College Basketball Tournament. All games can be seen on ESPN+. As part of an ongoing commitment to safety and security, aligning with the best practices at major entertainment and athletics venues, there is a bag policy in effect at the Ford Center. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OVCSports.com/BagPolicy for complete details on the policy. 2026 OVC Women's Basketball Championship Presented United Fidelity Bank (Ford Center - Evansville, Indiana) First Round - Wednesday, March 4 Game 1 - #5 Little Rock vs. #8 Southeast Missouri, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Game 2 - #6 UT Martin vs. #7 SIUE, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+) Quarterfinals - Thursday, March 5 Game 3 - #4 Morehead State vs. Winner of Game 1, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Game 4 - #3 Southern Indiana vs. Winner of Game 2, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+) Semifinals - Friday, March 6 Game 5 - #1 Western Illinois vs. Game 3 Winner, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+) Game 6 - #2 Lindenwood vs. Game 4 Winner, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Championship - Saturday, March 7 Game 7 - Semifinal Winners, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+) All Times Central

United Fidelity Bank to host annual Fort Walton Beach Community Day. In brief: * | Who: United Fidelity Bank, Ed Burns, Angela Peters, local organizations including Salvation Army, Emerald Coast Science Center, United Way of Okaloosa County, Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast, and more. * | What: 4th annual Community Day with food, giveaways, games, face painting, inflatables, live music, and Storybook Village book distribution. * | When: Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. * | Where: Fort Walton Beach Banking Center, 135 Perry Ave. SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL. * | Why: To thank the community for support and provide local organizations the opportunity to showcase their services. Fort Walton Beach, FL - United Fidelity Bank will hold its 4th annual Community Day on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Fort Walton Beach Banking Center, located at 135 Perry Ave. SE, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, offering families an opportunity to enjoy food, entertainment, and community engagement. The event is designed to thank the community for its continued support and to provide residents with a chance to connect with local organizations. Attendees can enjoy free hotdogs, popcorn, sno cones, and beverages throughout the day. The bank will also host prize drawings, yard games, face painting, and inflatables for children. Get Emerald Coast news in your inbox. We send you the latest news from right here on the Emerald Coast of Florida! Plus, if someone referred you and you put their email in - we will enter you and your referral for a chance to win $50 each! By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Mid Bay News, 90 Palm Boulevard, Niceville, FL, 32578, US, http://midbaynews.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe(R) link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. Entertainment and Activities Musical performances will be provided by Reid Soria and Howling Jack, creating a live music atmosphere for all attendees. Storybook Village, presented by the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of the Emerald Coast, will return, allowing children to explore themed booths while promoting early literacy. The ELC will distribute a total of 4,200 books to children attending the event, supporting reading and learning in the community. Community Engagement More than 30 local civic and community organizations will participate, including: * Salvation Army * Emerald Coast Science Center * United Way of Okaloosa County * Boy Scouts of the Emerald Coast * Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center * A Bed for Me * Okaloosa County Public Schools Foundation * Fresh Start for Children and Families * Lotus Learning Center * Okaloosa County Health Services These organizations will have booths to share information about programs and services, providing resources and connections for residents. Local childcare providers and the Fort Walton Beach Library will also decorate booths, further engaging children and families. Statement from United Fidelity Bank Ed Burns, Community President, commented, "We are fortunate to operate in such a great community, and this event allows us to give back and also provide many diverse Okaloosa County organizations the opportunity to showcase the services they offer to our surrounding area." About United Fidelity Bank United Fidelity Bank, headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, has been serving local communities since 1914. The bank offers financial services with total assets of approximately $6 billion. It operates 22 community banking offices across central and southwest Indiana, Chicago and central Illinois, Aurora and Denver, Colorado, Fort Myers, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Community Day is free of charge, including all food and refreshments, courtesy of United Fidelity Bank. For additional details about the event or the bank, visit https://www.unitedfidelity.com Contacts: Ed Burns, Community President - (850) 244-5151 Angela Peters, FVP, Director of Marketing - (812) 429-0550, ext. 3346