MAUI, Hawaii – The Washington men’s basketball team will compete in one of the most prestigious competitions in college basketball during the 2026-27 season, joining the field for the 2026 Southwest Maui Invitational, announced Tuesday.
The Huskies will be joined in the field by Arizona, BYU, Clemson, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Providence and VCU.
It will be the second time competing in the historic tournament for Washington, the first since 2010. That year, the Dawgs finished 1-2, topping Virginia 106-63 behind 18 points from Isaiah Thomas and 12 points and six rebounds from current UW staff member Abdul Gaddy.
The Maui Invitational returned to its traditional location at the Lahaina Civic Center in 2024, briefly being located to Honolulu in 2023 due to significant wildfires on the island of Maui.
About the Maui Invitational
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984, Chaminade University hosted the first Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 40 years running. Each year, the Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere at the Lahaina Civic Center near the beautiful beaches of Maui.
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