2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship Events Released
It's officially ChampionshipSZN! We are excited to have you all in Tuscaloosa for the 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship. Please contact Dani Wright at communications@hbcuac.org or (504) 321-3362 if you have questions. You can also view tournament information via Tournament Central! Apply for media credentials here.
Cheer and Dance Showcase
The inaugural HBCUAC Cheer/Dance Showcase will be held Friday, February 28, inside Birthright Alumni Hall on Stillman College's campus.
Each team will perform a three-minute routine during halftime of selected games. The showcase will be broadcast live on Urban Edge Network, and fans will vote on their favorite performance beginning Saturday, March 1. The cheer and dance teams with the most votes on the fan poll will be presented with the Fan Favorite Award during the finals on Sunday, March 2
Friday Showcase schedule:
2 p.m.
Dillard University Cheer Devils
Fisk University Cheerleaders
Rust College Cheer Team
4 p.m.
Philander Smith Panther Cheer Phi Dolls
Voorhees University Cheerleaders
6 p.m.
Stillman Colege Cheerleaders
Talladega College Cheerleaders
8 p.m.
Stillman College Golden Perfection (Dance Team)
Talladega College Dega Dance Team
The Family Reunion Community Tailgate
Saturday, March 1 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT
Stillman College Sheppard's Lawn (In front of Birthright Alumni Hall)
The HBCU Athletic Conference will host its first-ever championship tailgate, known as the Family Reunion. The premise of this year's theme is to highlight the relationships that the conference has built and to showcase the championship as a family-centered event. Hope Credit Union is sponsoring the event and is bringing in renowned DJ Grove Hero, who will be giving away 100 meals to community members who open a HOPE checking account using the code HBCUHOOPS25. New account holders will also receive two free tickets to a game during championship week!
As part of the Family Reunion Tailgate, HBCUAC member school admission teams will have vendor tables set up for attendees to learn more and even apply for admission! Meet admissions personnel from the following schools:
Fisk University
Rust College
Stillman College
Talladega College
Tougaloo College
University of the Virgin Islands
Wilberforce University
Wiley University
The HBCUAC 2025 Regular Season Awards Ceremony will take place Wednesday, February 26, immediately after the 2 p.m. matchup. The following women's and men's basketball awards will be given:
Regular Season Champions
Regular Season Runner-Up
HBCUAC Assistant Coach of the Year
HBCUAC Coach of the Year
Basketball All-HBCUAC First and Second Teams
Basketball All-HBCUAC Defensive Team
HBCUAC Newcomer of the Year
HBCUAC Freshman of the Year
HBCUAC Player of the Year
Senior Women Leaders Committee to Honor Women in the League
The HBCU Athletic Conference Senior Women Leaders Committee has launched Women in the League, which celebrates Black History Month and Women's History Month as part of the HBCUAC 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship. The committee, chaired by Voorhees University Senior Woman Leader and Director of Compliance Mary Hill, will honor women and student-athletes within the league who have made indelible contributions to women in sports. The schedule will be finalized in the coming days. The following awards will be given over the course of the week at halftime of one of the women's games:
Leadership Award
Outstanding Student-Athlete Award
Community Impact Award
Rising Star Award
Trailblazer Award
Empowerment Award
As part of our championships, as approved by the HBCUAC Council of Athletic Directors, we are announcing the inaugural group of Elite 9 honorees at each of our championships. The honor will be given to the women's basketball and men's basketball players with the highest grade point averages of all participating student-athletes. This year's winners will be announced at the Regular Season Awards Ceremony.
All games will be broadcast live on HBCUACTV via Urban Edge Network. Download the free app on any Android or Apple device. Streaming TV apps also have UEN for download. Check your provider and tune in!
Media outlets wishing to cover this year's championship must apply for credentials. Contact HBCUAC Director of Strategic Communications Dani Wright with questions:
communications@hbcuac.org // (504) 321-3362