波特蘭飛行員隊將在 WNIT 首戰迎戰山姆休斯頓州立大學隊
Portland Pilots Host Sam Houston in WNIT Opener
2026年3月19日，波特蘭飛行員隊（Portland Pilots）在厄爾·A·柴爾斯中心（Earle A.
On March 19, 2026, the Portland Pilots hosted the Sam Houston Bearkats at the Earle A.
Chiles Center）迎戰山姆·休斯頓食熊者隊（Sam Houston Bearkats），進行2026年WNIT的第一輪比賽。
Chiles Center for the first round of the 2026 WNIT.
這場具有歷史意義的比賽是飛行員隊第14次進入季後賽，總教練麥可·米克（Michael Meek）延續了他令人印象深刻的紀錄，在他執教的七個賽季中，每個賽季都成功帶領球隊闖進季後賽。
This historic game marked the Pilots' 14th postseason appearance, with head coach Michael Meek continuing his impressive record of securing a postseason bid in every one of his seven seasons.
對於山姆·休斯頓食熊者隊來說，這場對決顯得格外特別，因為這是該項目第二次參加WNIT，也是自2013年以來他們首次進入季後賽。
For the Sam Houston Bearkats, this matchup was particularly special as it represented the program's second WNIT appearance and their first postseason trip since 2013.
在教練拉馮·賈斯汀（Ravon Justice）的帶領下，食熊者隊憑藉由美國聯盟（Conference USA）年度最佳防守球員范塔·科內（Fanta Kone）領軍的強悍防守特色，超越了季前的預期表現。
Under coach Ravon Justice, the Bearkats outperformed preseason expectations behind a fierce, defense-heavy identity led by Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, Fanta Kone.
這是兩校之間的首次交鋒，雙方風格迥異，戰況激烈，獲勝者將在這一48支隊伍參與的錦標賽第二輪中迎戰拉瑪爾紅雀隊（Lamar Cardinals）。
This first-ever meeting between the two schools promised an intense clash of styles, with the victor advancing to face the Lamar Cardinals in the second round of the 48-team tournament.
