BILL SNYDER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CLASSIC
December 12 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
MATCH-UP SET FOR 4th ANNUAL BILL SNYDER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CLASSIC PRESENTED BY SOUTHERN BANK
KANSAS STATE VS. CREIGHTON
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026 – CIVIC ARENA – 5 PM
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Brett Esely Contact: 816-233-6688, besely@stjomo.com
TICKETS ON SALE IN MID JULY!!
For the fourth consecutive season, Civic Arena will play host to NCAA Division I Women’s College Basketball as the St. Joseph Sports Commission is proud to announce an elite major Conference match-up for the 4th Annual Bill Snyder Women’s Basketball Classic Saturday, December 12 featuring the Kansas State Wildcats against the Creighton Bluejays. Tip time for the game is currently set for 5 PM Central Time. The fourth annual classic is once again proudly presented by Southern Bank.
“We have developed a great partnership with Kansas State Women’s Basketball in which we relish and embrace the opportunity to bring this level of competition to downtown St. Joseph,” said Brett Esely, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. “In sharing the desire with K-State to find a great, high-level opponent for the game each year, we are extremely excited to welcome Creighton, a program with excellent tradition and a strong fan/alumni base in this region to this year’s matchup!”
The title of the game further signifies and celebrates the legend of St. Joseph native and College Football Hall of Fame Coach Bill Snyder. Snyder’s college resume speaks for itself, but the connection to his hometown remains strong as well. The Bill Snyder Pavilion was named in his honor on the Missouri Western campus in 2017, he was inducted into the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and for the fifth straight year, will present the Snyder Woman of Impact Award at the enshrinement ceremonies this August.
Kansas State, from the Big 12 Conference entered the 2025-26 season with a host of new faces and finished the season strong with 19 wins including four postseason victories which featured a run to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament and an opening round victory in the WBIT, their fifth consecutive postseason appearance. The Cats are led by Head Coach Jeff Mittie who has several ties to St. Joseph including being a Missouri Western alum and Hall of Fame coach for the Griffons in leading them to two NCAA Elite Eight appearances in the 1993-95 seasons. Mittie, who will enter his 13th season at K-State and 36th season overall as a Head Coach, has now won 691 career games. The Wildcats return four starters to this year’s roster including Seniors Taryn Sides (Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection) and Nastja Claessens along with Sophomores Brandie Harrod and Gina Garcia.
Creighton, from just up the road in Omaha, Nebraska, becomes the first member of the Big East Conference to compete in the Snyder Classic and comes off a 2025-26 campaign in which the Bluejays accomplished 16 wins and advanced to the second round of the Big East Tournament. Prior to last season, Creighton had qualified for the NCAA Tournament four consecutive seasons in amassing 96 combined wins and advancing to the Elite Eight in the 2021-22 season. The Bluejays are led by Head Coach Jim Flanery in his 25th season. In all, Flanery has led his alma mater to 469 wins, 19 postseason appearances including 8 NCAA Tournament selections and four conference championships. Creighton’s roster features seven returners from a season ago including three starters led by sophomore guard Ava Zediker who was a First Team All-Big East selection and a member of the Big East All-Freshman team along with fellow All-Freshman team selection Neleigh Gessert.
These two teams are no strangers to one another as this will be the 23rd all-time matchup. K-State leads the series 17-5, including defeating the Bluejays in Omaha last season 75-71.
“Heading into our fourth game, the Snyder Classic has turned into a fun annual tradition in which we are also excited about the return of the game to Saturday evening! We are grateful to K-State and Coach Mittie for the continued opportunity and confidence in us to host a key non-conference game on their schedule each year in which we look forward to putting on a great experience for the student-athletes, coaches, support staff and fans,” Esely stated.
K-State holds a 3-0 record in the Snyder Classic after defeating Mizzou in year one 84-56, Middle Tennessee in 2024 74-48 and a 61-60 victory over #13 Ole Miss in last year’s game.
Tickets for the 4th Annual Bill Snyder Classic will go on sale in mid-July, which will include a special presale opportunity to the games previous ticket buyers. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are available by contacting the sports commission. For more information, visit stjomosports.com.
About Southern Bank:
Southern Bank has been building a strong legacy for their customers and communities since 1887. In 1994, Southern Bank became a publicly traded company and in 2009, began to grow exponentially. Today, with $4.3 billion in assets, Southern Bank serves more than 50 communities in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Kansas which includes two locations in St. Joseph.
The St. Joseph Sports Commission is a division of the St. Joseph, Missouri Convention & Visitors Bureau.
