Preview: Fresno State Faces UNLV in Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The UNLV women’s basketball team, riding a wave of momentum, will host Fresno State in the 2026 Mountain West Conference Championship game on Sunday.

The top-seeded Runnin’ Rebels (20-10) enter the title game as heavy favorites, having defeated the Bulldogs decisively in both regular-season meetings. UNLV won 85-59 in Las Vegas on Dec. 31 and 68-54 in Fresno on Feb. 28. They carry a three-game winning streak into Sunday’s contest, including a dominant 76-47 victory over Boise State in their most recent outing on March 4.

Player of the Year candidate Shelbee Brown leads UNLV. The guard is coming off a 22-point performance against Boise State and averaged 15.5 points in the two wins over Fresno State this season.

The Bulldogs (14-17), the tournament’s surprising lowest seed, have battled to an improbable championship berth. They upset Nevada 74-57 on Saturday to advance, led by guard Emilia Long’s 15 points and four assists. Long has been Fresno State’s most consistent scorer, averaging 13.7 points over her last seven games.

However, Fresno State’s season has been marked by inconsistency. Prior to the Nevada win, they lost four straight, including the Feb. 28 defeat to these same Rebels where they shot just 32% from the field. To have a chance Sunday, they must find an offensive rhythm against a stout UNLV defense.

The game tips off at 3 p.m. PDT at the Thomas & Mack Center. The winner earns the Mountain West’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. For UNLV, it’s an opportunity to cap a strong season with a conference crown. For Fresno State, it’s a chance at redemption and a stunning Cinderella run to the Big Dance.