KANSAS — Texas Wesleyan University will join a new women's wrestling qualifying group for the 2025-26 season, as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) merge their women's wrestling programs, both conference offices announced Wednesday.

The nine-team qualifying group includes Texas Wesleyan University, Central Christian College, Oklahoma City University, and Wayland Baptist University from the SAC, alongside Avila University, Friends University, Ottawa University, the University of Saint Mary, and York University from the KCAC.

"The KCAC is excited to work with the Sooner Athletic Conference to create a highly competitive partnership in women's wrestling!" said Dr. James Zimmerman, KCAC Governing Council Chair. "The women's wrestling programs in the KCAC and SAC are some of the finest in the country at the collegiate level. Bringing the two conferences together will make for an exciting championship and national qualifier."

"We are excited to partner with the KCAC for women's wrestling," said John Martin, Commissioner of the Sooner Athletic Conference. "The SAC and the KCAC have a long history of collaboration, and we look forward to this opportunity."

The conferences will recognize a combined KCAC/SAC Women's Wrestler of the Week and may schedule KCAC/SAC duals before the combined championship.

The KCAC/SAC Women's Wrestling Championship is set for Feb. 27, 2026, at Friends University. The NAIA Women's Wrestling Championship will follow on March 13-14, 2026, at Park City Arena in Park City, Kan.