Category: Shocker Athletics

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) has returned to Charles Koch Arena, and the AfterShocks will play its third game against The Enchantment, the University of New Mexico’s alumni team, after winning game one and losing game two, at 8 p.m. today, July 24.

The AfterShocks, who took home the championship and $1 million prize last year, are looking for a repeat to win this year’s $2 million prize. The team must win this game to continue on in the tournament for another chance at the prize.

Shocker Nation can help cheer on the AfterShocks in Charles Koch Arena by purchasing tickets at goshockers.evenue.net/events/TBT.

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) has returned to Charles Koch Arena, and the AfterShocks will play its second game against The Enchantment, the University of New Mexico’s alumni team, at 8 p.m. today, July 23 after a dominating 98-77 win.

The AfterShocks, who took home the championship and $1 million prize last year, are looking for a repeat to win this year’s $2 million prize.

A third game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, July 24 as the tiebreaker of the first two games, if necessary.

Shocker Nation can help cheer on the AfterShocks in Charles Koch Arena by purchasing tickets at goshockers.evenue.net/events/TBT.

Sydney McKinney, Shocker softball’s most decorated athlete in school history, has officially been named an assistant coach for the program, as announced by head coach Kristi Bredbenner July 22.

A three-time All-American and two-time American Conference Player of the Year, McKinney returns to the dugout on a full-time basis after spending the past season as a graduate assistant on staff. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Athletes Unlimited Collegiate Softball Draft will oversee the defense, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) returns to Charles Koch Arena at 8 p.m. today, July 20. The AfterShocks, who took home the championship and $1 million prize last year, are looking for a repeat to win this year’s $2 million prize.

The team’s journey begins with its first game in a best two out of three math against The Enchantment, the University of New Mexico’s alumni team. The second game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at Charles Koch Arena, with the third game scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, July 24 as the tiebreaker if necessary.

Shocker Nation can help cheer on the AfterShocks in Charles Koch Arena by purchasing tickets at goshockers.evenue.net/events/TBT.

The NCAA announced July 9 afternoon that Wichita has been selected to host opening round games for the 2027 and 2028 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Wichita and Dayton, Ohio, which has served as the host city for the start of the tournament since 2001, both will host three games each day on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Selection Sunday. The change was necessitated by the decision in May to expand the tournament field from 68 to 76 teams.

Wichita State University will serve as the host in partnership with Visit Wichita, Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita.

On Monday afternoon, Shocker volleyball coach Chris Lamb explains back-spin and top-spin to a group of 60 young women during a serving drill at camp. Across campus, work continues on locker rooms and offices at Wilkins Stadium, soon to be connected to an indoor practice facility, opened last fall, that allows the Shockers to work on softball skills year-round.

Those scenes have their roots in car rides to play days, T-shirts purchased at the campus bookstore and fights for meal money. Natasha (Matson) Fife, a teacher in WSU’s physical education department, helped start the movement for women’s college sports in the late 1960’s. She lived to see those efforts pay off with Charles Koch Arena packed for women’s sports and success and attention unimaginable in the early days.

Fife, 89, passed away July 3. In addition to her pioneering role at WSU, she was one of Kansas’ greatest golfers, winner of five Kansas Women’s Amateurs and a competing in four U.S. Women’s Amateurs. She was inducted in the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Shocker Athletics was well represented at the 28th annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet, as current and former Shockers were recognized for excellence both on and off the field.

• Freshman sensation Kinzey Woody was named the College Female Athlete of the Year following one of the most decorated debut seasons in Shocker softball history.
• Kenyon Giles received College Male Athlete of the Year honors after delivering one of the greatest shooting seasons in Shocker men’s basketball history.
• Longtime Shocker volleyball head coach Chris Lamb was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing one of the most successful coaching careers in Shocker history.
• Former Shocker baseball standout Shane Dennis was also inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame.
• Legendary Shocker baseball coach and administrator Brent Kemnitz received the Excellence in Sports Award, honoring nearly five decades of service to Shocker Athletics.

“Shocker basketball ace” Gene Wiley appeared on the front page of the student newspaper in 1962 as he prepared to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

While on his way to one of the NBA’s most famous teams, his painting skills landed him on page one of The Sunflower. Wiley exhibited nine of his watercolor and tempera works, in addition to illustrations with pen and ink, in the Shocker Room in what is now the Rhatigan Student Center.

Wiley, 88, passed away June 22 in El Dorado, Kansas. Known as a quiet and reserved man, he continued painting throughout his life after a standout basketball career for the Shockers, four seasons in the NBA and a fifth in the ABA. He lived his final years at Lakepoint Nursing Home in El Dorado.

Cleo Littleton’s mark on Wichita State basketball starts when fans enter Charles Koch Arena. Littleton starred for the Shockers in the early 1950’s and prompted the construction of the 10,000-seat on-campus arena.

Without Cleo in uniform, what path does Shocker basketball take? That road is an unknown. Littleton’s foundational contributions are on the record and visible at the corner of 21st and Hillside.

Littleton’s mark on life outside basketball is just as — perhaps more — significant. His family and friends demonstrated that during Littleton’s memorial service on June 23 at University United Methodist Church, a short walk from the arena where a banner hangs to honor his career as a Shocker.

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