The new year brings new opportunity for the Linfield men's and women's basketball teams who start the final stretch of the season, Northwest Conference play. Each team hosts Whitman and Whitworth inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium this Friday and Saturday, the first home events of 2026. On Saturday, Linfield Athletics hosts Young Cats Club Day at the double header of hoops games, inviting boys and girls ages 12 and under to cheer on the Wildcats against the Whitworth Pirates. The Young Cats Club will receive free admission alongside their parents, a free T-shirt, and the ability to get Northwest Conference schedule posters signed at the end of each game. 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Linfield women's basketball (8-2, 1-0 NWC) capped off the non-conference slate just before Christmas Day 2025, earning a pair of hard-fought wins at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic in Honolulu. The 'Cats resume NWC play with a 1-0 record, trailing only a pair of teams who have started the slate a perfect 3-0. The first test for the 'Cats comes in the reigning NWC champion Whitman Blues on Friday evening. Each member of the Linfield starting five ranks inside the top-25 scorers in the conference, led by Amelia Solt who has been excellent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Allie Mead leads the conference in assists per game, and Miki Vermeulen ranks second in rebounds per game, important pieces to the Wildcat offense that has been the best in the NWC to begin the season.
 
The match-ups:
Friday, January 9 | 5:30 p.m. |  Ted Wilson Gymnasium
Vs Whitman (8-4, 3-0 NWC)
Watch live and on-demand here: https://flosports.link/4oF7iIl
Saturday, January 10 | 3 p.m. | Ted Wilson Gymnasium
Vs Whitworth (1-11, 0-3 NWC)
Watch live and on-demand here: https://flosports.link/3KZtdLM
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Linfield men's basketball (2-7, 0-1 NWC) enjoyed nearly a month off from competition, coming off of a narrow loss to Division II Western Oregon just before winter break. The 'Cats have been led offensively by senior guard Dayton Magaña, averaging over 13 points per game this season, thanks in large part to his success from three. Senior Chase Bennett has been an assist machine for head coach Elijah Gurash's offense, meanwhile Garrett Callsen's one block per game ranks third in the Northwest Conference. The young Wildcat roster aims to come together as a whole following the extensive break, ready to kick off the first NWC slate under first-year coach Gurash.
 
The match-ups:
Friday, January 9 | 7:30 p.m. |  Ted Wilson Gymnasium
Vs Whitman (6-6, 1-2 NWC)
Watch live and on-demand here: https://flosports.link/4oB7FDQ
Saturday, January 10 | 5 p.m. | Ted Wilson Gymnasium
Vs Whitworth (9-3, 3-0 NWC)
Watch live and on-demand here: https://flosports.link/47e8cnT
 
LINFIELD SPORTS NETWORK ON FLOSPORTS
Last summer, the Northwest Conference and its nine affiliated institutions announced an exclusive media rights partnership, bringing nearly all NWC broadcasted sports to the FloSports platform for the foreseen future. This deal now requires fans, families, and students to purchase a subscription to the platform to view Wildcat sports live and on-demand. 
To learn more about FloSports, the Linfield Sports Network, how to subscribe, and even how to get a discounted subscription, visit: https://golinfieldwildcats.com/news/2025/8/29/general-interest-wildcats-home-openers-one-week-away-flosports-streams-on-deck.aspx


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