Get ready for an exciting basketball season! The 2026 WPIAL boys and girls basketball playoffs are set to ignite the courts, and we've got all the details for you. The defending champions are ready to roar back, but will they retain their titles?
In the boys' division, Upper St. Clair, Chartiers Valley, Jeannette, and Neighborhood Academy are the top seeds in their respective classes, aiming to defend their WPIAL crowns. But here's where it gets interesting: they're not alone in the race for glory. Quaker Valley and Mohawk also join the top ranks, creating a highly competitive field.
On the girls' side, Canon-McMillan, South Fayette, Blackhawk, Shady Side Academy, Neshannock, and Aquinas Academy are the top seeds, each with their eyes on the WPIAL championship. The playoffs kick off this week, with the opening round games taking place on Thursday and Friday.
The WPIAL championships will be hosted at Pitt's Petersen Events Center from February 26th to 28th, promising an electrifying atmosphere. Let's dive into the detailed schedules for both the boys' and girls' tournaments, class by class.
Boys' Basketball Playoffs:
Class 6A:
- First Round: Norwin vs. Fox Chapel, Pine-Richland vs. Mt. Lebanon, Imani Christian vs. North Hills
- Quarterfinals: Norwin/Fox Chapel winner vs. Upper St. Clair, Seneca Valley vs. Hempfield, Pine-Richland/Mt. Lebanon winner vs. New Castle, Imani Christian/North Hills winner vs. Central Catholic
Class 5A:
- Preliminary Round: Montour vs. McKeesport, Laurel Highlands vs. Ringgold, Mars vs. Latrobe
- First Round: Montour/McKeesport winner vs. Chartiers Valley, Shaler vs. Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford vs. Moon, Indiana vs. Gateway, Laurel Highlands/Ringgold winner vs. Lincoln Park, Hampton vs. Peters Township, Mars/Latrobe winner vs. Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette vs. Penn Hills
Class 4A:
- First Round: Burrell vs. Belle Vernon, Deer Lakes vs. Derry, Greensburg Salem vs. Hopewell, Avonworth vs. Elizabeth Forward, East Allegheny vs. Knoch, Highlands vs. Central Valley
- Byes: Quaker Valley, North Catholic
Class 3A:
- First Round: Waynesburg vs. Mohawk, Ellwood City vs. South Allegheny, Shady Side Academy vs. Bishop Canevin, Washington vs. Southmoreland, Sto-Rox vs. Aliquippa, Charleroi vs. Seton LaSalle, Riverside vs. South Park, Ligonier Valley vs. Keystone Oaks
Class 2A:
- Preliminary Round: Beth-Center vs. Brentwood, Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Union, West Greene vs. Bentworth
- First Round: Beth-Center/Brentwood winner vs. Jeannette, Eden Christian vs. Laurel, Fort Cherry vs. Neshannock, Shenango vs. Clairton, Greensburg Central Catholic/Union winner vs. Sewickley Academy, Winchester Thurston vs. Chartiers-Houston, West Greene/Bentworth winner vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Springdale vs. Jefferson-Morgan
Class A:
- Quarterfinals: Summit Academy vs. Neighborhood Academy, Aquinas Academy vs. Monessen, St. Joseph vs. Nazareth Prep, Serra Catholic vs. Avella
Girls' Basketball Playoffs:
Class 6A:
- First Round: Mt. Lebanon vs. North Hills
- Quarterfinals: Mt. Lebanon/North Hills winner vs. Canon-McMillan, Seneca Valley vs. Pine-Richland, Hempfield vs. Norwin, North Allegheny vs. Upper St. Clair
Class 5A:
- First Round: Kiski Area vs. South Fayette, Trinity vs. West Allegheny, Chartiers Valley vs. Baldwin, Peters Township vs. Plum, Penn Hills vs. Thomas Jefferson, Latrobe vs. Fox Chapel, Mars vs. Indiana, Franklin Regional vs. Penn-Trafford
Class 4A:
- First Round: Burrell vs. Hampton, Lincoln Park vs. Belle Vernon, Hopewell vs. Elizabeth Forward, Freeport vs. South Park, Laurel Highlands vs. North Catholic, Mt. Pleasant vs. Beaver
- Byes: Blackhawk, Oakland Catholic
Class 3A:
- First Round: Riverside vs. Avonworth, Keystone Oaks vs. Quaker Valley, Sto-Rox vs. Seton LaSalle, South Allegheny vs. Beaver Falls, Deer Lakes vs. Waynesburg, Mohawk vs. Greensburg Central Catholic, McGuffey vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
- Bye: Shady Side Academy
Class 2A:
- First Round: Brentwood vs. Neshannock, Laurel vs. California, Riverview vs. Fort Cherry, Apollo-Ridge vs. Rochester, Bentworth vs. Winchester Thurston, Jeannette vs. Burgettstown, South Side vs. Chartiers-Houston, Beth-Center vs. Aliquippa
Class A:
- First Round: Eden Christian vs. Bishop Canevin, Monessen vs. Sewickley Academy, Clairton vs. West Greene
- Quarterfinals: Eden Christian/Bishop Canevin winner vs. Aquinas Academy, St. Joseph vs. Geibel Catholic, Monessen/Sewickley Academy winner vs. Serra Catholic, Clairton/West Greene winner vs. Union
Mark your calendars and get ready for some thrilling basketball action! Who do you think will emerge as the champions this season? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
