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Basketball in Columbus

Columbus, Ohio, has a longstanding history of basketball traditions, from hosting the NCAA Men’s March Madness to adult basketball leagues at Columbus Recreation and Parks. 

Columbus is the proud home of the Ohio State University basketball program. The men’s team holds a national championship and multiple Final Four appearances. Meanwhile, the women’s squad has claimed over 20 “Big Ten” titles. Both teams compete at the state-of-the-art Schottenstein Center.

Around the city, you can watch NCAA Capital University's Division III teams and high school tournaments and participate in local recreational leagues and tournaments for all ages!

Basketball's Legacy in Columbus

Columbus has played a key role in basketball history, from Georgeann Wells becoming the first woman to dunk in an NCAA game to Capital University winning back-to-back NCAA Division III women’s basketball championships!

The city has produced at least 20 NBA players and three WNBA players and ranks third in the nation for high school basketball participation. Looking ahead, Columbus will host the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2027 and Men’s March Madness in 2028—our seventh time hosting the tournament at Nationwide Arena.

Major Events Hosted

Future Events
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NCAA Women’s Final Four

Two overtime thrillers and a buzzer-beater decided the 2018 Final Four. We're running it back in 2027.

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The Basketball Tournament

In 2020, TBT brought 24 teams to Columbus for the first ‘bubble’ sports event during the pandemic.

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Ohio State Women’s Basketball

The team started play in 1965, coached by women’s sports pioneer Phyliss Bailey. Two of the top 10 winningest coaches in NCAA women's basketball history coached the Buckeyes – Tara VanDerveer and Jim Foster.

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Ohio State Men’s Basketball

The Buckeyes have made 11 Final Fours and won the NCAA Championship in 1960. Notable players include Jim Jackson, Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Greg Oden, D’Angelo Russell, Scoonie Penn, Michael Redd Evan Turner and Mike Conley, Jr.

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Columbus Quest

Although the league only lasted two and a half years, the women’s pro team won the only two league titles, led by Central Ohioan Katie Smith. Many stars from the Quest moved to the WNBA after the league folded in Dec. 1998.

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Columbus Condors

If you want a taste of professional basketball, the Columbus Condors are your team. The Condors play just outside of the city, in Westerville. Since 2016, the Condors compete against other teams from across the country in The Basketball League.

Notable People

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John Havlicek

"Hondo" helped OSU win a national title then won eight NBA championships and made 13 All-Star teams with the Boston Celtics.

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Katie Smith

The Buckeyes star went onto win two ABL championships with the Quest, then became a top 25 WNBA player of all time.

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Jim Jackson

Named Ohio Mr. Basketball twice before winning Big Ten Player of the Year for the Buckeyes. Played in the NBA for 14 years.

Timeline

1897
1897

Several Columbus high schools assemble girls teams, just six years after basketball was invented

1898
1898

Ohio State’s men’s team begins playing

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