What a year 2025 has been in the Southwest Louisiana sports scene – and we’re not done yet! December means one thing: basketball is taking over and there’s no better place to experience the thrill of the game than Louisiana’s Playground.
Whether you’re a local Poke fan or just looking for an exciting way to spend your weekend, Southwest Louisiana has it all - unmatched talent, community pride, and that true game-day experience that goes far beyond the buzzer.
McNeese State University Basketball
McNeese Basketball takes the stage in December as the Cowboys and Cowgirls basketball teams shake the Townsley Law Arena. The Pokes are a powerhouse team, making way to another Southland Conference Championship title. The Cowboys’ schedule this season has been interesting, as they’ve already traveled with dominated tournament play in the Cayman Islands and beat longtime rivals, UL Ragin Cajuns. Key returning players such as D.J. Richards and Jahvon Garcia lead the team in points, as do newcomers Larry Johnson and Tyshawn Archie. The Cowboys host two home games this month on December 5th and 12th, so don’t miss your chance to see the Bayou Bandits in action before the year is over!
The Cowgirls take the spotlight for two Southland Conference home games this month as well, on December 12th and 15th against the East Texas A&M Lions and the Northwestern State Demons, respectively. Cowgirl Basketball is heating up, with a lot of attention as new head coach Ayla Guzzardo brings the promise of a Southland Conference Championship team. Grab your Cowgirl and Cowboy basketball tickets here!
2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook
As we approach the end of the year, it's only fitting to highlight the successes of 2025. We’ve introduced new, exciting events to Louisiana’s Playground, including Athlete’s Unlimited Pro Softball League, Men’s All-Pro High Stakes Tour, Girls and Boys High School Basketball Allstar Games, and too many to name.
We’re excited to welcome new major events to Southwest Louisiana in 2026, including the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 Women’s National Championship, One World One Love Gymnastics with Aleah Finnegan, the Marucci 1st Pitch Classic powered by 2D Sports, and more!
Southwest Louisiana staples like the LHSAA State Tournaments in boys’ basketball, softball, baseball, and swimming, and the Southland Conference Basketball Tournament, The Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators baseball team, the American Junior Golf Association’s Lake Charles Junior Championship (returning April 2-5, 2025), were massive successes. Both the Perfect Game and Jennie Finch World Series brought in over 100 teams to Lake Charles and Sulphur, living up to our reputation as the Sports Capital of Louisiana. Looking forward, we can’t wait for what 2026 will bring to the sporting world of Southwest Louisiana!
Save the Date for these 2026 events:
- LHSAA Baseball Championships: May 12-16, 2026
- LHSAA Softball Championships: May 1-2, 2026
- LHSAA Boys' Basketball Championships: Mar 9-14, 2026
- NJCAA Women’s Division 1 National Championships: Mar 22-31, 2026
- One World One Love Gymnastics: Feb 20-22, 2026
- Marucci 1st Pitch Classic Powered by 2D Sports: Mar 5-7, 2026
- American Junior Golf Association Lake Charles Junior Championship: April 2-5, 2026
- Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators: June-August, 2026
- McNeese Men's & Women's Sports
- Southland Conference Championship: March 8-11, 2026
More sporting events and details can be found on our calendar of events! For the need-to-know information, big-game updates, and successes of the sporting world in SWLA, be sure to check out Where Champions are Crowned, released on the first of each month on visitlakecharles.org. Let’s Play!
