It seems the NCAA has added a women's tournament, WBIT, that will cover expenses, I think, for the 32 teams selected, as opposed to the WNIT. Do you think that this makes it more prestigious, and a more desirable landing spot for Cal? https://herhoopstats.substack.com/p/what-changes-will-the-wbit-bring
https://womensnit.com/news/2023/7/17/general-wnit-statement.aspx
https://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-women/wbit/faqs

Thanks for posting.
Strange. almost no info about this new post season tournament, but here is a little more info from what you posted:

https://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-women/wbit/eventinfo

here is the last press release from Sept:

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2023/7/17/media-center-ncaa-announces-creation-of-womens-basketball-invitation-tournament.aspx

however the difference between what you posted and the NCAA site is when the tournment starts. NCAA site says it starts the same time as the NCAA tournament, while the article you linked said it started in July which would make no sense.

Bottom line is the total post season spots increases by 16 teams (since WNIT reduced to 48 teams)

Since the new WBIT automatically qualifies the first four out and the regular season conference champs + pays for travel expenses it looks like the WBIT > WNIT

The WBIT should have just bought out the WNIT and made it a 48 team field.

As before, the this further makes the 8 team WBI pointless

Up to 156 teams make the postseason now…although it's seems more are invited, but some reject due to expenses, injuries, academics, etc.
Thanks for finding the update. I guess the championship game is in Indiana for the WBIT.
Meanwhile, the WNIT has announced their first automatic qualifier:Southern Indiana, who are not yet eligible for NCAA postseason tournaments

We play Hawaii Thursday night at Haas. WBIT#2 seed

Woodacre said:

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It seems the NCAA has added a women's tournament, WBIT, that will cover expenses, I think, for the 32 teams selected, as opposed to the WNIT. Do you think that this makes it more prestigious, and a more desirable landing spot for Cal? https://herhoopstats.substack.com/p/what-changes-will-the-wbit-bring
https://womensnit.com/news/2023/7/17/general-wnit-statement.aspx
https://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-women/wbit/faqs

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In terms of teams that missed the tournament, the 1 and 2 seeds are certainly the key schools it seems like...

The selection criteria guarantees the better tournament is the new WBIT:

FIRST FOUR OUT The first four teams out of the NCAA Tournament receive an AUTOMATIC BID and will be the first four seeds in the WBIT.

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS Regular-season champions of NCAA Division I conference not otherwise selected to the NCAA Tournament.

Also, as mentioned above the new tournament pays for travel expenses (the WNIT did not)

Looks like Cal were in the "next four out"

HoopDreams said:

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The selection criteria guarantees the better tournament is the new WBIT:

FIRST FOUR OUT The first four teams out of the NCAA Tournament receive an AUTOMATIC BID and will be the first four seeds in the WBIT.

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS Regular-season champions of NCAA Division I conference not otherwise selected to the NCAA Tournament.

Also, as mentioned above the new tournament pays for travel expenses (the WNIT did not)

Looks like Cal were in the "next four out"

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According to Charlie Creme's reckoning, Cal was something like the fifth team out. Whatever--BearBloke and I are very pleased.