The Baker University Wildcats embody the deepest roots of Kansas history, a legacy of pioneering athletics, and a culture of gridiron dominance from their home in Baldwin City. As the oldest university in the state, Baker boasts a football program that is true NAIA royalty, ranking as the second-winningest program in the association's history and making multiple appearances in the National Championship game, including a memorable run in 2016. The Wildcats' place in sports lore was secured on the hardwood, where the men's basketball team played in the very first NAIA National Championship game in 1937, helping to launch the longest-running national tournament in college basketball. In the modern era, the women's basketball program has been a national force, reaching its own NAIA National Championship game in 2016. Competing in the historic Heart of America Athletic Conference, the Wildcats are fueled by the energy at Liston Stadium, a venue steeped in winning tradition. The Baker Wildcats represent the bedrock of small-college athletics, a program that combines over a century of history with a relentless drive to remain at the forefront of the NAIA.