Arizona women’s basketball released its full 2026-27 nonconference schedule on Monday morning. The Wildcats will play a slate of nine home games and five road or neutral games, including the five regular season contests already announced and two exhibitions.
The season starts with an exhibition against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Thursday, Oct. 22 in McKale Center. It’s unclear whether the game
is against head coach Becky Burke’s former NAIA employer in Prescott, Ariz. or the Division II main campus in Daytona, Fla. It is not specified in the release and information from the University wasn’t immediately available.
Arizona’s second exhibition will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27 when DII Cal State Monterrey Bay comes to Tucson. The Sea Otters finished 14-14 overall last season and 11-11 in the CCAA. They played three games against DI programs, including two exhibitions.
The Wildcats start the regular season with a neutral site game against Stanford in Las Vegas. The game will be held in T-Mobile Arena as part of the Hall of Fame Series on Monday, Nov. 2. The Cardinal went 21-14 overall and 8-10 in the ACC last season. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the WBIT where they fell to BYU in Provo.
Arizona returns to Tucson to play Iona on Sunday, Nov. 8. The Gaels went 20-12 last season, including 12-8 in the MAAC. They earned the No. 4 seed in the MAAC Tournament but fell to top-seeded Quinnipac in the semifinals.
The Wildcats hit the road to play the highly anticipated game against reigning champion UCLA on Thursday, Nov. 12. The game is the first in a home-and-home arrangement with the Bruins, who went 37-1 overall and 18-0 in the Big Ten on the way to a dominant performance in the national title game last season.
The third game against a former Pac-12 foe will take place on Sunday, Nov. 15 when Oregon State comes to town. The Beavers advanced to the WCC title game last season but fell to Gonzaga. They played in the WBIT, completing a 23-12 season with a loss to Wisconsin in the opening round. They went 13-5 in their second and final season in the WCC. They will play as a member of the reconstituted Pac-12 this season.
Arizona will play its second game in a row at home when New Mexico State comes to McKale Center on Thursday, Nov. 19. The Aggies finished 9-21 overall and 5-13 in CUSA last season.
The Wildcats hit the road again for two neutral site games in the Jacksonville Classic during Thanksgiving week. They will play on Nov. 23 and Nov. 25 against opponents to be named later. Last year’s Jacksonville Classic included only men’s teams, so it’s difficult to say which women’s teams might choose to play there. As a men’s tournament, it was contested entirely between mid-major programs. Regardless of who Arizona plays, the tournament provides an opportunity for Arizona freshman Jasleen Green to compete in her home state.
UA returns home to play Sacramento State on Sunday, Nov. 29. The Hornets went 15-18 overall and 8-10 in the Big Sky last season. This year, they will feature Tucson native and former Wildcat Achol Magot, who transferred there in the offseason.
The Wildcats go back on the road to play New Mexico on Saturday, Dec. 5. The Lobos went 22-9 last season, a record that included a big win in McKale Center. They finished 14-6 in the Mountain West and fell to Boise State in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament.
That game will be followed by the Field Trip Day game at 11 a.m. MST on Wednesday, Dec. 9 when SEMO comes to McKale Center. The Redhawks played to a 14-18 overall schedule and finished 8-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Despite finishing the regular season as the No. 8 seed in the OVC Tournament, they made a run to the semifinals before falling to top-seeded Western Illinois.
NAU makes the trip to Tucson on Sunday, Dec. 13. The Lumberjacks went 10-22 overall and 6-12 in the Big Sky last season. Their season included an 87-76 loss in McKale Center.
The nonconference slate wraps up with a visit from Oakland on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The Golden Grizzlies had a 10-21 overall record last season. They finished 7-13 in the Horizon League.
Times and broadcast information will be released at a later date.
The Big 12 released its schedule matrix for conference games in June but dates and times have not been announced.
