UNI women’s basketball: Panthers release 2026-27 non-conference schedule

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI women's basketball team has unveiled its 12-game non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season, including a home exhibition, a marquee home showdown with Iowa State, and seven total home contests.

The Panthers will tip off the year with an exhibition game against Upper Iowa on October 26th inside the McLeod Center, offering fans their first look at the 2026-27 squad.

Regular season action officially begins on November 2, when UNI hosts St. Thomas for the fourth time in program history. The Panthers are undefeated against the Tommies, with a 3-0 record, including a 58-40 victory last season in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Panthers head to South Dakota State for their first road contest of the 2026-27 season to face a 2025-26 NCAA Tournament Qualifier. UNI is searching for its sixth all-time victory over the Jackrabbits, and first since 2021 when the teams clash in Brookings, South Dakota, on November 6.

The 32nd all-time meeting between the Panthers and the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa will take place in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on November 12. The Panthers look for their second victory over the Hawkeyes in Iowa City, as the all-time series stands at 28-3 in favor of the Hawkeyes.

Four consecutive home matchups for the Panthers follow the two-game road stint, starting with a long-standing rivalry with head coach Tanya Warren's alma mater, Creighton, on November 15. The Panthers picked up their 21st all-time victory over the Bluejays last season and look to win back-to-back matchups against Creighton for the first time since 2020-21/2021-22. Iowa State then returns to the McLeod Center for the first time since the Panthers' largest upset in program history, an 87-75 victory over the then No. 8 ranked Cyclones in 2024. The November 18 contest marks the 52nd matchup between the two programs.

UNI's sixth regular-season contest of the non-conference slate pits the Panthers against the UW-Green Bay Phoenix on November 23. UNI has won the last two meetings between the programs, but trails 4-8 in the all-time series. The Cats have three wins over the Phoenix in Cedar Falls. November 25, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Panthers wrap up a four-game homestand with a matchup against Saint Louis. The Panthers have won eight of the 11 all-time matchups, but have dropped back-to-back contests to the Billikens, both games coming in St. Louis, Missouri.

The final three road games of the non-conference variety come on December 3, 6, and 9 as the Panthers head to Kansas State, North Dakota State, and Minnesota, before returning home to round out the non-conference schedule in the McLeod Center on December 12 against Toledo.

Northern Iowa's Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) schedule will be announced at a later date.

Season tickets to watch the Panthers inside the McLeod Center are still available HERE.

2026-27 UNI Women's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

October 26th - vs Upper Iowa (exhibition)
November 2nd - vs St. Thomas
November 6th - @ South Dakota State
November 12th - @ Iowa
November 15th - vs Creighton
November 18th - vs Iowa State
November 23rd - vs Green Bay
November 25th - vs Saint Louis
December 3rd - @ Kansas State
December 6th - @ North Dakota State
December 9th - @ Minnesota
December 12th - vs Toledo

UNI women's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Women's Basketball), X (@UNIwbb), and on Instagram (@uni_wbb). The 2026-27 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com

Calendar

Upcoming Events