UNI women’s basketball announces 2026-27 Missouri Valley Conference slate

ST LOUIS — UNI women's basketball begins its quest for fifteen consecutive seasons with a winning record in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play, as the Panthers open league competition on December 20, inside the McLeod Center, as announced by the MVC.

The Cats take on the Evansville Purple Aces on December 20, before another home matchup on December 22 against Southern Illinois. UNI's first road test opens a stretch of four straight away from home, beginning on December 31. The Panthers close 2026 at Indiana State with their first matchup of the new year coming in Valparaiso, Indiana, on January 3 against the Beacons. The stretch continues in Chicago, as the Panthers visit UIC on January 7 before the four-game road stand wraps up at Illinois State on January 9.

The Panthers will play the next four of five at home, as UNI hosts the Belmont Bruins and Murray State Racers, the top two teams in the league from a season ago, on January 14 and 16, respectively. A quick trip to Peoria, Illinois, to face the Bradley Braves on January 19 is followed by a trio of matchups in Cedar Falls. The Panthers' first return opponent is the Flames of UIC, who visit the McLeod Center on January 22. Indiana State follows on January 24 before the Panthers clash with an in-state foe as the Drake Bulldogs take the short trip North to Cedar Falls on January 31.

UNI goes on its second stretch of four straight away from home to open the month of February, beginning with a February 5 contest at Murray State. UNI heads from Murray, Kentucky, to Carbondale, Illinois, to take on Southern Illinois on February 7, continuing on to Evansville, Illinois, Illinois, and Nashville, Tennessee, on the trip to face Evansville and Belmont on February 11 and 13, respectively.

The Panthers' final three home games of the year stack up following the road trip, including games against Valparaiso, Bradley, and Illinois State. The Panthers host the Beacons on February 19, the Braves on February 21, and the Redbirds on February 25. The regular season concludes in Des Moines, Iowa, as the Panthers head to Drake for the final game before Arch Madness.

This season, the MVC combines the men's and women's conference in St. Louis under the title Arch Madness. The women's tournament begins with opening-round play on March 3, before quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship matchups spanning March 5-7.

New season tickets, as well as season ticket renewals can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, or by calling 319-273-4849. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

2026-27 UNI WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

October 26th - vs Upper Iowa (exhibition)
November 2nd - vs St. Thomas
November 6th - at South Dakota State
November 12th - at Iowa
November 15th - vs Creighton
November 18th - vs Iowa State
November 23rd - vs Green Bay
November 25th - vs Saint Louis
December 3rd - at Kansas State
December 6th - at North Dakota State
December 9th - at Minnesota
December 12th - vs Toledo
December 20th - vs Evansville*
December 22nd - vs Southern Illinois*
December 31st - at Indiana State*
January 3rd - at Valparaiso*
January 7th - at UIC*
January 9th - at Illinois State*
January 14th - vs Belmont*
January 16th - vs Murray State*
January 19th - at Bradley*
January 22nd - vs UIC*
January 24th - vs Indiana State*
January 31st - vs Drake*
February 5th - at Murray State*
February 7th - at Southern Illinois*
February 11th - at Evansville*
February 13th - at Belmont*
February 19th - vs Valparaiso*
February 21st - vs Bradley*
February 25th - vs Illinois State*
February 27th - at Drake*
March 3-7 - Arch Madness%

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* MVC Contest
% MVC Conference Tournament

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.

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