Home US SportsNCAAW UConn women’s basketball unveils complete nonconference schedule, headlined by USC, Notre Dame

UConn women’s basketball unveils complete nonconference schedule, headlined by USC, Notre Dame

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The UConn women’s basketball team unveiled its complete 2025-26 nonconference schedule on Friday, which includes 10 2025 NCAA Tournament teams and six who finished last season ranked in the AP Top 25.

The Huskies will play 11 games outside of the Big East this year compared to 13 in 2024-25 with its conference schedule increasing from 18 to 20 games. Most of UConn’s opponents were already known, but the team added a home matchup against Loyola Chicago to fill the remaining open spot. The Huskies will play five non-conference games at home this season, headlined by their iconic rivalries against Notre Dame and Tennessee.

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The Fighting Irish return to Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 19 for the first time since upsetting UConn on its home court in 2024, which marked the Huskies’ first loss in Storrs in the series since 2015. UConn also has something to prove against Tennessee, who pulled off a stunning upset in Knoxville last season for the first time since 2007. The Lady Vols come to PeoplesBank Arena (formerly the XL Center) in Hartford on Feb. 1.

UConn will begin a new home-and-home series in 2025-26 with Ohio State on Nov. 16 at PeoplesBank Arena. The last time the teams met in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes eliminated the Huskies in the Sweet 16 to end a 14-year streak of Final Four appearances. It will be the first regular-season game between the programs since 2019. The Huskies will also start a series Florida State on Nov. 9 at Gampel Pavilion.

UConn’s biggest game on the road this season is an Elite Eight rematch against USC in Los Angeles on Dec. 13. The Huskies are 4-1 all-time against the Trojans with wins in the last two NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, but they suffered their first-ever loss in the series in Hartford last December. UConn hasn’t faced USC in L.A. since 2003.

The Huskies enter the 2025-26 season as a favorite to defend their 2025 NCAA Championship with Final Four Most Outstanding Player Azzi Fudd and WBCA Freshman of the Year Sarah Strong both returning alongside the majority of last year’s roster. UConn signed key additions out of the transfer portal in star Wisconsin forward Serah Williams and USC guard Kayleigh Heckel, and it also added three incoming freshmen led by No. 25 prospect Kelis Fisher.

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UConn women’s basketball 2025-26 non-conference schedule

Oct. 13: vs. Boston College at Mohegan Sun Arena (exhibition)

Oct. 26: vs. Southern Connecticut State (exhibition)

Nov. 4: vs. Louisville in Armed Forces Classic at Ramstein Air Base, Germany

Nov. 9: vs. Florida State at Gampel Pavilion

Nov. 12: vs. Loyola Chicago

Nov. 16: vs. Ohio State at PeoplesBank Arena

Nov. 21: vs. Michigan in Naismith Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena

Nov. 23: vs. Utah in Naismith Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena

Dec. 3: at South Florida

Dec. 13: at USC

Dec. 20: vs. Iowa in Women’s Champions Classic at Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Jan. 19: vs. Notre Dame at Gampel Pavilion

Feb. 1: vs. Tennessee at PeoplesBank Arena

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