A packed non‑conference slate
The University of Kansas women's basketball program has released its complete non‑conference schedule for the 2026‑27 season, promising a blend of home dominance, neutral‑site challenges and a demanding road test.
Eight of the team's games will be played at Allen Fieldhouse, giving fans a chance to support the Jayhawks in front of their home crowd, while four neutral‑site contests will take the team to venues ranging from Sioux Falls to the Cancun Challenge in Mexico.
The season opens with exhibition matchups against Northeastern State and Washburn, followed by a regular‑season debut against Omaha on November 3, setting the tone for a schedule that also includes a road game at Minnesota and a trip to Kansas City to face South Dakota State.
Early in the campaign, KU will test regional rivals Drake and Oral Roberts, then travel to Sioux Falls to meet the University of Nebraska in a neutral‑site showdown, before heading to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge, where opponents will be announced later.
The Big 12 slate features home contests against Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU and UCF, while the road portion includes trips to BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Utah and West Virginia, giving the team a comprehensive test before conference play.
Head coach Brandon Schneider emphasized that the schedule is designed to prepare the squad for Big 12 competition and to build a strong résumé for NCAA Tournament selection, a goal shared by senior guard S'Mya Nichols and sophomore forward Jaliya Davis, who are expected to lead the offense.
Alongside Nichols and Davis, other returning players such as Libby Fandel, Regan Williams, Cydnee Bryant and Mariyah Noel will contribute depth, while the coaching staff and support personnel look to capitalize on the experience gained from last season's near‑miss of the NCAA Tournament.
Looking ahead
With a demanding non‑conference slate now set, the Jayhawks are poised to make a statement early, using each game as a building block toward a postseason run that fans have been eager to see.