The 2026‑27 women's basketball season marks a fresh start for the Kennesaw State Owls, who will open their Conference USA slate on the road against Western Kentucky on January 2, 2027.
First‑year head coach Tianni Kelly, who took the reins earlier this year, will guide a roster eager to build on last season’s momentum and to test themselves against a competitive league schedule.
A packed slate and strategic road trips
The Owls are slated to play 18 conference games, with nine at home and nine away, facing each of the ten league opponents twice. Sixteen of those contests fall on Thursdays or Saturdays, a pattern that shapes travel and broadcast planning.
Early road trips include visits to Middle Tennessee on January 4 and to Jacksonville State on January 10, while the home opener is set for January 14 against Sam Houston at VyStar Arena.
The regular season will culminate with a home showdown against Western Kentucky on March 6, setting the stage for the Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship in Huntsville, Alabama, from March 9‑13.
A notable highlight is the first‑ever meeting with Missouri State on January 28, as the Owls also welcome FIU and other newcomers to their schedule following recent conference realignment.
Kennesaw State will also venture beyond conference play, traveling to Delaware and Liberty for the first time in program history, while a later non‑conference slate will be announced in the coming weeks.