2026‑27 Schedule Unveiled
Northern Michigan University's women's basketball program has released its 2026‑27 schedule, a plan that features 13 home games and a rigorous non‑conference lineup designed to test the team early and keep the momentum from a strong previous season.
Head coach Casey Thousand, now in her fifth year with the Wildcats, will guide a squad that finished 2025‑26 with a 25‑8 record and secured a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The schedule opens with the Midwest Tip‑Off Challenge in Wisconsin Dells, where the team will face Central Missouri on Oct. 30, Truman State on Oct. 31 and Minnesota State Mankato on Nov. 1.
After the initial challenge, the Wildcats return to Wisconsin Dells for matchups against Lewis on Nov. 13 and Upper Iowa on Nov. 14 before heading to Minnesota for road games versus St. Cloud State on Nov. 20 and Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 21. The month concludes with a home game against Winona State on Nov. 28.
December brings a series of road contests against GLIAC opponents Roosevelt (Dec. 3) and Parkside (Dec. 5), followed by non‑conference games versus Ashland on Dec. 17 and Northwood on Dec. 19. The calendar year closes with a home clash against Davenport on Dec. 31.
Conference play resumes in January with a road matchup at Ferris State on Jan. 2, then the team returns to Vandament Arena for home games against Michigan Tech and Wayne State on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9. A stretch of home games against Lake Superior State on Jan. 14 and Saginaw Valley State on Jan. 16 follows, before travels to Purdue Northwest and Grand Valley State on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23.
The Wildcats continue their home stretch with contests versus Ferris State and Davenport on Jan. 28 and Jan. 30, then embark on road trips to Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State in early February. Additional home games against Grand Valley State and Purdue Northwest arrive on Feb. 11 and Feb. 13, with the regular season wrapping up with road games at Michigan Tech on Feb. 18 and Wayne State on Feb. 22, followed by home contests against Parkside on Feb. 25 and Roosevelt on Feb. 27.
The GLIAC Tournament is slated to begin on March 3, with semifinals on March 6 and the championship game on March 7, rounding out a season that blends home‑court strength with a demanding road schedule.