Arkansas women's basketball has locked in its 2026-27 nonconference schedule, adding three opponents that will test the team across the early portion of the season. The Razorbacks will host Cameron University for an exhibition on Oct. 29, 2026, before traveling to face Kansas City on Nov. 9 and closing the nonconference slate with a home game against Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 28.
Exhibition Opener Against Cameron
The exhibition against Cameron marks a personal milestone for second‑year head coach Kelsi Musick, who will square off against her alma mater. Musick, a former standout player who earned a place in the Cameron Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025, returns to the court where she once set program records for 3‑point percentage and assists. The matchup also brings former Cameron assistant Dionnah Jackson‑Durrett into the Razorbacks' staff, now working under Musick after a brief stint as head coach at Kansas City.
Cameron, a Division II program in the Lone Star Conference, enters the exhibition with a 2‑26 record from the 2025‑26 season, making the game a chance for Arkansas to showcase depth and experiment with rotations early in the year.
Rematch with Kansas City
The Razorbacks will meet Kansas City for the second straight year, having edged the Kangaroos 92‑77 in Fayetteville on Dec. 17, 2025. This time, however, the Kangaroos will be led by new head coach Candi Whitaker, who previously guided North Alabama and the Roos from 2006‑12. Whitaker replaces Dionnah Jackson‑Durrett, who was dismissed in March 2026 after four seasons at the helm.
Arkansas' victory over Kansas City last season set a tone of dominance, and the upcoming contest will test whether the new coaching staff can close the gap. The game is scheduled for Nov. 9, 2026, and will be part of a broader nonconference slate that includes twelve additional opponents.
Renewed Rivalry with Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana-Monroe arrives in Fayetteville for the final nonconference game of the regular season on Dec. 28, 2026. The Warhawks have historically struggled against Arkansas, standing 0‑12 all time, with their last meeting dating back to 2023. Under head coach Scotty Fletcher, who guided the team to a 17‑16 overall record and a 7‑11 Sun Belt finish in 2025‑26, the Warhawks hope to break the streak.
The matchup will be the first time since 2023 that Louisiana-Monroe faces Arkansas, adding a narrative of redemption for the Warhawks and a chance for the Razorbacks to fine‑tune their lineup before SEC competition begins.
A Packed Nonconference Calendar
Beyond the three newly announced opponents, Arkansas will face a dozen other nonconference teams, including New Orleans, Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech. The schedule caps at fifteen games before the SEC season, a slight dip from the fifteen‑game maximum the Razorbacks have enjoyed in each of the past four seasons.
SEC play will feature traditional powerhouses such as Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Texas, ensuring a rigorous conference slate.
The nonconference schedule also includes a participation in the San Diego Classic, where Arkansas will play two games with opponents to be determined, adding a West Coast showcase to the roster.
The season will culminate with the nonconference finale against Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 28, 2026, after which the Razorbacks will turn their focus to the SEC schedule, aiming to build momentum from their early‑season victories.