The Valparaiso University women's basketball team has released its 2026‑27 nonconference schedule, a 20‑game slate that blends home‑court excitement with demanding road trips across the Midwest.
Season Opener and Early Tests
The season opens with a home exhibition against Judson on October 26, giving the new coaching staff a first chance to evaluate talent before the regular season begins.
A headline matchup arrives on December 10, when the Crusaders host Wisconsin at the ARC, marking the first meeting with a Big Ten opponent on campus since 2014 and underscoring the program’s growing ambition.
The early schedule also features a visit from Michigan State on November 3, a team that finished the previous season ranked among the nation’s top‑25, followed by a home opener against Detroit Mercy on November 7.
Valparaiso will then embark on a two‑game road swing, traveling to Purdue Fort Wayne on November 13 before heading to Toledo on November 15, tests that will challenge the squad’s depth early on.
Mid‑Season Challenges and Tournament Play
The Crusaders return home to face South Dakota on November 20, a program that captured 26 wins a year ago and advanced to the WNIT Fab Four, before taking on Loyola Chicago on November 29, another recent WNIT Super 16 participant.
Additional home contests include a December 2 showdown with Western Illinois, a 26‑win team that captured the OVC title and earned an NCAA Tournament berth, and later road games at Central Michigan (December 6) and Eastern Michigan (December 13) to close out the nonconference portion.
The MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament will be integrated into the Arch Madness festivities in St. Louis from March 3‑7, providing the Crusaders with a chance to compete for a conference championship and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Athletic Director Mike Linder said the schedule reflects a deliberate effort to pit the team against elite competition, build resilience, and prepare for the rigors of Missouri Valley Conference play later in the year.