Tennessee women's basketball coach Kim Caldwell unveiled the Lady Vols' 2026 non‑conference slate, a schedule that blends early‑season exhibitions with a gauntlet of ranked Power‑5 opponents.
The season will open with an exhibition matchup against Florida A&M on October 27, after which the Vols will enjoy a stretch of ten home contests before stepping into SEC play. Those home games will feature a mix of mid‑major programs and a neutral‑site clash with Baylor in Nashville.
Key matchups to watch
Among the highlighted opponents are UCLA, the defending national champion and No. 9 in the USA TODAY preseason poll, and UConn, the three‑time champion ranked No. 3. The Vols will also travel to face LSU, Kentucky and Oklahoma, all of whom were among the top‑25 teams from the previous NCAA tournament.
The schedule guarantees at least fourteen games against teams that earned NCAA tournament berths last year, a figure that could rise to twenty‑one when the 2026 WBIT and WNIT participants are added to the mix.
Beyond the marquee matchups, the Vols will test themselves in a multi‑team event slated for late November and will make several road trips, including a visit to Virginia Tech for the SEC/ACC Challenge on December 3. The slate also includes a guaranteed ten home games at the Food City Center, while the remainder of the road games will be spread across venues in Tennessee, Kentucky and Texas.
Overall, the 2026 non‑conference schedule is designed to sharpen the Lady Vols before conference play, offering a demanding mix of elite competition and home‑court opportunities that could set the tone for a deep postseason run.