Arizona’s women’s basketball squad is preparing for a historic start to the 2026‑27 season, traveling to Jacksonville to take part in the inaugural Jacksonville Classic. The tournament, scheduled for November 23‑25, will be held at Florida State College at Jacksonville and marks the first time a dedicated women’s basketball event of this scale has been staged in the city.
Jacksonville Classic Makes Its Debut
The Classic will feature nine Division I programs, including Arizona, Vanderbilt, George Washington, Middle Tennessee, Montana State, UAB, Oklahoma, Oregon State and Virginia. Each team will play a series of games over three days, giving fans a chance to see high‑level competition early in the year.
Arizona’s schedule does not stop at the tournament. The Wildcats will open the season on November 2 in Las Vegas against Stanford as part of the Hall of Fame Series, then head to Los Angeles to face defending national champion UCLA on November 12. A home matchup against former Pac‑12 rival Oregon State is set for November 15 at McKale Center.
Vanderbilt arrives in Jacksonville with momentum from a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, while George Washington brings a recent WNIT participation that adds further intrigue to the field. Both programs are expected to contribute strong performances that could shape the early narrative of the season.
The event underscores a growing emphasis on showcasing women’s basketball on a national stage, offering recruits and coaches a fresh platform to highlight talent. For Arizona, the combination of early‑season road tests and a home game against a familiar conference opponent sets the tone for a campaign that aims to build on past successes and push toward new milestones.