Pepperdine University’s women’s soccer program has released its 2026 slate, a nonconference schedule that pits the Waves against some of the nation’s most formidable opponents. The lineup is designed to test the team early and prepare it for the rigors of conference play.
A Bold Nonconference Agenda
The schedule includes six matchups against teams from power‑four conferences, highlighted by high‑profile contests versus USC, UCLA and Texas Tech. In addition, the Waves will face three clubs that earned NCAA tournament berths last season, underscoring the strength of the nonconference slate.
Adding another layer of excitement, the West Coast Conference will debut a four‑team postseason tournament this year. The new format means every conference game now carries a direct path to a championship and an automatic bid, raising the stakes for each match.
Coach Tim Ward and the coaching staff have emphasized continuity, bringing back a core group that helped the team capture back‑to‑back conference titles. Among the returnees are Julia Quinonez, Jillian Medvecky and Ariana Markey, the latter of whom recently earned a spot on the Philippine Women’s National Team for the World Cup.
The program’s ambition is clear: to become the first team in school history to secure three consecutive conference championships, a milestone that would cement the Waves’ place among the nation’s elite.