The Southeastern Conference unveiled its 2026‑27 women’s basketball slate on Tuesday, laying out a 16‑game conference schedule for every team, including a home‑and‑away series for Missouri against Vanderbilt.
For the Tigers, the schedule represents both a test and an opportunity; after finishing the previous season 2‑6 at home against SEC opponents in Coach Kellie Harper’s inaugural year, the program hopes to build on a series of recent wins that have lifted its profile.
Schedule Overview
Missouri will open the season with a much‑anticipated matchup against Arkansas, a team it has beaten in each of the last three meetings, while also hosting Mississippi State, a program it has outscored in the past two regular‑season encounters.
Among the most daunting opponents is Florida, which lost leading scorer Liv McGill to the transfer portal, making the Gators a less formidable threat on paper, though the article notes that Florida still poses the toughest challenge among the trio of Arkansas, Florida and Mississippi State.
The Tigers will also face traditional powerhouses such as Vanderbilt, LSU, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee at Mizzou Arena, with recent history reminding them of a 98‑53 defeat at the hands of Tennessee last year, a game that underscores the gap they must close.
Head coach Kim Caldwell, who inherited a roster depleted by the transfer portal, is rebuilding from scratch, and early performances from players like Grace Slaughter — who averages 16.67 points in three career games against Tennessee — offer a glimpse of future competitiveness.
Beyond the conference, Missouri will travel to take on Texas, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M, a road stretch that coincides with Alabama’s own upheaval after Coach Kristy Curry departed for UCF, potentially opening a window for the Tigers to gain valuable road wins.
With an expanded NCAA Tournament field in mind, the coaching staff and players are aiming to secure a tournament berth and avoid being underdogs in the opening round of the SEC Tournament, a goal that could be within reach given the blend of returning talent and new sparkplugs introduced by Coach Harper.