Arizona Wildcats reveal 2026‑27 nonconference slate
The University of Arizona women's basketball program has released its full nonconference schedule for the 2026‑27 season, promising nine home contests and five road or neutral‑site games that will test the Wildcats against a diverse slate of opponents.
The season opens with an exhibition against Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University on Oct. 22, a game whose venue remains uncertain between Prescott, Arizona, and Daytona Beach, Florida. Two weeks later, the Wildcats travel to face Cal State Monterey Bay, a program that finished 14‑14 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association the previous year.
The first official test comes on Nov. 2, when Arizona meets Stanford in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame Series. Stanford, which posted a 21‑14 record last season and advanced to the WBIT quarterfinals before bowing to BYU, will provide an early‑season benchmark for the Wildcats.
Arizona will return to Tucson on Nov. 8 to take on Iona, a team that went 20‑12 a year ago but saw its season end in the MAAC Tournament semifinals. The matchup adds another layer of intrigue, especially with Tucson native Achol Magot, a former Wildcat, now on the Iona roster.
A marquee showdown looms on Nov. 12 when the Wildcats host reigning national champion UCLA, fresh off a 37‑1 campaign and an unblemished 18‑0 run through Big Ten play. The game is expected to draw national attention and could serve as a litmus test for Arizona’s championship aspirations.
Later in the month, Oregon State visits Tucson on Nov. 15, having reached the WCC title game before falling to Gonzaga, while New Mexico State arrives on Nov. 19 after a 9‑21 season that included a 5‑13 mark in Conference USA. Both teams are expected to bring competitive intensity to the home schedule.
The Wildcats will also test themselves in neutral sites, beginning with the Jacksonville Classic on Nov. 23 and Nov. 25, where the opponents will be announced later, followed by a home game against Sacramento State on Nov. 29, a matchup that will spotlight Tucson native Achol Magot once more.
The regular season concludes with a home game against New Mexico on Dec. 5, a team that finished 22‑9 last year and made a strong push in the Mountain West Conference, and a final nonconference clash with Oakland on Dec. 16, a program that ended the previous season at 10‑21. Arizona will also host NAU on Dec. 13, a team that finished 10‑22 overall and 6‑12 in the Big Sky.
Overall, the schedule blends home‑court familiarity with challenging road tests and neutral‑site showcases, positioning the Wildcats for a competitive run as they aim to translate early‑season momentum into a deep postseason push.