Ball State's women's basketball program is coming off back‑to‑back Mid‑American Conference titles, and the excitement is already spilling onto the hardwood as the Cardinals unveil their 2026‑27 non‑conference schedule.
A competitive slate
The season opens on November 2 with a home game against Arkansas State, followed by a November 7 matchup with High Point at Worthen Arena, giving fans an early glimpse of the team's depth.
Four contests are slated against teams that earned NCAA Tournament berths last year: Arkansas State, High Point, Louisville and Illinois. Each of those games promises a test of the Cardinals' experience and ambition.
Home dates against Louisville on November 12 and Illinois on November 18 mark the second meeting with the Fighting Illini, adding a narrative of revenge and redemption.
The road trip includes a stop in Chicago to face UIC on November 24 and a Thanksgiving week game at Temple on November 27, rounding out a busy stretch before the holiday break.
A December 1 road game at Maryland will also serve as a reunion with former head coach Brenda Frese, now leading the Terrapins, adding a personal storyline to the matchup.
Later in the month the Cardinals travel to Hawai'i for the Maui Classic, where they will meet Oregon State, Idaho State and San Francisco in a three‑day tournament from December 18‑19.
The regular season will wrap up on December 30 with a home game against Fresno State, providing a final chance to fine‑tune before conference play begins.
The full MAC regular‑season schedule is slated to be released on August 12, 2026, when the conference will detail the league slate that follows the non‑conference stretch.