The California Golden Bears women's basketball program has released its non‑conference schedule for the 2023‑24 season, a lineup that leans heavily on home games while still offering a handful of high‑profile road tests.
Key matchups and early tests
The Bears open with a home showdown against former PAC‑12 rival Washington State on November 2, marking their first out‑of‑conference clash with a conference peer. A week later they travel to face USF, the only team outside California on the road, before heading to Hawaii for the North Shore Showcase in late November.
The schedule also features a December 20 clash at the Chase Center against Nebraska, a top‑20 early‑season team that reached the NCAA tournament a year ago, as well as a December 3 meeting with Texas A&M in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Coach Charmin Smith will rely on a core group that includes Lulu Twidale, Gisella Maul, Taylor Barnes and Mjracle Sheppard, all of whom contributed to the 2022‑23 squad’s 21‑15 record and an NCAA berth.
Building on a season that saw an 11‑7 finish in ACC play, the Bears aim to stay competitive in a conference that is expected to be among the nation’s strongest, using the non‑conference slate as a springboard for postseason aspirations.