Drury University’s women’s basketball program has released its 2026‑27 schedule, a 28‑game lineup that blends home traditions with a demanding road circuit. The announcement sets the stage for a season that will test the Lady Panthers against both familiar foes and new challenges across the country.
A packed slate ahead
The campaign opens with a preseason training excursion to Puerto Rico in mid‑October, where the team will fine‑tune its chemistry before the first regular‑season test in Springfield during the GLVC/MIAA Crossover.
Key home dates include the 8th Annual Oasis Hotel & Convention Center Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24‑25, the Homecoming showdown on Feb. 13 against Upper Iowa, and the final regular‑season home game on Feb. 17 versus William Jewell.
Road battles and holiday tournaments
The road schedule features a five‑game stretch that begins with a trip to William Jewell on Nov. 30, continues with the Barry Holiday Tournament in Miami on Dec. 18‑19, and includes early GLVC matchups at McKendree and Missouri S&T in early January.
Looking ahead
Later in the year, the Lady Panthers will compete in the inaugural GLVC Championship Tournament in St. Joseph, Mo., slated for March 4‑7, while Coach Kaci Bailey enters her fourth season after three consecutive 20‑win campaigns. All three All‑GLVC honorees — Sara Mendel, Rhi Gibbons and Kaylee King — return alongside the entire starting five, including Jazz Gray and Sage Stratton, bolstering expectations for another competitive year. Season tickets for every home game go on sale in early August.