The University of Rhode Island women’s basketball program has released its 2026 non‑conference schedule, a 13‑game lineup that blends early‑season road trips with a handful of home contests at the Ryan Center.
Head coach Colleen Mullen, who took the reins after a breakthrough 2025‑26 campaign that saw the Rams capture the Atlantic 10 regular‑season and tournament titles and earn a historic NCAA tournament berth, says the schedule is designed to test her squad against elite competition while preserving momentum.
The Rams open the season on November 3 at West Virginia, then head to Nashville for a two‑game stretch that includes a matchup with Columbia, currently ranked No 45 in the NET, and a showdown with South Florida, listed at No 68. Both opponents bring strong résumés, promising early challenges for Rhode Island.
The first five games will all be played away from Kingston, beginning with a visit to Wagner on November 12 before a stop at St. John’s on November 14. The road swing culminates in the Curb Event Center Classic, where the Rams will face Columbia on November 6 and South Florida on November 8.
Rhode Island’s first home appearance comes on November 17 against Emmanuel College, followed by contests with New Haven on November 20 and Holy Cross on November 25 at the Hart Center Arena. Those games will give the team a chance to settle into the new venue before the holiday stretch.
Later in the month the Rams travel to face Providence, their in‑state rival, on December 7, and then head to Princeton on December 10, extending a rivalry that has persisted for six straight seasons. The non‑conference slate wraps up with three consecutive home games against Maine, Dartmouth and Central Connecticut in mid‑December.
All home games will be streamed on ESPN+ via Go Rhody Productions, allowing fans across the country to follow the team’s progress as it looks to translate early‑season tests into postseason aspirations.