A New Chapter for the Dons
The University of San Francisco’s women’s basketball program has released its 2026‑27 non‑conference slate, a 13‑game roadmap that blends home‑court familiarity with far‑flung travel. The announcement underscores the team’s intent to test itself early, build momentum, and cement its place among the West Coast’s elite.
Key highlights include two contests on the beaches of Maui and three neutral‑site games as part of the Lake Tahoe Classic, where the Dons will meet California in a marquee matchup. The schedule also features a strong early home stretch, beginning with a November 5 showdown against Hawaii on campus.
Home‑Court Emphasis
San Francisco will host seven of the first nine games, welcoming Long Beach State, CSU Bakersfield, Cal State East Bay, Grand Canyon and Boise State to the War Memorial Gym. This early cluster of home contests is designed to let Coach Molly Goodenbour install her system while the fan base rallies around a promising start.
The road portion begins with a trip to South Lake Tahoe for a November 8 clash against California, followed by away games at Air Force, UC San Diego, Sacramento State and a western swing that includes a stop in Las Vegas to meet Colorado. These travel tests will challenge the team’s depth and resilience.
Returning core players provide a solid foundation. All‑WCC First Team forward Candy Edokpaigbe and WCC All‑Freshman Team guard Aina Cargol are slated to lead the attack, while new transfers Ines Babaya, Jayda Queeley, Savi Mi, Keiryn McGuff and Lucia Yenes add experience and versatility.
The roster also welcomes three true freshmen — Belize Ibáñez Mengüç, Emilie Beggs and Maria Burliga — who are expected to contribute immediately. Their arrival comes as the Dons look to improve on a 19‑15 record from the 2025‑26 season, the most wins since the 2022‑23 campaign, and to extend a streak of WCC tournament success that has seen them reach the quarterfinals for six straight years.
Coach Molly Goodenbour emphasized that the schedule is more than a list of opponents; it is a deliberate strategy to expose the team to varied styles of play, build chemistry, and prepare for the rigors of conference competition. "We want to test ourselves early, learn quickly, and keep building on the progress we made last season," she said in a recent interview.