The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has officially released the 2026‑27 women's basketball schedule, a format that has defined league play for 18 seasons and pairs each member school with eight home and eight away contests.
For the University of Tennessee, the schedule presents a rigorous test, with eight games slated against teams that appear in the USA TODAY preseason Top 25 poll, underscoring the competitiveness of the conference.
Third‑year head coach Kim Caldwell will guide the Lady Vols, who entered the season ranked No. 25 in that same poll, adding a layer of expectation to the upcoming campaign.
Key matchups to watch
The slate includes marquee contests against No. 1 South Carolina, No. 7 LSU, No. 14 Ole Miss, No. 18 Kentucky and No. 23 Oklahoma, each of which will be played once at home and once on the road.
The season opens on Dec. 31 with a road test at Texas A&M, followed by a home debut against Ole Miss on Jan. 3. Subsequent weeks will see the Lady Vols host Oklahoma and Georgia on Jan. 10 and Jan. 14, then travel to Florida and Kentucky on Jan. 18 and Jan. 21.
February brings a series of away trips to Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Missouri, punctuated by a home game against Auburn, while a built‑in bye on Feb. 18 provides flexibility for weather‑related rescheduling.
The regular season will culminate in the 2027 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, scheduled for March 3‑7, where the Lady Vols aim to translate regular‑season momentum into postseason success.