2026‑27 SoCon Women’s Basketball Schedule Unveiled
The Southern Conference (SoCon) has released its full slate for the 2026‑27 women’s basketball season, confirming a Tuesday‑Saturday game format that will shape conference play across its member institutions.
Western Carolina University (WCU) opens the campaign on December 29, hosting Mercer at Ingles Court in Cullowhee. The early‑season matchup marks the Catamounts’ first home game of the year and sets the tone for a schedule that blends regional rivalries with new conference additions.
Following the opener, WCU travels to face East Tennessee State (ETSU) on January 2 and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) on January 5. Both contests represent the team’s initial road tests before returning home to host Wofford on January 9 and then heading to Samford on January 12.
The schedule includes a built‑in bye week in mid‑January and again in early February, providing the Catamounts with a brief respite before a key home matchup against newly joined league member Tennessee Tech on January 30. A subsequent road game at Samford is slated for February 9, after which WCU will embark on a two‑game stretch that includes a trip to Cookeville to meet Tennessee Tech on February 16 and a home contest against Furman on February 20.
The regular season culminates with WCU hosting Samford on February 9, followed by a final conference showdown against Chattanooga in the SoCon tournament on February 27. These late‑season fixtures offer the Catamounts an opportunity to fine‑tune their roster ahead of postseason play.
Beyond the competitive schedule, the new Tuesday‑Saturday format is designed to increase exposure for women’s basketball across the conference, allowing fans to follow their teams on a more consistent weekly rhythm. For WCU, the blend of home‑and‑home series, strategic bye weeks, and high‑stakes matchups underscores a promising outlook as the program aims to secure its first home victory over Tennessee Tech and build momentum for future seasons.