The University of South Florida women's basketball program has released a reshaped non‑conference slate for the upcoming season, a schedule that deliberately leaves out traditional powerhouses such as UConn and South Carolina. Late scheduling forced the administration to drop those matchups, opening up space for a fresh lineup of opponents.
Head coach Kristy Curry, who left Alabama to take the reins at USF, arrived to find nine vacant spots on the calendar — a rarity that gave her the freedom to design a competitive lineup. Curry, a veteran with a 554‑322 record and a 2001 NCAA Final Four appearance, brings a proven track record of deep tournament runs.
The new slate features a home‑and‑home series with the Florida Gators, a showdown against Auburn in the Cherokee Invitational, and a matchup with Texas Tech at the WCBA Showcase in Orlando. In addition, the team will travel to the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Seton Hall and possibly Baylor could meet.
A Calculated Road Map
Curry believes these contests will boost the team's NET rating and give the players valuable road experience as they chase a deep run in March. The roster, built around a strong work ethic and balanced talent, has already logged eight weeks of summer workouts, with most of the squad present for the latter portion.