A schedule built for growth
West Virginia University’s women’s basketball program released its non‑conference slate for the 2026‑27 campaign, a 12‑game lineup that balances home familiarity with tests in unfamiliar venues.
Four of those contests will be played on the team’s home floor in Morgantown, while the Mountaineers will also host three straight non‑conference matchups in November and December before closing the stretch with a December 15 game against Robert Morris.
The first neutral‑site appearance comes at the Greenbrier Resort, marking the second straight year the team will open its schedule there, and the squad will then head to Nassau for the Battle 4 Atlantis, where potential opponents include Davidson, Florida and Notre Dame.
The road portion begins with a season‑opening clash against Rhode Island on November 3, followed by a November 5 meeting with George Washington that renews an Atlantic 10 rivalry, and a November 8 trip to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, completing a home‑and‑home series.
Later in the month, the Mountaineers will stage their traditional Education Day game against Akron on November 17, and will later travel to Philadelphia to meet Villanova on December 12, before returning home to finish the non‑conference slate against Robert Morris on December 15.
An exhibition on October 29 in Hope Coliseum will give Coach Mark Kellogg a final chance to fine‑tune rotations before the regular season begins.
Kellogg said the schedule offers a clear path for the team to build chemistry, noting the blend of experienced seniors and a wave of newcomers.
Senior guard Gia Cooke, who led the team with 15 points per game last season and earned All‑Big 12 honors, returns alongside fellow 1,000‑point scorers Zahirah Walton and Skylar Forbes, both of whom bring multiple conference accolades and a wealth of portal talent.