An early look at Kentucky’s 2025-26 women’s basketball nonconference schedule
Following a successful turnaround in year one under Kenny Brooks, many questions surround Kentucky women’s basketball ahead of next season’s campaign.
How will the Wildcats fare in the transition from All-America point guard and top-10 WNBA draft pick Georgia Amoore to veteran transfer Tonie Morgan? Will returning starters Clara Strack, Amelia Hassett and Teonni Key level up in their second season on campus? Can Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurová elevate the Wildcats after their respective debuts were delayed due to significant lower-leg injuries?
There’s also the excitement surrounding incoming five-star freshman Kaelyn Carroll, the recent addition of Swedish center Elsa Vadfors and the introduction of Conference USA transfers Asia Boone (Liberty) and Josie Gilvin (Western Kentucky) as Big Blue Nation waits patiently for a glimpse of the future.
What about the 2025-26 schedule?
Fans will probably have to wait a bit longer for any official look, but we’ve learned a few things.
Here’s what we know about the 2025-26 campaign as confirmed through Herald-Leader open records requests and/or announced by the program regarding the nonconference schedule.
Season opener
As previously announced, the Wildcats will tip off the 2025-26 season with an in-state contest against Morehead State on Nov. 3.
It will also serve as the Eagles’ first game under new coach Ashton Feldhaus, who arrives in Morehead after a 20-win season with Division II Missouri Western. Morehead finished last season 10-20 (5-15 Ohio Valley Conference), after which 15 players entered the transfer portal.
The Eagles have since signed five transfers, including Missouri Western guards Marie Sepp and Laura Toffali, both of whom chose to follow Feldhaus to Morehead State.
Keeping in mind that the program’s varsity records begin with the 1974-75 season — the first official season of varsity status for the Wildcats — Kentucky’s series with the Eagles dates to Feb. 10, 1975; the Wildcats won 58-41 in Memorial Coliseum, and have gone on to take a 33-4 edge all-time.
In November, Kentucky will look to extend its win streak over the Eagles to 17; the active, 16-game win streak dates to Feb. 20, 1990, when Kentucky dominated MSU 106-71 in Lexington. The teams last met on Nov. 11, 2022, when the Wildcats won 73-48 in Memorial Coliseum. UK has not lost to Morehead State since Jan. 3, 1989.
Morehead State is guaranteed $30,000, 50 complimentary tickets and the opportunity to purchase 50 additional tickets.
Additional nonconference games
▪ The Herald-Leader also learned of six additional nonconference matchups, beginning with a Nov. 6 battle with Monmouth.
The Hawks, who finished the 2024-25 campaign 16-15 (10-8 Coastal Athletic Association), are guaranteed a fixed sum of $35,000, one night of 14 hotel rooms, 50 complimentary tickets and the ability to purchase 50 additional tickets as a guarantee for playing the Wildcats.
Monmouth is entering its second season under head coach Cait Wetmore, who guided the Hawks to a fifth-place finish in the CAA after a predictive 10th-place finish. The Hawks graduated fifth-year guard Damaris Rodriguez — the first-ever CAA first-teamer for Monmouth — but have added shooting guard Alexis Andrews (Charlotte), wing Alexis Davis (Buffalo) and combo guard Fatumata Djaló (Ole Miss).
This will be the first meeting between Kentucky and Monmouth.
▪ The Wildcats will next travel to New York to play Buffalo on Sunday, Nov. 9 at UB Alumni Arena for what is currently listed as a 2 p.m. tip. Kentucky will not be paid for the matchup, but will be granted 60 complimentary tickets.
Buffalo is embarking upon a new chapter following the hiring away of former coach Becky Burke by Arizona. Burke led the Bulls to a 30-7 (13-5 Mid-American Conference) record and a WNIT championship. She was succeeded by Kristen Sharkey, who most recently served as the associate head coach at Syracuse.
The contest, which will be the first meeting between UB and UK, will also mark a homecoming of sorts for junior center Clara Strack, the reigning Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, who graduated from nearby Hamburg High School.
▪ Kentucky will host Central Michigan on Sunday, Dec. 7, in exchange for a fixed sum of $30,000, one night of 14 hotel rooms, 50 complimentary tickets and the opportunity to purchase 50 extra tickets.
The Chippewas finished last season 14-17 (9-9 MAC) in their second year under head coach Kristin Haynie. This will be the third meeting all-time between UK and CMU, with the Wildcats holding a 2-0 advantage.
Central Michigan lost five players to the transfer portal, but signed NAIA forward Zareia Chevre and former George Mason forward Nekhu Mitchell.
▪ Kentucky will face Belmont on Sunday, Dec. 14 at the Curb Event Center in Nashville. The game will complete the series between the two programs, which also met last season in a competitive, 84-78 Wildcats win on Dec. 20 in Lexington. Kentucky leads Belmont 6-1 in the all-time series.
In exchange for the game, Kentucky will receive 50 tickets.
Belmont is entering its ninth season under Bart Brooks, who last season guided the Bruins to a record of 26-13 (15-5 Missouri Valley Conference) and a runner-up finish in the WBIT. The Bruins did not lose anybody to the transfer portal, but did sign junior center KK Brodie (Pepperdine) and junior wing Avery Strickland (Tennessee).
▪ The Wildcats will host Wright State on Friday, Dec. 19 in exchange for $30,000, 50 complimentary tickets and the opportunity to purchase 50 additional tickets.
Wright State is entering its fifth season under head coach Kari Hoffman, under whom the program went 10-22 (7-13 Horizon) last year. The Raiders’ 2024-25 season ended in the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals with a 64-50 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne.
Kentucky holds a 1-0 record over the Raiders, having defeated them 106-60 at home on March 22, 2014, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
▪ Kentucky will welcome Hofstra to Lexington on Sunday, Dec. 28. in exchange for $40,000, one night of 14 hotel rooms, 50 complimentary tickets and the option to purchase 50 additional tickets.
The Pride finished last season 14-16 (9-9 CAA) in its sixth season under head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. In the teams’ only previous meeting, UK beat the Pride 67-54 on Nov. 26, 2005, in the Pepperdine Thanksgiving Classic in Malibu, California.
The Wildcats’ full schedule, including the remainder of its nonconference slate and its opponent in this year’s ACC/SEC Challenge, is still to come, as well as their SEC schedule.
2025-26 UK women’s basketball schedule
Games confirmed to this point (home games in all capital letters):
Nov. 3: MOREHEAD STATE
Nov. 6: MONMOUTH
Nov. 9: At Buffalo
Dec. 7: CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Dec. 14: At Belmont
Dec. 19: WRIGHT STATE
Dec. 28: HOFSTRA
