Kentucky women’s basketball to spend Thanksgiving weekend in Puerto Rico
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky will face Maryland and Morgan State in Discover Puerto Rico Shootout in November.
- Maryland returns key players and adds top transfers ahead of the 2025-26 season.
- Morgan State enters rebuild under new coach Nadine Domond after key player exits.
During last week’s summer kickoff media availability, Kenny Brooks promised a yet-to-be-announced marquee matchup for Kentucky women’s basketball.
On Thursday afternoon, the program announced its participation in the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout, in which the Wildcats will face perennial power Maryland, as well as Morgan State, the weekend of Thanksgiving in San Juan.
The Wildcats will battle the Terrapins on Wednesday, Nov. 26, then the Bears on Friday, Nov. 28. Also participating in the showcase are Rice, Wake Forest, East Carolina, Central Florida, Illinois State and Hofstra.
Maryland is entering its 24th season under legendary coach Brenda Frese, who has led the Terrapins to an overall record of 607-169 (78.2%) and lifted them to three NCAA Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2006.
Maryland’s 2024-25 season ended in the NCAA Sweet 16 with a 71-67 loss to eventual national runner-up South Carolina. The Terrapins went 25-8 (13-5 Big Ten) and posted a road record of 10-1 and neutral record of 2-3.
The Terrapins retain three of their top-five scorers from last season, including guard Kaylene Smikle, who led the team in both points (17.9) and steals (1.5) per game. Sixth-leading scorer Allie Kubek (Florida State), plus reserve wing Emily Fisher (Nebraska) hit the transfer portal after the season, but Frese bolstered her roster with the additions of former Indiana wing Yarden Garzon and former Duke shooting guard Oluchi Okananwa — both of whom were considered top transfer options this offseason.
Maryland has also gained a well-regarded freshman prospect in Wisconsin native Rainey Welson, who graduated as the No. 24 national recruit in the class of 2025.
After 13 seasons at the helm of Morgan State, Ed Davis Jr. announced his retirement from coaching in March. His replacement, Nadine Domond, will seek to improve upon the Bears’ record of 13-17 (6-9 MEAC) last season.
The Bears lost six players to the transfer portal, including leading scorer Naya Ojukwu (California), who earned MEAC Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-MEAC honors last season.
Kentucky women’s basketball also announced that the pair of Puerto Rican contests are “in addition to eight other games already released to make up the current configuration of the nonconference schedule, while the program is expected to add additional nonconference games in the coming weeks.”
Kentucky’s annual rivalry game with Louisville has yet to be announced, though what is known is that the Cardinals will host this year’s iteration of the Battle of the Bluegrass following last year’s UK overtime victory in Memorial Coliseum.
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
Nov. 18: PURDUE
Nov. 26: Maryland-1
Nov. 28: Morgan State-1
Dec. 3: At Miami (Fla.)-2
Dec. 7: CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Dec. 14: At Belmont
Dec. 19: WRIGHT STATE
Dec. 28: HOFSTRA
SEC home games (dates TBA): Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt.
SEC road games (dates TBA): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt.
1-Discover Puerto Rico Shootout; 2-ACC/SEC Challenge
