A first look at the 2026-27 Kentucky women’s basketball nonconference schedule
Kenny Brooks’ third season in Lexington is garnering high expectations from Big Blue Nation, and understandably so.
Through signing high-level high school recruits, international prospects and key transfers, the Kentucky women’s basketball program has notched back-to-back seasons with at least 20 wins and a slew of broken program records.
Kentucky’s future is promising, yet still a work in progress.
Now that the page has turned to June, the program’s newest Cats will soon be gathering in Lexington to go through summer workouts, build chemistry and create a team capable of pushing beyond the achievements of Brooks’ first two UK rosters.
But when will the season officially begin?
Kentucky’s nonconference schedule has yet to be finalized, but the bulk of it — 11 games, to be exact — is on the calendar. The Herald-Leader obtained the settled game contracts through open records request.
Here’s what to expect from UK’s nonconference slate. Dates are subject to change until the schedule is finalized. Game times and TV designations will be announced at a later date.
Kentucky women’s basketball nonconference matchups
Morehead State (Nov. 2): UK hosted the Eagles in last season’s opening-day game and extended its lead in the all-time series to 34-4. Led now by new head coach Jackie Alexander, Morehead State will receive 50 complimentary tickets, the ability to purchase 50 additional tickets and a guaranteed sum of $35,000 under the terms of its game contract with Kentucky. .
Northern Kentucky (Nov. 5): UK will welcome the Norse to Memorial Coliseum in exchange for 50 complimentary tickets, the option to purchase 50 additional tickets and a fixed sum of $30,000. Kentucky owns a 12-4 all-time series lead over NKU, including a seven-game win streak.
Evansville (Nov. 11): For the fourth time ever — and the first time since Dec. 2017, when UK trounced the Purple Aces 100-62 —the Cats will host Evansville. After a 10-win season last year, Evansville brought in former Miami (Ohio) associate head coach Ben Wierzba to begin a new era. In exchange for the Memorial Coliseum matchup, Evansville will receive the standard 50 complimentary tickets and ability to purchase 50 additional tickets, as well as a guaranteed $28,000 and one night of 14 hotel rooms.
Eastern Michigan (Nov. 15): The Eagles come to town for the first time since 2016, when UK beat EMU by 22 to take a 2-0 lead in the all-time series. The Eagles will receive a fixed sum of $30,000 and one night of 14 hotel rooms, plus the standard 50 complimentary/50 for purchase ticket agreement.
Marshall (Nov. 20): This game will feature a rematch between Brooks and former Transylvania head coach Juli Fulks. The Thundering Herd visit on a Friday night in exchange for the standard ticketing deal, $25,000 and one night of 14 hotel rooms. Though UK holds a 16-2 edge in the all-time series, the Thundering Herd gave Kentucky all it wanted in last season’s UK victory, played in Huntington, West Virginia; Marshall went on to achieve an overall record of 28-9 and win the 2026 WNIT.
Coast 2 Coast Women’s Basketball 2026 Daytona Beach Classic (Thanksgiving weekend): This event will send Kentucky to Florida, where UK is guaranteed two Division I games. Coast 2 Coast also hosted the Music City Classic in Nashville in 2024 during Brooks’ inaugural season. The other Daytona Beach Classic opponents are currently unknown, but Kentucky is paying $55,000 and any associated travel, food or other team costs in order to participate. Coast 2 Coast will provide up to 15 rooms per night for three nights, as well as an upgraded suite for Brooks.
Clemson (Dec. 3): As previously announced, UK and Clemson will meet as part of the fourth annual ACC/SEC Challenge. The game will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 1999 — a five-point, neutral site loss — and their second meeting ever. Hosted at Rupp Arena, the game will pit Brooks against former Virginia Tech assistant and associate head coach Shawn Poppie, who spent six seasons under Brooks until 2022. Poppie led Chattanooga to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and was hired away by Clemson in 2024.
Bellarmine (Dec. 6): The Knights will play Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum in exchange for a fixed sum of $25,000, 50 complimentary tickets and the option to purchase 50 additional tickets. In the NCAA era, Kentucky is 3-0 against the Knights; UK played Bellarmine five separate times between 1972 and 1976 and did not play the in-state program again until 2022. The Knights finished last season, their first under Monique Reid, with an overall record of 2-30.
Louisville (Dec. 9): Announced earlier this month, the Battle of the Bluegrass returns to Rupp Arena, where Brooks will try to grab UK’s first three-peat against Louisville since 2011-15. Kentucky beat the Cardinals 72-62 last year at the Yum! Center and holds an all-time advantage of 36-25. In exchange for this year’s matchup, Louisville will receive 50 complimentary tickets and the opportunity to purchase 50 additional tickets.
Kent State (Dec. 28): The Golden Flashes will visit Lexington for their first game against Kentucky since 2006. UK holds a 2-0 edge in the all-time series, which dates back to 1990. Kent State recently announced the promotion of former lead assistant Fran Recchia to head coach following Todd Starkey’s departure for Arizona, where he is the associate head coach to Becky Burke. The Golden Flashes finished last season with an overall record of 15-16 and last made the NCAA Tournament in 2024. So far, 2026 has treated Kentucky women’s basketball nicely.
UK will return All-American center Clara Strack for her senior year, and though the Cats lost four WNBA draft picks from a Sweet 16 team, Brooks signed a trio of five-star prospects and McDonald’s All-Americans in rising freshmen Maddyn Greenway, Emily McDonald and Savvy Swords.
Kentucky also added The 2025 WNBA first-round pick Ajša Sivka and transfers Diana Collins (Alabama), Me’Arah O’Neal (Florida) and Ayanna Patterson (UConn).
