Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina women's basketball team is nearing its return to the hardwood as third-year head coach Jonathan Tsipis announced the Catamounts' 2026-27 nonconference schedule Wednesday to complete the upcoming season's schedule.

Western Carolina will play a 15-game nonconference slate featuring eight home contests on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center, six true road games, and a neutral-site matchup against Queens in Boone, N.C. 

The squad's Southern Conference schedule was announced in August and can be viewed in full here.

WCU opens the 2026-27 campaign with three consecutive home games beginning Nov. 2 against Carolina University. The Bruins are the first of four non-NCAA Division I opponents on the schedule. The opening homestand continues Nov. 5 against West Florida as the Argonauts begin their first season competing at the NCAA Division I level. The three-game stretch concludes Nov. 8 against Johnson University.

Western Carolina hits the road for the first time on Nov. 12, traveling to Asheville to face UNC Asheville. The regional rivals have met every season since 1995, with the Catamounts claiming a 77-64 victory in Asheville last season.

The Catamounts return to Cullowhee on Nov. 15 to host the University of Lynchburg before traveling to Cincinnati on Nov. 18 for their first Power Four challenge of the season. The two teams last met in 2021, when Cincinnati escaped with a narrow 46-45 victory.

WCU welcomes Morehead State to the Ramsey Center on Nov. 22 in the first meeting between the programs since 1994, when the Catamounts earned an 87-83 home victory. The team then heads to Boone, N.C., for a Thanksgiving weekend round-robin event, facing Queens on Nov. 27 before battling rival Appalachian State on Nov. 28.

December opens with three matchups against Big South opponents. Western Carolina hosts Gardner-Webb on Dec. 2 as part of the annual SoCon/Big South Challenge. The Education Day contest is slated for an 11:30 a.m. tipoff. WCU then travels to Presbyterian on Dec. 5 to conclude its challenge schedule before visiting USC Upstate on Dec. 12.

The final nonconference road trip is Dec. 15 when WCU visits Clemson. The teams met during last season's Baha Mar Nassau Championship, where the Tigers earned a 77-44 victory.

Western Carolina closes its nonconference schedule with two home games, hosting Kennesaw State on Dec. 19 before welcoming Columbia College on Dec. 21.

Season tickets for the 2026-27 men's and women's basketball seasons go on sale soon through the Catamount Athletics ticket office and online at CatamountSports.com. Complete broadcast and promotional schedules will be released in the coming weeks as excitement for basketball season continues to ramp up.

Western Carolina women's basketball returns six players, including Tina Bowers, Ally Hollifield, Riley Price, and Justice Zimmerman, with Ellie Richardson returning from injury and Ellie Fyans back after sitting out last season. The Catamount roster features seven newcomers, including three transfers – Kate Hollifield (UNCW), Kayla Mount (Chicago State), and Finley Van Bree – and four freshmen, including Camri Hobbs (Charlotte), Ava Jarrett (Nashville, Tenn.), Hannah Moss (Charlotte), and My'Asia Young (Charlotte).
 

Western Carolina 2026-27 Women's Basketball Schedule:

Nov. 2 – vs. Carolina University | Cullowhee

Nov. 5 – vs. West Florida | Cullowhee

Nov. 8 – vs. Johnson University | Cullowhee

Nov. 12 – at UNC Asheville | Asheville, N.C.

Nov. 15 – vs. UVA Lynchburg | Cullowhee

Nov. 18 – at Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio

Nov. 22 – vs. Morehead State | Cullowhee

Nov. 27 – vs. Queens | Boone. N.C.

Nov. 28 – at Appalachian State | Boone, N.C.

Dec. 2 – vs. Gardner-Webb | Cullowhee

Dec. 5 – at Presbyterian | Clinton, S.C.

Dec. 12 – at USC Upstate | Spartanburg, S.C.

Dec. 15 – at Clemson | Clemson, S.C.

Dec. 19 – vs. Kennesaw State | Cullowhee

Dec. 21 – vs. Columbia College | Cullowhee

Dec. 29 – vs. Mercer | Cullowhee

Jan. 2 – at ETSU | Johnson City, Tenn.

Jan. 5 – at UNCG | Greensboro, N.C.

Jan. 9 – vs. Wofford | Spartanburg, S.C.

Jan. 12 – at Samford | Birmingham, Ala.

Jan. 16 – BYE WEEK

Jan. 19 – vs. ETSU | Cullowhee

Jan. 23 – at Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Tenn.

Jan. 26 – at Furman | Greenville, S.C.

Jan. 30 – vs. Tennessee Tech | Cullowhee

Feb. 2 – vs. UNCG  | Cullowhee

Feb. 6 – at Wofford | Spartanburg, S.C.

Feb. 9 – vs. Samford | Cullowhee

Feb. 13 – BYE WEEK

Feb. 16 – at Tennessee Tech | Cookeville, Tenn.

Feb. 20 – vs. Furman | Cullowhee

Feb. 23 – at Mercer | Macon, Ga.

Feb. 27 – vs. Chattanooga | Cullowhee