LMU Women’s Basketball Announces 2026-27 Nonconference Schedule
Coming off a historic championship season, the Loyola Marymount University women’s basketball team has officially revealed its 2026-27 nonconference schedule, according to an announcement from LMU Athletics. The slate features a challenging mix of regional matchups, demanding road tests, and contests against programs coming off successful 2025-26 campaigns as the Lions prepare to defend their West Coast Conference Regular Season Championship in a new-look league.
Opening November at Gersten Pavilion and Utah State
According to Loyola Marymount University Athletics, LMU enters the upcoming season following a 21-10 campaign in which they captured the West Coast Conference Regular Season Championship with a program-best 15-3 league record. That historic run also earned the Lions their first postseason appearance since 2019 with a berth in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
The Lions officially open the 2026-27 season at Gersten Pavilion on Nov. 2 against Nevada, according to the schedule details released by the program. Following the home opener, LMU hits the road to travel to Utah State on Nov. 6 before returning to Los Angeles to host Life Pacific on Nov. 10.
Tournament Play in Honolulu and Thanksgiving Week in Las Vegas
An extended trip sends the Lions to Honolulu for a tournament spanning Nov. 13 through Nov. 15, according to LMU Athletics. During the Hawaiian trip, LMU will face Hawai’i, a Rainbow Wahine program that won 22 games and reached the Big West Championship game during the previous season.
LMU returns to Los Angeles to welcome Idaho State to Gersten Pavilion on Nov. 20 before embarking on a demanding stretch away from home. According to the nonconference schedule, the Lions travel to Las Vegas for a pair of Thanksgiving week contests. They will meet UNLV on Nov. 25 before facing Oral Roberts at a neutral site on Nov. 27. UNLV enters the matchup following a 21-win campaign and a trip to the Mountain West Tournament semifinals.
December Road Tests and Marquee Home Matchups
December opens with another road test as LMU heads to Albuquerque to face New Mexico on Dec. 2, according to program records. One of the marquee home matchups of the nonconference schedule follows on Dec. 7, when California visits Gersten Pavilion. The Golden Bears secured 21 wins last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WBIT.
Three days later, the Lions head to Spokane for a familiar matchup in a new setting, facing Gonzaga on Dec. 10. The contest renews a longtime conference series as a nonconference matchup following the Bulldogs’ move to the Pac-12. Gonzaga finished 24-10 last season, won the WCC Tournament Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, according to LMU Athletics.
The Lions remain on the road to face Long Beach State on Dec. 13 before returning home for their final nonconference game at Gersten Pavilion, hosting Howard on Dec. 20. Howard finished the 2025-26 campaign with 26 wins. LMU concludes its nonconference play with a return trip to Reno to face Nevada on Dec. 22.