The Green Bay women’s basketball program released its 2026‑27 non‑conference schedule on Monday, giving local fans a clear view of the challenges ahead as the Phoenix prepare to defend their Horizon League crown.
Home base and exhibition games
Coach Kayla Karius said the schedule reflects the team’s goal of testing itself against top‑level competition. The Phoenix will host nine games at the Kress Events Center, including two exhibition contests. UW‑La Crosse visits on Oct. 17 and UW‑Stevens Point on Oct. 28 to kick off the season.
Early road tests
The regular season opens on Nov. 3 with a road game at Duke University, a program that reached the NCAA Elite Eight in each of the past two seasons and captured the ACC regular‑season title in 2025‑26. This marks only the second time Green Bay has played at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
After the Duke trip, the Phoenix return home for a season‑opening matchup against Loyola Chicago on Nov. 7 before heading back out to face Illinois State on Nov. 11. The Redbirds earned a 24‑14 record last season and advanced to the WNIT championship game.
In‑state rivalry and marquee opponents
Green Bay’s first in‑state contest comes on Nov. 14 when the Phoenix host the University of Wisconsin Badgers. The rivalry adds a familiar test before the team welcomes the Texas Longhorns on Nov. 18. Texas finished the 2025‑26 season 35‑4, won the SEC tournament and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. The two schools have met only once before, a 60‑55 NCAA tournament loss for Green Bay in 2002.
Mid‑season road trips and additional home games
The schedule continues with a road game at Northern Iowa on Nov. 23, followed by a home contest against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 28. After two Horizon League games in early December, the Phoenix travel to Utah for a challenging road matchup on Dec. 12.
Green Bay then finishes its non‑conference slate at home with games against Wisconsin Lutheran College (Dec. 16), Miami (Ohio) (Dec. 19) and St. Thomas (Dec. 22).
Opponents with tournament experience
Five of the 14 non‑conference opponents have recent NCAA Tournament appearances: Duke, Texas, Miami (Ohio), UW‑La Crosse (Division III) and Wisconsin Lutheran College (Division III). Additional postseason experience comes from Wisconsin and Utah, both participants in the WBIT tournament, and Loyola Chicago and Illinois State, which competed in the WNIT.
Coach Karius expressed confidence that the slate will ready the Phoenix for another Horizon League title run, noting the blend of elite programs and regional rivals will test the team’s depth and resilience.
What this means for Green Bay fans
Local supporters can look forward to a packed calendar of high‑caliber basketball at the Kress Events Center, with the added excitement of travel to historic venues like Cameron Indoor Stadium. The schedule underscores Green Bay’s commitment to competing at the highest level while representing the community’s strong tradition of family‑focused, faith‑inspired athletics.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
