EVANSTON, Ill. (August 12, 2025) – Northwestern women's basketball will match up against a trio of postseason qualifiers from a season ago as part of the 2025-26 non-conference schedule announced by Wildcats' head coach Joe McKeown on Tuesday. The 'Cats are set to host six home non-conference contests inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
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Following an exhibition tilt with local foe Lewis (Nov. 1), McKeown's crew will officially raise the curtain on the new campaign on November 5 when it welcomes IU Indy to Evanston. The matchup with the Jaguars begins a season-opening three-game homestand that also features clashes with SIUE (Nov. 9) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Nov. 14).
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Northwestern's first road trip of the season sees it make the short trip to the South Loop for a meeting with DePaul on November 17 inside Wintrust Arena. A home tilt with Cleveland State follows on November 21.
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The 'Cats will jet south over Thanksgiving, as they head to Fort Myers, Fla. for the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off, November 28-29. Northwestern's stay in The Sunshine State will see it take on Abilene Christian (Nov. 28) and Missouri (Nov. 29) as part of the event's Shell Division.
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A pair of matchups against Big 12 Conference opposition begin the month of December. Kansas will make its first visit to Evanston since the 1995-96 season on December 3 before Northwestern heads west to take on Utah in a December 14 encounter that follows a break for final exams.
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Another clash with a local rival serves as the Wildcats' home non-conference finale, with Loyola Chicago heading north on December 18. Northwestern will close out its non-conference schedule by visiting the nation's capital for a pre-holiday tilt against George Washington (Dec. 21).
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Set to begin his 18th and final season leading the 'Cats, McKeown welcomes back 10 letterwinners from last season. That group includes Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference pick Caroline Lau, who led the Big Ten in assists (6.0 apg) last season, and Grace Sullivan, the team's leading returning scorer (10.1 ppg).
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Fans can secure their seat inside Welsh-Ryan Arena for the upcoming 2025-26 season by placing a $25 deposit for season tickets. A member of the Northwestern Ticket Office will be in contact once tickets are available for purchase.
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A full listing of Northwestern's non-conference schedule follows. The Wildcats' Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.
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2025-26 Northwestern Women's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 1 – Lewis #
Nov. 5 – IU Indy
Nov. 9 – SIUE
Nov. 14 – Maryland Eastern Shore
Nov. 17 – at DePaul
Nov. 21 – Cleveland State
Nov. 28 – vs. Abilene Christian ^
Nov. 29 – vs. Missouri ^
Dec. 3 – Kansas
Dec. 14 – at Utah
Dec. 18 – Loyola Chicago
Dec. 21 – at George Washington
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# Exhibition
^ Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Coming Soon ????
— Northwestern Women's Basketball (@nuwbball) August 12, 2025
The 2025-26 non-conference schedule has arrived ?? pic.twitter.com/kCh0FIj7hU
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Following an exhibition tilt with local foe Lewis (Nov. 1), McKeown's crew will officially raise the curtain on the new campaign on November 5 when it welcomes IU Indy to Evanston. The matchup with the Jaguars begins a season-opening three-game homestand that also features clashes with SIUE (Nov. 9) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Nov. 14).
Â
Northwestern's first road trip of the season sees it make the short trip to the South Loop for a meeting with DePaul on November 17 inside Wintrust Arena. A home tilt with Cleveland State follows on November 21.
Â
The 'Cats will jet south over Thanksgiving, as they head to Fort Myers, Fla. for the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off, November 28-29. Northwestern's stay in The Sunshine State will see it take on Abilene Christian (Nov. 28) and Missouri (Nov. 29) as part of the event's Shell Division.
Â
A pair of matchups against Big 12 Conference opposition begin the month of December. Kansas will make its first visit to Evanston since the 1995-96 season on December 3 before Northwestern heads west to take on Utah in a December 14 encounter that follows a break for final exams.
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Another clash with a local rival serves as the Wildcats' home non-conference finale, with Loyola Chicago heading north on December 18. Northwestern will close out its non-conference schedule by visiting the nation's capital for a pre-holiday tilt against George Washington (Dec. 21).
Â
Set to begin his 18th and final season leading the 'Cats, McKeown welcomes back 10 letterwinners from last season. That group includes Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference pick Caroline Lau, who led the Big Ten in assists (6.0 apg) last season, and Grace Sullivan, the team's leading returning scorer (10.1 ppg).
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Fans can secure their seat inside Welsh-Ryan Arena for the upcoming 2025-26 season by placing a $25 deposit for season tickets. A member of the Northwestern Ticket Office will be in contact once tickets are available for purchase.
Â
A full listing of Northwestern's non-conference schedule follows. The Wildcats' Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.
Â
2025-26 Northwestern Women's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 1 – Lewis #
Nov. 5 – IU Indy
Nov. 9 – SIUE
Nov. 14 – Maryland Eastern Shore
Nov. 17 – at DePaul
Nov. 21 – Cleveland State
Nov. 28 – vs. Abilene Christian ^
Nov. 29 – vs. Missouri ^
Dec. 3 – Kansas
Dec. 14 – at Utah
Dec. 18 – Loyola Chicago
Dec. 21 – at George Washington
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# Exhibition
^ Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off (Fort Myers, Fla.)