Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Women’s Basketball Releases 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
8/12/2025 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
‘Cats to host six regular-season home contests inside Welsh-Ryan Arena
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
A full listing of Northwestern's non-conference schedule follows. The Wildcats' Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.
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
# 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
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
A full listing of Northwestern's non-conference schedule follows. The Wildcats' Big Ten Conference schedule will be announced at a later date.
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
# Exhibition
^ Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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