Rutgers women’s basketball will spend a lot of its nonconference calendar at home.
Head coach Gary Redus II and the Scarlet Knights announced their 2026-27 nonconference schedule on Tuesday, a 12-game slate that includes 11 home dates at Jersey Mike’s Arena before Big Ten play begins. Rutgers also has four games against New Jersey opponents built into the schedule.
“We're really excited about the opportunity this schedule presents for our team," Redus said. "Having 11 home games at Jersey Mike's Arena and four matchups against teams from New Jersey gives us a chance to build momentum with our fans behind us.
Every game is an opportunity to get better, establish our identity and prepare for the demands of Big Ten play. We can't wait to get started and welcome our fans back to Jersey Mike's Arena."
Before the regular season starts, Rutgers will host Caldwell in an exhibition on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. The game is free and open to the public, with additional details to come later.
The Scarlet Knights open the regular season with a seven-game homestand. LIU comes first on Monday, Nov. 2, followed by La Salle on Nov.
4, Indiana State on Nov. 8, Monmouth on Nov.
11, Albany on Nov. 16, Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 19 for Recess Day at 11 a.m., and Delaware State on Nov.
Monmouth is the first of four in-state matchups in nonconference play. Rutgers then heads to Princeton on Wednesday, Nov. 25 for a Garden State showdown just before Thanksgiving, keeping one of the state’s longtime women’s basketball rivalries on the calendar.
December brings another home-heavy stretch. Rutgers will return for a four-game homestand that begins with Saint Peter’s on Wednesday, Dec. 2 and Seton Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 8, which renews the home-and-home series.
The nonconference schedule wraps with Coppin State on Sunday, Dec. 13 and Lafayette on Sunday, Dec. 20.
The Big Ten schedule, including dates and times, will be released by the conference in the coming months. Rutgers already knows its home and away conference opponents after those matchups were announced in June.
Home opponents: Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, UCLA and USC.
Away opponents: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington and Oregon.
Penn State will be a home-and-away opponent.
Start times, TV designations and promotions for nonconference games will be announced later.
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