UVU women’s hoops releases non-conference schedule
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
UVU head coach Dan Nielson directs his team during the WAC game against Cal Baptist at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.Utah Valley women’s basketball head coach Dan Nielson has announced the 2025-26 nonconference schedule.
The Wolverines will play 11 before WAC play begins with six being inside the UCCU Center. The home slate begins on Friday, Nov. 14 with Pepperdine.
“We’re excited about our nonconference schedule this year,” Nielson said. “Playing teams from the Big 12, Mountain West and WCC will be a challenge, but we feel our team is up to the challenge. This schedule will prepare us for WAC play. We can’t wait for the season to get started.”
The 2025-2026 regular season starts with former WAC foe and future Big West rival, Cal State Bakersfield on Monday, Nov. 3. The trip continues into Los Angeles to face Loyola Marymount on Nov. 5.
Utah Valley will face their only Power Four opponent during the regular season when it visits Big 12 member Utah (Nov. 11). It’s the first meeting between the in-state schools since 2022. The Utes finished 22-9 last season and 13-5 in the Big 12. They earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to No. 9 seed Indiana.
Following UVU’s home opener with Pepperdine, they will stay in the UCCU Center to face Benedictine (Nov. 17) and host in-state foe, Weber State (Nov. 20). They round out November with a trip to play the Mountain West’s Nevada Wolfpack in Reno on Monday, Nov. 24. Utah Valley will play three of four December games at home beginning with Air Force on Saturday, Dec. 6. It will be the third matchup in 12 calendar months for the two squads, who split to games last season. The Wolverines topped the Falcons in Colorado Springs in March in the first round of the WNIT.
The only road game will send UVU to Kansas City (Dec.13) for a date with the Roos. The final two nonconference games will feature a visit from La Sierra on Dec. 16 before wrapping up before the holidays against Idaho State from the Big Sky on Dec. 20.
The Wolverines previously announced their 18-game Western Athletic Conference schedule, which begins with a Dec. 29 meeting at Cal Baptist. UVU’s home conference opener in on New Year’s Day against Tarleton State.
The Wolverines finished 19-13 overall last season and 9-7 in WAC play, losing to Grand Canyon in the conference tournament semifinals. The Wolverines defeated Air Force 70-64 in the first round of the WNIT before dropping a 57-54 decision to Washington State at Pullman in the second round.
