The Michigan women’s basketball team announced its home and away conference opponents for the 2026-27 season in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference on Monday afternoon.
In their 18-game conference season, the Wolverines will face 16 single-game opponents and one protected home/away opponent, preserving the in-state rivalry with Michigan State.
Michigan’s home opponents are Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Washington and Oregon.
The Hawkeyes are currently the second-highest-ranked Big Ten team in ESPN’s too-early top-25, slotting in at No. 6 after the Wolverines (No. 4). Iowa added Georgia transfer guard Dani Carnegie while retaining AP All-American honorable mention and All-Big Ten first team center Ava Heiden, who returns after averaging 18 points per game.
Michigan hasn’t taken down the Hawkeyes since the pair’s second matchup of the 2021-22 season, in which Iowa defeated the Wolverines to claim the Big Ten regular season title. Michigan’s last victory against the Hawkeyes was at Crisler, a 98-90 thriller in Caitlin Clark’s sophomore season where the Wolverines, led by Naz Hillmon, overcame Clark’s 46-point outing.
With the rivalry showdown against the Buckeyes (No. 18 in the too-early rankings) as the headlining home matchup of the conference slate, along with Michigan State, Crisler Center will be home to some of the most exciting matchups in the Big Ten season.
Michigan will face Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin, UCLA and USC on the road. Of those teams, the Fighting Illini, the Terrapins, Golden Gophers, Trojans and reigning national champion Bruins all appear in the too-early top-25 rankings. The Big Ten led all conferences last season in NCAA Tournament bids with 12, and is poised to have another marquee season.
The Wolverines’ home schedule is particularly exciting, given the Nov. 5 date with Connecticut combined with the conference slate. While it won’t be an easy road, with a returning core of junior guards Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, Mila Holloway and wings Te’Yala Delfosse and Kendall Dudley, Michigan is poised for its best Big Ten finish yet, potentially capturing the Wolverines’ elusive first conference title.
