Women's Basketball Release Non-Conference Schedule
Reasonable mix of opponents, while never traveling east of Tahoe
The California Golden Bears released their non-conference schedule for the upcoming season. The Bears start off the season on November 2nd hosting former PAC-12 rival Washington State. It is the first time the Cal Women’s Basketball team will be the out-of-conference opponent playing a team that is still in the PAC-12 conference.
Cal will travel to Hawaii right before Thanksgiving, playing Hawaii and Gonzaga November 20th and 23rd during the North Shore Showcase. The schedule incudes six games away from Haas, the most since the 2018-19. However, Cal will not travel farther east than Lake Tahoe (November 7th vs USF), staying in California for the remainder of their non-conference games.
The most notable matchup at this point is the December 20th clash against Nebraska at the Chase Center. The Cornhuskers are in the top 20 in several way-too-early rankings and were a tournament team last year. Gonzaga and Charleston were also NCAA tournament participants last season. Cal will host Texas A&M on December 3rd as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
The ACC is forecasted to be amongst the strongest conferences next season, with five separate teams appearing on several early season rankings. Coach Charmin Smith returns starters Lulu Twidale, Gisella Maul, Taylor Barnes, and Mjracle Sheppard from last year’s 21-15 team that reached the quarterfinals of the CBIT Tournament. Like two years ago where the year-over-year continuity of Lulu Twidale, Marta Suarez, Ioanna Krimili and Michelle Onyiah led Cal to a strong 11-7 conference finish and an NCAA berth, this year’s Bears look to be in a good position to surprise and be highly competitive in a loaded ACC conference.