The Big Ten hoops schedule has been released for the 2025-26 season, and we now know who the Michigan women’s basketball team will play this season.
Obviously, we know what teams are in the Big Ten, but when the Wolverines play these teams — and more importantly, where they travel to — plays a key role in how this team prepares as the season goes along.
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Here is the full Big Ten schedule, and a few of my instant thoughts:
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Sunday, Dec. 7: vs Purdue
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Monday, Dec. 29: at Oregon
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Thursday, Jan. 1: at Washington
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Monday, Jan. 5: vs Minnesota
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Thursday, Jan. 8: at Penn State
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Sunday, Jan. 11: vs Wisconsin
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Thursday, Jan. 15: vs Illinois
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Thursday, Jan. 22: at Rutgers
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Thursday, Jan. 29: at Indiana
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Sunday, Feb. 1: at Michigan State
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Wednesday, Feb. 4: vs Nebraska
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Thursday, Feb. 12: at Northwestern
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Sunday, Feb. 15: vs Michigan State
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Wednesday, Feb. 25: at Ohio State
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Saturday, Feb. 28: vs Maryland
Instant thoughts
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That is a TOUGH stretch to end the season. All of those teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, and if Michigan is on the bubble heading into that stretch, it will have to win at least two of those games.
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The women’s team does have to travel to Oregon and Washington, but it is an advantage that that trip happens during winter break, so at least the team won’t have to worry as much about school work.
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The toughest stretch may be the three-game stretch of USC, Indiana and Michigan State as January turns to February. If Michigan can establish chemistry by that time, those potential wins would be huge for the tournament resume.
In additional to the Big Ten schedule, one of Michigan’s most intriguing matchups in the non-conference is the game against Notre Dame, played at Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit. Not only is this a match-up on NBC between two highly-regarded women’s basketball programs, but this is also a revenge game for the Wolverines, who were eliminated by the Fighting Irish in the Round of 32 this past season.
There is a LOT to like about the young core of this team, and the Wolverines added more talent this off-season with transfers Kendall Dudley and Ashley Sofilkanich. The outstanding 2024 class — the highest-ranked in program history — has a year under it’s belt, with Syla Swords, Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway now stepping into de facto leadership roles.
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On paper, I worry about the lack of veteran college basketball players on this roster, and it’s a roster that’s lacking size. But they have enough talent at the guard spots to make up for it, and Kim Barnes Arico has more than earned the benefit of the doubt.
