UMBC Women’s Basketball Unveils Full 2026-27 Schedule Following Breakthrough WNIT Season
The UMBC women’s basketball program will try to build on one of its best seasons in years with a 2026-27 schedule featuring regional rivals, two major-conference road tests and a full 16-game America East slate.
Head coach Candice Hill and the Retrievers will open the season Nov. 2 against Stevenson at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena before hosting Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 5 in the inaugural America East-Metro Basketball Challenge. UMBC then travels to Quinnipiac on Nov. 8 to complete the event.
The schedule comes after UMBC went 17-15 overall and 10-6 in the America East last season, reached the conference semifinals and earned its first postseason berth since 2017. The Retrievers defeated Ohio in overtime in the WNIT before their season ended against Marshall.
For a program that took a major step forward in Hill’s second season, the 2026-27 campaign provides an opportunity to show that last year was the beginning of sustained success.
Retrievers open at home
UMBC starts with consecutive home games against Stevenson and Mount St. Mary’s.
The Nov. 5 matchup with the Mount is part of the first America East-Metro Basketball Challenge. The new event matches programs from the America East with teams from the Metro Conference, formerly known as the MAAC.
Every participating team will play one game at home and one on the road. UMBC hosts Mount St. Mary’s before traveling to Connecticut to play Quinnipiac on Nov. 8.
It gives the Retrievers an interesting early-season test while also providing a matchup against another Maryland Division I program.
Pittsburgh begins demanding five-game road trip
After the opening portion of the schedule, UMBC begins one of its most difficult stretches of the season Nov. 18 at Pittsburgh.
The Panthers represent one of two major-conference opponents on the schedule.
UMBC then visits Brown on Nov. 21 before participating in a Thanksgiving tournament hosted by Iona on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28. The opponents for the Iona tournament had not been identified in UMBC’s Aug. 18 announcement.
The five-game road swing concludes Dec. 3 at Navy in Annapolis.
The Pittsburgh game should be especially useful as an early measuring stick. The Panthers have UMBC listed as a Nov. 18 home opponent on their 2026-27 schedule.
Maryland-heavy December slate
UMBC will spend much of December playing close to home.
The Retrievers will host Coppin State, Notre Dame of Maryland and American while traveling to College Park for a Dec. 18 matchup against Maryland. UMBC Athletics did not provide dates for the Coppin State, Notre Dame of Maryland or American games in the text of its Aug. 18 schedule announcement, so those dates should not be guessed until the individual schedule listings are updated.
The Maryland matchup gives UMBC another opportunity against high-level competition.
The Retrievers faced then-No. 10 Maryland last November and lost 87-54 at XFINITY Center, but UMBC later produced one of the biggest victories in program history when it defeated Virginia, 61-56, in Charlottesville.
That was UMBC’s first victory over a Power Four opponent.
UMBC also defeated Notre Dame of Maryland, 104-22, last season, setting the program’s Division I record for points in a game.
America East play begins on New Year’s Eve
UMBC opens its 16-game America East schedule Dec. 31 on the road against Binghamton.
The Retrievers return home Jan. 3 against NJIT before hosting Maine, New Hampshire and Bryant during the first half of January.
UMBC then faces a difficult three-game road swing against UAlbany, Vermont and UMass Lowell.
That stretch could have a major impact on the league standings.
UMBC proved last season that it could compete with the best teams in the conference. The Retrievers went 10-6 in America East play and defeated eventual conference champion Vermont, 46-44, on the road. They also defeated UAlbany in overtime in Baltimore.
Full 2026-27 UMBC women’s basketball schedule
November
Nov. 2 — Stevenson — Home
UMBC opens the season at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
Nov. 5 — Mount St. Mary’s — Home
America East-Metro Basketball Challenge.
Nov. 8 — at Quinnipiac — Away
America East-Metro Basketball Challenge.
Nov. 18 — at Pittsburgh — Away
First major-conference road test of the season.
Nov. 21 — at Brown — Away
Nov. 27 — Iona Thanksgiving Tournament — Neutral/Tournament
Nov. 28 — Iona Thanksgiving Tournament — Neutral/Tournament
UMBC’s two tournament opponents were not announced in the Aug. 18 release.
December
Dec. 3 — at Navy — Away
Date TBA — Coppin State — Home
Date TBA — Notre Dame of Maryland — Home
Dec. 18 — at Maryland — Away
Date TBA — American — Home
The UMBC release confirms all five opponents and specifically lists the Maryland game for Dec. 18, but the article text does not give dates for Coppin State, Notre Dame of Maryland or American.
America East schedule
Dec. 31 — at Binghamton
Jan. 3 — NJIT — Home
Jan. 7 — Maine — Home
Jan. 9 — New Hampshire — Home
New Hampshire’s published schedule confirms its Jan. 9 trip to UMBC.
Jan. 14 — Bryant — Home
Jan. 21 — at UAlbany
Jan. 23 — at Vermont
Jan. 28 — at UMass Lowell
Jan. 30 — Binghamton — Home
Early February — Conference bye
UMBC’s release says the Retrievers finish January with a home game against Binghamton followed by their league bye.
Feb. 4 — at Bryant
Feb. 6 — UAlbany — Home
Feb. 11 — at Maine
Maine’s published schedule confirms that UMBC visits Orono on Feb. 11.
Feb. 13 — at New Hampshire
New Hampshire lists UMBC as its Senior Day opponent on Feb. 13.
Feb. 20 — Vermont — Home
Feb. 25 — at NJIT
Feb. 27 — UMass Lowell — Home
Conference dates and game times remain subject to change.
Retrievers have a foundation to build around
UMBC enters the season with expectations that are considerably higher than they were when Hill took over the program.
The Retrievers finished last season 17-15 overall and 10-6 in league play. Their 17 victories were the fourth-most in program history. UMBC also scored 1,994 points, the third-highest total in program history, while allowing just 58.4 points per game.
Jade Tillman earned America East Newcomer of the Year honors and All-America East First Team recognition. Tiara Bellamy made the conference’s All-Defensive Team, while Kennedy Austin and Heidi Williams earned All-Rookie honors.
Those accomplishments raised the standard for the program.
Regional games give schedule local appeal
One of the strongest aspects of UMBC’s schedule is the number of regional opponents.
The Retrievers will play Mount St. Mary’s, Navy, Coppin State, Maryland and Notre Dame of Maryland while also hosting nearby American.
Those games provide natural interest for Maryland basketball fans and reduce some of the travel burden during the non-conference season.
The Mount matchup should be particularly interesting because it comes so early in the season and is part of the new America East-Metro Challenge.
Major tests at Pittsburgh and Maryland
Pittsburgh and Maryland give UMBC two games against opponents with considerably greater resources.
Those games may not determine whether the season is successful, but they can tell Hill plenty about her team.
Last season offered an example of why those opportunities matter.
UMBC lost decisively at Maryland early in the year but responded one week later by going on the road and upsetting Virginia. The Retrievers later turned that momentum into a top-four America East finish and postseason appearance.
Hill now has a team that knows it can win those kinds of games.
America East race should again be competitive
UMBC’s biggest goal will ultimately be competing for an America East championship.
The Retrievers were close last season.
After beating NJIT in the conference quarterfinals, UMBC took eventual champion Vermont to double overtime in the semifinals before losing, 68-65. The Catamounts went on to win the tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
UMBC also showed during the regular season that it could beat Vermont, UAlbany and other upper-level conference opponents.
The challenge now is doing it consistently enough to remain near the top of the standings throughout the winter.
MSB Take
There should be legitimate excitement around UMBC women’s basketball entering this season.
Candice Hill has changed the trajectory of the program quickly.
A 17-win season, a top-four America East finish, the program’s first Power Four victory and a WNIT win would have looked like an ambitious list of goals two years ago. UMBC accomplished all of them last season.
Now the standard changes.
Pittsburgh and Maryland will test how far the Retrievers have come. Mount St. Mary’s, Navy and Coppin State provide meaningful local games, and the America East schedule gives UMBC another opportunity to establish itself as a legitimate championship contender.
Last season proved UMBC can compete with the best teams on its schedule.
The 2026-27 season is about proving it can do it again.
Sources: UMBC Athletics, America East Conference, Pittsburgh Athletics, New Hampshire Athletics and Maine Athletics.
