Alabama Unveils 2026-27 Women’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule Featuring Loaded Home Slate and Neutral-Site Clash
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Kristy Curry era at Alabama continues to build momentum as the Crimson Tide officially announced its complete non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 women’s basketball season. The schedule, released Monday, features a robust slate of 14 games that will prepare the team for the rigors of Southeastern Conference play.
Headlining the schedule is a neutral-site appearance in the WBCA Showcase, a matchup against Georgia Tech in the SEC/ACC Challenge, and a demanding home schedule that includes 12 contests inside Coleman Coliseum .
Alabama, which finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-11 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance, is looking to reload after the departure of key contributors . The non-conference slate provides a critical opportunity for new and returning players to gel before facing a daunting SEC lineup that includes road games against South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas .
November: Early Tests and the WBCA Showcase
The Crimson Tide will tip off the regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, against the Queens Royals inside Coleman Coliseum . This marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs, signaling a new chapter for Alabama as they look to establish an early rhythm . Following the opener, Alabama will host a trio of games in quick succession, facing New Orleans (Nov. 4), Alabama A&M (Nov. 5), and Mercer (Nov. 15) .
The marquee event of the early season arrives on Nov. 19 and Nov. 21 when Alabama travels to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the WBCA Showcase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex . The Crimson Tide will face Florida A&M on Nov. 19 before a highly anticipated showdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels on Nov. 21 .
The matchup against North Carolina is particularly intriguing, as it pits Alabama against a fellow 2025-26 NCAA Tournament team . The Tar Heels and Crimson Tide have met 11 times previously, with Alabama winning the last two encounters, including a first-round victory in the 2021 NCAA Tournament that ended the Tar Heels’ season . The game at the WBCA Showcase will mark the 12th meeting between the storied programs .
Alabama will wrap up November with a quick turnaround, hosting Louisiana-Monroe (Nov. 24) and Samford (Nov. 25) before heading into the meat of their December schedule .
December: SEC/ACC Challenge and a Heavy Home Stand
The non-conference schedule heats up in December with the second annual SEC/ACC Challenge. Alabama will host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Dec. 3 inside Coleman Coliseum . This will be the first time in nine years that Georgia Tech visits Tuscaloosa . The Crimson Tide boasts a 5-2 all-time record against the Yellow Jackets and are undefeated against them at home (3-0) . Alabama is coming off a dominant 72-48 victory over Clemson in last year’s iteration of the Challenge .
Following the clash with Georgia Tech, Alabama will return to Coleman Coliseum for a series of home games, hosting Tennessee State (Dec. 6), West Georgia (Dec. 14), and Alcorn State (Dec. 16) . The matchup against West Georgia will be another first-time meeting in series history, continuing a trend of Alabama scheduling new opponents .
The team will close out its non-conference schedule just ahead of the Christmas holiday with back-to-back home games against Chattanooga (Dec. 20) and Coastal Carolina (Dec. 21) .
A New-Look Team
This non-conference schedule arrives at a transitional moment for the Crimson Tide roster. Alabama is tasked with replacing significant production from the 2025-26 squad, losing three of its four leading scorers, including Jessica Timmons (16.6 points per game), Ta’Mia Scott (11.7 points per game), and emotional leader Karly Weathers (8.9 points per game) . The Tide is losing 55% of its scoring output from last season, leaving a void that must be filled by returning and developing players .
Despite these departures, Alabama returns 11 players, creating a stable foundation for next season . The frontcourt appears to be a strength, with juniors Essence Cody and Naomi Jones returning to provide a formidable presence in the paint . Both Cody and Jones are seen as building blocks for the 2026-27 campaign and will be relied upon heavily to anchor the team on both ends of the floor.
In the backcourt, the Tide will turn to returnees Diana Collins and rising star Ace Austin. The duo, who split time at point guard during the 2025-26 season, saw significant minutes together in the NCAA Tournament loss to Louisville, offering a promising preview of the team’s future backcourt .
Head Coach Kristy Curry will also look to develop a group of young guards and post players, including Alancia Ramsey, who missed the NCAA Tournament due to shoulder surgery, and freshmen additions who are expected to contribute . The non-conference schedule offers ample opportunity for these players to acclimate to increased roles before SEC play begins.
Navigating a Gauntlet Ahead
While the non-conference slate is set, the road through the SEC will be arduous. Alabama’s conference opponents for the 2026-27 season have been determined, featuring a schedule that includes home games against Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M . The Tide will hit the road for tough environments at Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas .
Alabama will have a home-and-home series with Ole Miss, making them the only conference opponent the Tide will face twice . After finishing 7-9 in SEC play last season, the Crimson Tide will need to improve their conference performance to build on their 24-11 record and NCAA Tournament berth from a year ago . The non-conference slate is designed to build the team’s confidence and chemistry before entering what figures to be one of the most competitive conferences in the nation.
