HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison women’s basketball released its 2026-27 non-conference schedule, featuring four teams from last year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, as announced by Head Coach Sean O’Regan on Wednesday morning.
The slate also includes four Power Four opponents in Virginia Tech (Nov. 8), Virginia (Nov. 19), Arkansas (Nov. 25), and Penn State (Dec. 2).
“We set out, as we always do, to set as challenging a schedule as possible,” said O’Regan. “I think we accomplished that. We also try to get as many games in Virginia as possible; I think we accomplished that as well. I love the rivalries and the challenges we have put forth for our group. We will be very prepared for Sun Belt Conference play.”
JMU kicks off the season on the road at Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 2 as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge, before returning to Harrisonburg for its home opener versus Central Connecticut State (Nov. 5). The Dukes and RedHawks both went 2-0 in last year’s MAC-SBC Challenge and made their way to Morgantown, W. Va. for the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
For the first time since 2008, the Dukes will trek to Blacksburg, Va. for a rematch against Virginia Tech on Nov. 8. JMU hosts Navy on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and remains inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center to welcome East Carolina (Nov. 15). In 2025-26, the Hokies made their 14th March Madness appearance after earning a No. 9 seed as an at-large team, posting a regular-season record of 23-9 (12-6 ACC).
From there, the Dukes begin their series versus Virginia (Nov. 19) with a trip to Charlottesville and head up I-81 to finish the weekend by facing George Mason on Nov. 21. Last season, the 10th-seeded Cavaliers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2000 after winning three games in five days.
James Madison will travel west for the San Diego Classic to take on Winthrop (Nov. 24) and Arkansas (Nov. 25), marking the Dukes’ first time on the West Coast since wrapping up a home-and-home series against UCLA in 2015.
The Dukes open December at Penn State (Dec. 2), before coming back to the 540 to battle Bucknell on Dec. 5. Later, JMU travels to Liberty (Dec. 5) and finishes its traditional non-conference schedule with High Point inside the AUBC on Dec. 13. The Panthers are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, picking up a No. 15 seed a season ago – the highest seeding in program history.
JMU will host a Mid-American Conference foe on Feb. 6 for the second leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
Click here to view the entire schedule.
— JMU Athletics —
