PEORIA, Ill. – Head Coach Chaia Meier and the Bradley Women's Basketball program have announced the Braves' 2026-27 schedule, featuring a challenging nonconference slate and 20 Missouri Valley Conference matchups.
Meier enters her first season at the helm of the Braves after joining the program from Marquette University. Bradley will feature a new-look roster with three incoming freshmen and three transfers joining seven returning players: Caitlin Washington, Mya Wardle, Lila Posthuma, Ellie McDermid, Inia Jones, Kali Fortson and Claire McDougall.
Nonconference Play
Bradley's nonconference schedule is highlighted by a challenging road slate featuring Wisconsin, Indiana, Bellarmine, DePaul and South Dakota. Wisconsin reached the semifinals of last season's Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament, while Indiana entered the season with the nation's No. 8-ranked recruiting class.
Bradley's home opener will come against Northern Illinois on Nov. 6 at Renaissance Coliseum. The Braves will also welcome Kent State and Western Illinois to Peoria before hosting Memphis in their final nonconference game on Dec. 13.
Bradley will spend Thanksgiving at the Texas State Tournament from Nov. 25-28, where the Braves will face UTEP, host Texas State and Pacific.
The Braves will also have opportunities to build on success from last season, with rematches against Bellarmine, DePaul and South Dakota after earning victories over all three programs during the 2025-26 campaign.
Missouri Valley Conference Play
Bradley will be in action 20 times during league play, competing against each Missouri Valley Conference opponent twice, once at home and once on the road, during the regular season.
The Braves will begin conference play with a two-game road swing, traveling to Murray State on Dec. 20 before facing Belmont on Dec. 22. Bradley then returns to Renaissance Coliseum to host Drake on Dec. 30 and Valparaiso on Jan. 1.
BU will hit the road to face Indiana State and Evansville before returning home against Southern Illinois on Jan. 14. The remainder of January features road trips to UIC and Valparaiso along with home matchups against UNI, Illinois State, Murray State and Evansville.
The first installment of the I-74 rivalry will take place Jan. 22 when Bradley welcomes Illinois State to Renaissance Coliseum.
Bradley opens February at home against Belmont before hosting Indiana State on Feb. 12. The Braves will then face a late-season stretch of four road games at Southern Illinois, Drake, UNI and Illinois State.
Bradley's final home game of the regular season is set for Feb. 25 against UIC at Renaissance Coliseum before the Braves travel to Normal to close the regular season against Illinois State on Feb. 27.
