The SEC has officially released the dates for the 2026 women’s basketball conference games. Under new head coach Kellie Harper, here is the dates/opponents for Mizzou:
Here’s what you need to know about these matchups heading into the season.
What immediately sticks out to me with this schedule is the quality of opponents the Tigers play at the beginning and end of the conference slate. Mizzou opens with four tournament teams before closing the season with three. This includes starting the new year off by hosting Texas (and former Tiger Ashton Judd), coming off their first Final Four appearance in over two decades. Later in the season they take on LSU and South Carolina in back-to-back road games.
But, this leads to quite the favorable stretch in the middle for Harper’s team. In the nine games from Jan. 15 to Feb. 19, the Tigers only play three tournament teams (which is about as good as you’re going to get in the SEC). As a result, Mizzou will have to find its groove over this stretch to rack up wins between the tough stretches to start/end the season.
One of the games Mizzou fans should have circled on their calendar is Kellie Harper’s return to Tennessee on Feb. 12. This game comes right in the middle of the season, in the midst of some of Mizzou’s easiest games. But that won’t make it any easier in Knoxville, as the Lady Vols finished 13-4 at home last year.
This game serves as prime territory for an upset, as the Tigers will look to build a stronger tournament resume down the stretch.
Here are some of the games that I think will define Mizzou’s season heading into next year:
Jan. 12 vs. Alabama: Of the four games to open the season, this is definitely the best chance for the Tigers to grab a win. Alabama is coming off a great year, but lost a lot of talent due to graduation. With this game taking place at Mizzou Arena, hopefully the hometown faithful can create the difference. If the Tigers do indeed enter this game 0-3 in conference play, it would be a key chance for Harper to pull off the upset.
Jan. 18 at Florida: The next big chance comes less than a week later at Florida. The Gators barely missed the tournament last year, finishing 19-18 and 5-11 in conference play. On paper this is one of the easier games for Mizzou, but this matchup has always posed a challenge. Last year the Tigers lost 93-67 in Columbia in convincing fashion. Now with this game in Gainesville, the stakes only get higher. If the Tigers hope to contend for a spot in the Big Dance, this game is like a must-win.
Feb. 5 at Arkansas: The last game I want to mention is the second matchup of the year against Arkansas. Both teams are undergoing new identities with new head coaches, looking to compete in the SEC. Last year Mizzou snuck away with the win in Fayetteville, one of two road conference wins of the season. This game will serve as the last true road game that many consider winnable for the Tigers; important to make it count.