SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 6, 2026) – The Western New England women's basketball team is coming off its third straight 20+ win season and third straight appearance in the Conference of New England Championship Game and will look to continue its excellent run in 2026-27, announcing the upcoming season schedule. 

The Golden Bears will open the season as they have for the last five seasons in a crosstown rivalry game with the Pride of Springfield College. Western New England has handled Springfield in the last two meetings, including last year's 67-55 triumph on home court. The Golden Bears are looking for just their second win against Springfield College away from home all-time, with 2024's victory being the first. The Golden Bears and Pride will renew their rivalry this season on Friday, November 6, for a 7:00 PM tip. Western New England then opens its home schedule on Monday, November 9, for a 7:00 PM tip against Elms College. Elms visits the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center for the first time since 2009. The Golden Bears are a perfect 3-0 on home floor against the Blazers and 7-0 all-time in the series. The Golden Bears will then travel to Eastern Connecticut State University for a Saturday afternoon tip-off on November 14. WNE has picked up three straight victories over ECSU, including a win on home court last season, 69-52.  The Golden Bears will be back on home floor for their next three games. WNE hosts Amherst College on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 PM in non-conference action before hosting the annual Hampton Inn Holiday Classic, beginning on Friday, November 20. WNE welcomes Salve Regina University, Hamilton College, and Plattsburgh State for a two-day tournament. The Golden Bears will take on Salve Regina on day one of the tournament at 6:00 PM. Day two will see the two losers from day one play one another in the consolation bracket, while the two winners from day one will play for the title on day two.

Before opening Conference of New England (CNE) play, the Golden Bears will take on Worcester Polytechnic Institute prior to the Thanksgiving break on Tuesday, November 24, at 7:30 PM. CNE action will begin when Western New England returns from break, heading to Gordon College on Tuesday, December 1, for a 5:30 PM tip. Just three games remain before the Christmas holiday for the Golden Bears, two of which will be on home floor. The first home CNE game of the season will be played on Saturday, December 5 at 1:00 PM, when WNE takes on Suffolk University. The Golden Bears then play host to Emerson College on Tuesday, December 8 at 6:00 PM, their final non-conference home game of the season. The last game before the December break sees the Blue and Gold travel to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, December 10, for a 5:30 PM tip.

The Golden Bears will return for the 2027 portion of their schedule right away, hosting Curry College on Saturday, January 2, beginning at 1:00 PM. The Blue and Gold open the second half of the season with three straight home games, hosting a midweek conference game against the Bison of Nichols College on Tuesday, January 5, at 5:30 PM, before welcoming the University of New England on Saturday, January 9, at 1:00 PM to Springfield. The Golden Bears will be on the road for two straight, heading a short distance to the University of Hartford on Wednesday, January 13, for a 5:00 PM game. WNE then tangles with Nichols College for the final time in the regular season, traveling to Nichols on Saturday, January 16. Three games remain in the busy month of January for the Golden Bears. WNE hosts the University of Hartford on Saturday, January 23, for a 1:00 PM tip before heading out on the road for a pair, including a rematch of last year's Conference of New England Championship Game, traveling to Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday, January 27, for a 5:30 PM game. The Golden Bears will then head north to the University of New England on Saturday, January 30, for the final conference game in January, as WNE plays eight games during the month. 

Six games remain on the regular season schedule for the Golden Bears, an even split of three home games and three road games. Western New England women's basketball opens the month of February with a home game against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Tuesday, February 2. The Gulls of Endicott College visit Springfield on Saturday, February 6, for a 1:00 PM game in a rematch of the CNE Semifinals from a season ago. The Golden Bears will then venture to Curry College on Wednesday, February 10, for a 5:00 PM start and to Suffolk University on Saturday, February 13, at 12:00 PM. The final regular season home game will take place on Tuesday, February 16, at 5:30 PM when the Golden Bears meet Roger Williams University for the first and only time during the regular season. The regular season finale comes on Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 PM when Western New England meets Endicott College. 

The Conference of New England Championships will follow with first-round games on Tuesday, February 23, semifinals on Thursday, February 25, and the finals on Saturday, February 27. To view Western New England women's basketball's full schedule, click here.