Florida International University Athletics announced FIU women’s basketball’s 10-game non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. The schedule includes seven home games and three road contests. FIU will open the season against Jacksonville on Nov. 3 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami.
The season will be Jesyka Burks-Wiley’s seventh leading FIU women’s basketball. The Panthers will face Jacksonville, Stetson, USF, Miami, North Dakota, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Morgan State and North Carolina Central during the non-conference portion of the schedule. FIU will begin Conference USA play at home against New Mexico State on Jan. 2.
FIU opens at home against Jacksonville
FIU will welcome the 2026 ASUN Tournament champion Jacksonville on Nov. 3 at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Panthers will remain at home against Stetson on Nov. 10. FIU will then play consecutive road games at USF on Nov. 15 and at Miami on Nov. 19.
The game at Miami will be the 61st meeting between the two programs. The schedule then returns to Miami for the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. North Dakota, NIU and Manhattan will participate in the event.
Two home tournaments highlight the schedule
FIU will play North Dakota in the first round of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 27. The Panthers will play their second and final game of the tournament on Nov. 29. The opponent for that game was not specified among North Dakota, NIU and Manhattan.
FIU will host Florida Atlantic on Dec. 5 before traveling to Statesboro to play Georgia Southern on Dec. 12. The Panthers will then host the FIU Holiday Classic with Morgan State, Hampton and North Carolina Central. FIU will face Morgan State on Dec. 18 and North Carolina Central on Dec. 19 to close the non-conference schedule.
Three returning players identified
Four players from the 2025-26 team will return, although the announcement identified three of them: Grecia Ferrer Leal, Adama Badjie Coly and Fantasia James. Ferrer Leal started 32 of 33 games as a freshman during the 2025-26 season. She ranked fifth in CUSA in assists per game at 3.8 and second in total assists with 125.
Badjie Coly finished the 2025-26 season second on the team in double-doubles. James was a 2025 CUSA All-Freshman selection and joined FIU as a freshman in the 2023-24 season. The announcement did not identify the fourth returning player.
Conference USA play begins Jan. 2
FIU will open Conference USA play at home against New Mexico State on Jan. 2. The 2026 Conference USA Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 9-13 at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama. Those championships follow the 2026-27 non-conference schedule and the start of league play.
FIU women’s basketball 2026-27 schedule
Nov. 3: Jacksonville at FIU, Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
Nov. 10: Stetson at FIU, Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
Nov. 15: FIU at USF.
Nov. 19: FIU at Miami.
Nov. 27: North Dakota at FIU in the first round of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic.
Nov. 29: FIU’s second and final game of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic against an opponent from North Dakota, NIU or Manhattan; the matchup was not specified.
Dec. 5: Florida Atlantic at FIU.
Dec. 12: FIU at Georgia Southern in Statesboro.
Dec. 18: Morgan State at FIU in the FIU Holiday Classic.
Dec. 19: North Carolina Central at FIU in the FIU Holiday Classic.
Jan. 2: New Mexico State at FIU for the start of Conference USA play.
March 9-13: 2026 Conference USA Basketball Championships at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama.
FSB Take
FIU women’s basketball will have seven home games in its 10-game non-conference schedule. The slate includes the FIU Thanksgiving Classic and FIU Holiday Classic, along with road games at USF, Miami and Georgia Southern. The Nov. 3 opener against Jacksonville and the Jan. 2 Conference USA opener against New Mexico State will begin FIU’s 2026-27 home schedule.
Source: Original report