Villanova women's basketball will tip off its 2026-27 season against Notre Dame in Rome on Sunday, Nov. 1, as part of the Eternal City Tipoff, the university announced Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The 11-game non-conference slate includes what the university called five contests against teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament last season. Notre Dame, LSU, Kansas State and West Virginia are among the confirmed tournament opponents.

The Rome opener, airing on FS1 at noon ET, is part of a men's and women's doubleheader inspired by the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus. The event includes a shared Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and a planned papal audience, according to the university.

"We're thrilled to tip off our 2026-27 season with this incredible event in Rome against a nationally recognized Notre Dame team," head coach Denise Dillon said in April when the Rome matchup was first announced. "This is an opportunity to showcase high level basketball, while celebrating our University and its Augustinian mission."

Dillon enters her seventh season on the Main Line with a 139-59 record at Villanova. Her squad went 25-8 last season, finished second in the Big East at 16-4, and earned a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Texas Tech 57-52 in the first round. Guard Jasmine Bascoe, who averaged a Big East-best 18.9 points and 4.8 assists per game, returns alongside three other starters.

The Wildcats host Merrimack for their Finneran Pavilion opener on Thursday, Nov. 12, then welcome Towson on Nov. 18 and La Salle on Nov. 24 before heading to Fort Myers, Fla., to face LSU on Friday, Nov. 27 and Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Road trips include a visit to Princeton on Nov. 10, Fairfield on Nov. 15 and Temple on Dec. 1. A Big 5 Classic game at The Palestra is set for Sunday, Dec. 6, though the opponent has not been announced.

The full schedule:

  • Oct. 10: vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (exhibition, Finneran Pavilion)
  • Nov. 1: vs. Notre Dame (Rome, Italy)
  • Nov. 10: at Princeton
  • Nov. 12: vs. Merrimack (Finneran Pavilion)
  • Nov. 15: at Fairfield
  • Nov. 18: vs. Towson (Finneran Pavilion)
  • Nov. 24: vs. La Salle (Finneran Pavilion)
  • Nov. 27: vs. LSU (Fort Myers, Fla.)
  • Nov. 28: vs. Kansas State (Fort Myers, Fla.)
  • Dec. 1: at Temple
  • Dec. 6: Big 5 Classic (The Palestra)
  • Dec. 12: vs. West Virginia (Finneran Pavilion)

Season tickets are on sale at villanova.evenue.net. Contact the Villanova Ticket Office at 610-519-6700 or [email protected].