UWM Women's Basketball Opens Season vs. Northwestern
The Panthers return 12 players from a 8-24 season as they open 2026-27 play at Northwestern.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
The UWM women's basketball team opens its 2026-27 season against Northwestern on November 3, 2026, at 7 p.m. The Panthers finished last season 8-24 overall and 4-16 in conference play.
Why it matters
Retaining 12 players from last season's roster gives the program continuity after a difficult year on the court. The opener against a Big Ten program offers an early measure of how much the group has developed.
Last season Peyton Rechlicz started every game and averaged 5.3 points, 1.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds, while Grace Lomen started 25 of 31 games and averaged 6.8 points. Jada Williams averaged 3.7 points, 1.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds, and how these averages shift this season remains unknown.
The players
Peyton Rechlicz
Rechlicz is the UWM women's basketball head coach who selected transfer Jaeda Murphy and has built the roster around retained players.
Jaeda Murphy
Murphy is a transfer guard who previously played at Mississippi Valley State and is expected to help the team play at a faster, more aggressive pace.
Northwestern
Northwestern is the Big Ten program hosting UWM in the season opener at Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
The details
Coach Rechlicz selected Jaeda Murphy from the transfer portal, and the team played an exhibition game against Benedictine ahead of the opener. Coach Rechlicz attributed the roster's retention to culture, loyalty and players' desire to build something.
Timeline
Last season: The team finished 8-24 overall.
Thursday (before November 3, 2026): Exhibition game against Benedictine.
November 3, 2026: Season opener against Northwestern at 7 p.m. at Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
Season Trajectory
The 4-16 conference finish from last season sets the baseline the Panthers must improve upon to change their standing in the league. Retaining 12 players gives the program a rare chance to build on a single year of experience rather than rebuild.
Fantasy and bracket watchers can track the returning core, especially Peyton Rechlicz and Grace Lomen, who started most games last season. Fans planning to attend can catch the season opener on November 3, 2026, at 7 p.m. in Evanston.
The takeaway
Continuity can be an advantage for a young program, and the season opener will show whether 12 returning players translate into more wins. Watch how the new transfer and freshmen fit alongside the returning core.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Basketball coverage of Milwaukee-area teams.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UWM Post.
