DURHAM, N.C. – Two tournaments, including one hosted by South Carolina, and a home matchup against North Carolina A&T highlight the 2026-27 North Carolina Central women's basketball schedule, which was released Friday.

NCCU opens the regular season at Virginia Tech on Nov. 2, marking the debut of new Head Coach Olivia Gaines. Her Eagles are set to play 18 non-conference games including two tournaments before entering MEAC play.

The Eagles will compete in the inaugural PowHER Player Classic hosted by national power South Carolina during Thanksgiving weekend. The Eagles will face Alabama A&M, while Tennessee State takes on South Carolina on Nov. 28. The championship and consolation games will be held Nov. 29.

The Classic will be a reunion between Gaines and South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley. Gaines played under Staley as a collegian in 2014 and 2015.

South Carolina and Virginia Tech are two of four Power Four opponents NCCU will likely face. The Eagles make the short trip to North Carolina on Nov. 11 and head to Tennessee on Dec. 8.

NCCU will also travel to Miami for the Florida International Tournament in December. The Eagles meet Hampton on Dec. 18 and Florida International on Dec. 19.

The Eagles' game against A&T is the featured home contest on the non-conference slate. The archrivals square off for the second straight season in Durham on Dec. 16. It marks the third time the Eagles will host the Aggies since the 2022-23 season.

NCCU opens at home against two CIAA teams, hosting Johnson C. Smith on Nov. 4 and Fayetteville State on Nov. 9. The remaining home games include Elon on Nov. 23, Carolina University on Dec. 1 and Queens (N.C.) on Dec. 22.

The rest of the road non-conference slate includes UNC Wilmington on Nov. 7, George Mason on Nov. 14, Virginia Commonwealth on Nov. 16, UNC Greensboro on Nov. 19 and High Point on Dec. 5.

The MEAC schedule will be released at a later date. All home games will be played at McDougald-McLendon Arena and game times are available on nccueaglepride.com.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.