FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champions the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team has released their 2025-26 non-conference schedule which features seven teams who played in a national postseason and five who qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. The season officially begins with a road trip to face Villanova on Wednesday, Nov. 5 with Fairfield's home opener at Leo D. Mahoney scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 against reigning Patriot League champions Lehigh.
 
"Every season, we've pushed our team more and more with our non-conference schedule, and we've upped the ante yet again this season!" Head Coach Carly Thibault-Dudonis said. "We are really looking forward to playing some of the best teams in the country, including seven teams who played in the postseason last season, five of whom were NCAA tournament teams. We are going to be pushed early and often which will not only prepare us for MAAC play but will help us build a great resume for March and keep Fairfield on the national stage!"
 
Fairfield's nine-game non-conference slate begins with the Stags' first trip to Villanova in 15 years. Fairfield is coming off their first-ever win against the Wildcats with a 74-71 victory at Mahoney Arena back in December. The Wildcats won 21 games last season and advanced to the WBIT Semifinals after picking up wins against Boston College and Saint Joseph's.
 
The Wildcats are one of seven Fairfield opponents who played in a national postseason tournament last season as the Stags will follow against Patriot League Champions Lehigh at Mahoney Arena on Nov. 8. The Mountain Hawks went 27-7 a year ago and claimed their fifth Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
Fairfield will then travel to Las Vegas, Nev., to take part in the WBCA Challenge and face a pair of NCAA Tournament teams in South Florida (Nov. 13) and North Carolina (Nov. 15). South Florida was a No. 12 seed in the Big Dance after claiming the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship in 2024-25. The Bulls won 23 games last season which included a nine-game winning streak in the conference. Their appearance in the NCAA Tournament was the program's eighth in the last 10 years.
 
The Tar Heels earned a No. 3 seed in last year's Big Dance and advanced to the Sweet 16 after wins over Oregon State and West Virginia. In total, UNC tallied 29 victories and 13 in the ACC.
 
The Stags will have a 10-day break in the schedule before returning home to take on New Haven on Nov. 25.
 
Fairfield will go right back on the road to face Iowa for the first time in program history on Nov. 30. The Hawkeyes claimed the No. 6 seed in the tournament and picked up a win over Murray State to advance to the Second Round. Iowa picked up three wins against nationally-ranked teams last season including a victory over Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament.
 
The game at Iowa will begin a three-game road trip for the Stags who will then travel to the DMV area to face Howard (Dec. 5) and Richmond (Dec. 7). The Bison won 22 games last season including a 12-2 record in the MEAC before appearing in the WNIT and picking up a win over Siena.
 
Richmond will host the rematch of the two schools after the Spiders defeated the Stags last season at Mahoney Arena. That win was one of 28 for the Spiders who earned an At-Large bid into the NCAA Tournament and recorded a win against Georgia Tech as the No. 8 seed.
 
The Stags will end their non-conference slate with a home game against Maine on Dec. 12. The Black Bears are coming off a 15-win campaign and a 9-7 mark in the America East.
 
Of the nine non-conference opponents, eight finished with winning records last season with seven enjoying 20-win seasons.
 
The Stags are coming off back-to-back MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in school history while also receiving votes in the AP Top-25 Poll in both campaigns. 
 
Season tickets for the 2025-26 Fairfield Basketball season are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX. Ticket packages include both men's and women's basketball season tickets as well as combo packages that provide a ticket to every Fairfield men's and women's regular season home game played at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Club Level access passes to The Diffley Club are also available for both Fairfield Men's and Women's Basketball games. Visit fairfieldstags.com/TIX or contact the Fairfield University Ticket Office at 203-254-4136 or via email at stagstickets@fairfield.edu to secure your seats today.