DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball Head Coach Janell Crayton Del Rosario announced the complete 2025-26 schedule for the Wildcats on Thursday afternoon, featuring a challenging slate of no less than 30 regular season games that includes matchups against Power Four opponents and participation in three prestigious MTE tournaments.
 
Bethune-Cookman opens its campaign with a four-game road stretch, beginning November 3 at UCF in Orlando before traveling to face Miami (Fla.) on November 6 at 11 a.m. in Coral Gables. The Wildcats host Albany State (November 11) for the home-opener at Richard V. Moore Gymnasium before venturing back to the road for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year starting with a trip back to Dade County and Florida International (November 15), as well as a trip north to Maryland (November 20).
 
"This schedule is going to test us from day one," remarked Crayton Del Rosario. "With so many newcomers on our roster, these early challenges will be invaluable in helping us develop chemistry and find our identity as a team. Playing against quality in-state opponents like UCF, Miami and FIU right out of the gate will show us exactly where we stand."
 
The Cats will participate in three MTE tournaments during the non-conference portion of their schedule. The UNF Classic in Jacksonville runs November 28-29, featuring Bethune-Cookman alongside host UNF and North Dakota State. The Maroon and Gold then head back to Orlando for the HBCU Hoops Invitational December 5-7, where they'll face Edward Waters and other to-be-determined opponents in a four-day showcase event featuring Cheyney State and Hampton.
 
The holiday season brings the Hatter Classic in nearby DeLand, where the Wildcats will square off against Stonehill on December 19 and William & Mary on December 20. The non-conference slate concludes with road trips to Richmond (December 16) and Jacksonville (December 30), respectfully.
 
"These tournaments give us great exposure and the chance to play different styles of basketball," noted Crayton Del Rosario. "The HBCU Hoops Invitational is particularly special because it celebrates our heritage while providing competitive games against quality opponents."
 
SWAC begins January 3 when the Wildcats host in-state foe Florida A&M at Moore Gymnasium. The SWAC schedule features the traditional home-and-away format, with Bethune-Cookman welcoming Southern (La.), Grambling State, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, Alabama State, and Alabama A&M to Daytona Beach.
 
Notable conference home games include a January 8-10 weekend featuring Southern (La.) and Grambling State, followed by back-to-back home contests against Alcorn State (January 22) and Jackson State (January 24). The Wildcats will also host Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M on February 5 and 7, respectively, before closing out the regular season home slate with Alabama State (February 19) and Alabama A&M (February 21).
 
"The SWAC is always competitive, and this year will be no different," said Crayton Del Rosario. "Every game matters when it comes to positioning for the conference tournament. Having a strong home court advantage will be crucial, especially with all the young players who are still learning what it takes to compete at this level."
 
The regular season concludes with the SWAC Tournament scheduled for March 9-14 in Atlanta, Georgia, where the conference champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"We're excited about this group and the potential they have," added Crayton Del Rosario. "It's going to be a process with so many new faces, but this schedule will accelerate our development. Our fans can expect to see a team that competes hard every night and continues to grow throughout the season."
 
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