The stage is just about set for a make-or-break year.
The Columbia Daily Tribune, through a public records request, learned the date and opponent for nine of Missouri women’s basketball’s games on its 2024-25 nonconference schedule, which all but rounds out the Tigers’ pre-SEC games. Missouri will play at least 10 games at home during its nonconference slate, with a midseason tournament in Florida splitting the Mizzou Arena action up.
The competition contracts provided to the Tribune show that Missouri looks set open its season against Southern on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Columbia. Norfolk State — yes, that Norfolk State — will be the next to come to town, visiting Columbia on Sunday, Nov. 10. Shortly after that, Tulane will play at Mizzou Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Missouri will then host Saint Louis for an in-state matchup Nov. 20, followed by Arkansas-Little Rock (Nov. 22); Jacksonville State (Dec. 1); Northern Illinois (Dec. 7); Lipscomb (Dec. 15); and Oral Roberts (Dec. 18), all in Columbia.
Per the competition contracts, the Tigers’ games against Tulane and Arkansas-Little Rock have each been agreed as home-and-home series, meaning Missouri is scheduled to travel to both New Orleans and Little Rock for games in 2025.
Mizzou already announced it is scheduled to play in the Emerald Coast Classic, a multiple-team event held at Northwest Florida State College near Destin, Florida, where the Tigers will face Syracuse and either Creighton or Wichita State. The event is set to take place Nov. 25-26. The contract obtained through the records request shows that the participation fee for the event is $35,000.
Mizzou will face SMU in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 5 at Mizzou Arena, which brings the Tigers to 12 confirmed games, leaving one likely open slot for the 2024-25 slate.
In all likelihood, that spot will go to Illinois in the Braggin’ Rights contest. The two teams have faced off every season — except in 2020 — in the month of December since 2017. Whether that game will take place this year has not yet been announced, but based on campus rotations since 2017 would take place in Columbia should it appear on the schedule.
As it stands, that means Mizzou has no true road games on its nonconference schedule for this season.
It shapes up to be an important year for the immediate future of the Tigers’ program.
Missouri has not made it to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, and coach Robin Pingeton is now entering into the final year of her current contract.
Mizzou acquired four new players via the transfer portal this offseason, getting Texas center Tionna Herron, Southern Illinois forward Laniah Randle, Presbyterian guard Tilda Sjökvist and New Mexico guard Nyah Wilson to sign. Missouri also brings in a two-person Class of 2024 recruiting class, with Texas products Londyn Oliphant, a point guard, and Ma’Riya Vincent, a 6-0 forward, coming to Columbia.
Ashton Judd, Grace Slaughter and Abbey Schreacke make up a core group of returners to the Tigers, who went 11-19 last season and fell in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
Missouri women’s basketball full 2024-25 nonconference schedule
- Nov. 7: vs. Southern
- Nov. 10: vs. Norfolk State
- Nov. 12: vs. Tulane
- Nov. 20: vs. Saint Louis
- Nov. 22: vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
- Nov. 25: Syracuse (Emerald Coast Classic)
- Nov. 26: Creighton/Wichita State (Emerald Coast Classic)
- Dec. 1: vs. Jacksonville State
- Dec. 5: vs. SMU (SEC/ACC Challenge)
- Dec. 7: vs. Northern Illinois
- Dec. 15: vs. Lipscomb
- Dec. 18: vs. Oral Roberts
- TBD
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