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Villanova’s women’s basketball program will need to brush up on their Italian as they’ll open their 2026-27 non-conference schedule against Notre Dame in Rome on Nov. 1.

The Wildcats will open their season overseas to take on the Fighting Irish in the ‘Eternal City Tip-Off.’

With the college basketball season set to begin on Monday, Nov. 2, both programs received special permission to play a day prior on All Saints’ Day, which is symbolic for both catholic schools.

Villanova notably is the alma mater of Pope Leo XIV, who was appointed as the first American pope in May 2025. Notre Dame has one of the largest catholic alumni networks in the country.

It will be the first time the two programs meet since 2018.

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The Wildcats are coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance in three years, finishing with a 25-8 overall record (16-4 Big East). Last season ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, following a 57-52 loss to Texas Tech.

Villanova will see the return of its star junior point guard Jasmine Bascoe along with a slew of new Wildcats who joined via the transfer portal or freshman recruiting class.

ESPN has Villanova ranked No. 20 in its Way Too Early Top 25 rankings. Notre Dame? No. 21.

Villanova will then return to play Princeton on the road on Nov. 10.

Villanova’s home opener will take place on Nov. 12, against Merrimack, followed by Towson inside the Finneran Pavilion on Nov. 18.

In between those two, the Wildcats head to Connecticut to take on Fairfield on Nov 15.

In Big 5 play, Villanova is in pod play along with La Salle and Temple. The Wildcats host La Salle on Nov. 24 and will then travel to the Owls on Dec. 1. Villanova won the Big 5 Classic against St. Joseph’s last season, 76-70.

This year, the women’s edition of the Big 5 Classic will be moving to the Palestra on Dec. 6, marking the 100th anniversary of the arena. Villanova’s Finneran Pavilion hosted the two previous Women’s Big 5 Classic tournaments.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Wildcats will take part in the Ft. Myers Tip-Off Classic, facing LSU (Nov. 27) and Kansas State (Nov. 28).

All games will take place at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida South Western State College.

A majority of Villanova’s games will be streamed on ESPN+, as in previous seasons. Tipoff times and television information will be announced at a later date. Villanova’s Big East schedule will be announced in September.

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