WASHINGTON – A new era is set to begin for the American University women's basketball team, now under the tutelage of first-year head coach Kelly Killion. The Eagles are announcing their non-conference slate for the 2025-26 season, highlighted by six local games, a trip to Brooklyn, two jaunts to the City of Brotherly Love, and an excursion to Richmond.
 
Opening the season, the Eagles will play host in five of their 11 non-conference games and will be in the District for six contests. The home opener for AU will be against Delaware State on Nov. 8 when the Eagles take on Delaware State. Five days later, on Nov. 13, American will travel to South Carolina to face the Clemson Tigers before closing out their opening berth with a Bender Arena battle against Delaware.
 
Heading out, the Eagles will make a trip to the heart of Downtown Brooklyn to play the LIU Sharks on Nov. 20 and close out the journey with a stop in Philadelphia to face the Explorers of La Salle on Nov. 22. Only three opponents from the previous season repeat on this non-conference lineup; the first to make a reappearance will be La Salle.
 
Coming back to Bender, American will take on the Ivy League's Yale in a pre-Thanksgiving face-off on Nov. 26. Both Killion and newly minted associate head coach Robert Isme made the switch from the Ivy League (Penn and Dartmouth, respectively) to come to American, and this is the first matchup between the Eagles and the Bulldogs in over 40 years, last facing off in 1984.
 
Back up to Philly the Eagles will soar to take on Drexel to open December's five game slate on Dec. 3. The Dragons and Eagles also have a drought, having last taken to the court in a matchup in 2013; American leads 10-5 in the series between the programs.
 
In the penultimate home game of the non-conference schedule, American will host William & Mary on Dec. 7 before a crosstown clash with George Washington in Foggy Bottom on Dec. 14 and a quick turnaround down to Richmond to face VCU on Dec. 16. The Rams hold a narrow 13-11 series lead but have a 7-2 stronghold home record against AU.
 
For their final matchup before turning to conference play, the Eagles will square off with UMBC in Bender Arena on Sun. Dec. 21.
 
The Patriot League will announce the league schedule later this summer.
 
To Support AU Women's Basketball, visit our Eagles Club website and click "Donor Benefits" to learn more about supporting women's basketball and the benefits associated with giving this season.
 
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