Marquette, MI – July 24th, 2026 – After one of the program’s best seasons in recent years, the Northern Michigan women’s basketball team is set to begin another campaign with high expectations.
The Wildcats are coming off a successful 2025-26 season in which they finished 25-8 overall, 15-5 in GLIAC play, and 11-3 at Vandament Arena. Northern Michigan also swept rival Michigan Tech in three meetings, including a victory in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament.
The Wildcats earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament before their season came to an end with a 77-61 loss to Wayne State in the opening round.
Since taking over as head coach in May 2022, Casey Thousand has quickly established Northern Michigan as one of the premier programs in both the GLIAC and the NCAA Division II Midwest Region. Entering her fifth season at the helm, Thousand will look to guide the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament and compete for a conference championship.
Northern Michigan opens the 2026-27 season at the Midwest Tipoff Challenge in Wisconsin Dells. The Wildcats begin the year on Oct. 30 against Central Missouri before facing Truman State on Oct. 31 and Minnesota State Mankato on Nov. 1.
The Wildcats return to Wisconsin Dells two weeks later for another weekend of non-conference action, taking on Lewis on Nov. 13 and Upper Iowa on Nov. 14. They then travel to Minnesota for games at St. Cloud State on Nov. 20 and Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 21, before wrapping up their non-conference slate against Winona State Nov. 28 in Wisconsin Dells.
Conference play begins with a challenging stretch away from home. Northern Michigan opens GLIAC action at Roosevelt on Dec. 3 before traveling to Parkside on Dec. 5. The Wildcats remain on the road for non-conference contests at Ashland on Dec. 17 and Northwood on Dec. 19, then close out the calendar year with conference games at Davenport on Dec. 31 and Ferris State on Jan. 2.
After opening the conference schedule with six straight road games, the Wildcats finally make their return to Vandament Arena on Jan. 7 for one of the most anticipated games of the season against rival Michigan Tech. They continue their four-game homestand by hosting Wayne State on Jan. 9, Lake Superior State on Jan. 14, and Saginaw Valley State on Jan. 16.
Northern Michigan heads back on the road to face Purdue Northwest on Jan. 21 and Grand Valley State on Jan. 23 before returning home for games against Ferris State on Jan. 28 and Davenport on Jan. 30.
February opens with road contests at Saginaw Valley State on Feb. 4 and Lake Superior State on Feb. 6. The Wildcats then host Grand Valley State on Feb. 11 and Purdue Northwest on Feb. 13 before renewing their rivalry with Michigan Tech in Houghton on Feb. 18. They conclude their final road trip at Wayne State on Feb. 22.
Northern Michigan wraps up the regular season with two home games, hosting Parkside on Feb. 25 and Roosevelt on Feb. 27. Those contests could prove crucial in determining the final GLIAC Tournament standings.
The 2027 GLIAC Tournament begins with quarterfinal games on March 3, hosted by the conference’s top four seeds. The semifinals will be played on March 6 at the highest remaining seed, with the GLIAC Championship Game set for March 7 at the same site.
With another experienced roster and one of the conference’s top coaches leading the way, the Wildcats will look to build on last season’s 25-win campaign, compete for a GLIAC title, and make another run to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
