Women’s Soccer Announces 2026 Schedule
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After previously unveiling Southeastern Conference matches for the upcoming fall season, Kentucky women’s soccer has finalized its complete slate of matches for its 2026 campaign. One exhibition match and seven non-conference fixtures, highlighted by the return of the regular season matchup against Louisville for the first time since 2018, bring the season calendar to its settled state.
For the second year in a row, admission to all Kentucky soccer home matches at the Bell Soccer Complex will be free to the public.
The Cats will begin the season in exhibition action on Saturday, August 8, hosting reigning Gainbridge Super League champions Lexington Sporting Club at the Bell. The match will mark the second time the two premier women’s soccer institutions in the city of Lexington have met for a friendly, the last being in Lexington SC’s first season of competition in 2024.
Kentucky will host a pair of matches on the opening week of the regular season, beginning with Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, August 12. The Cats and the Titans will meet for the third season in a row, with Kentucky claiming 2-0 wins in both 2024 and 2025. The Wildcats will close the first weekend on play against Kent State on Sunday, August 16.
After playing all of its non-conference matches at home last season, Kentucky will play back-to-back road matches in the month of August in the state of Ohio. The Cats will open the road swing at Dayton on Thursday, August 20 before returning to the Buckeye State on Thursday, August 27 to play Ohio State. Both the Flyers and the Buckeyes made the NCAA Tournament a season ago. Kentucky will play Dayton for the first time since a 0-0 draw in 2021 while looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat against Ohio State from last season.
The Cats will close out the first month of play on Sunday, August 30, hosting Wright State.
September will begin with the return of the Battle of the Bluegrass to the Cats’ regular season slate as Louisville comes to Lexington for the first time in eight years. The rivalry match will take place at the Bell on Thursday, September 3 and see the Cats and the Cards face off in a NCAA Tournament rematch from last season.
The non-conference slate will wrap up on Sunday, September 6, with the Wildcats hosting Bowling Green at the Bell.
SEC play ramps up on Friday, September 11, with Texas A&M coming to the Bluegrass for the first time in five years. A season ago, the Cats knocked off the Aggies, 3-0, in College Station for their first win in series history.
Kentucky will continue league play at the two Columbias, heading to Missouri on Friday. September 18 and South Carolina on Thursday, September 24. The Cats claimed wins against both the Tigers and the Gamecocks at home last season, with the latter continuing a now-three-year streak of top ten victories for Kentucky.
Kentucky will close out the month by hosting Mississippi State on Sunday, September 27. Head Coach Troy Fabiano will be searching for his first victory against the Bulldogs after losses in 2023 and 2024.
The Cats will head down to the Music City to begin the penultimate month of the season, facing reigning SEC Tournament Champions Vanderbilt on Friday, October 2. The Wildcats and Commodores are set to meet for the 12th consecutive season, with the Cats holding a 1-3 record during Fabiano’s tenure.
Kentucky will return to the Bell to host Texas for the first time as conference opponents on Friday, October 9. The two programs have previously met twice in non-conference action, with the Longhorns claiming both matches.
The Cats will close out their scheduled road matches with a double weekend at Auburn and at Tennessee. Kentucky will play on the Plains on Thursday, October 15 before facing the Lady Vols on Sunday, October 18. The Cats are set to meet both programs for the first time since 2024.
Kentucky will close out the regular season with a two-match homestand, beginning on Friday, October 23 against Ole Miss. After a 1-1 draw in Oxford last season, the Rebels are set to make their first trip to the Bell since 2022, Fabiano’s first season.
The regular season finale is set for Sunday, November 1, with defending SEC regular season champion Arkansas playing at the Bell for the first time in the Fabiano era.
Overall, Kentucky is set to play both the SEC regular season and tournament champions from a season ago, as well as eight teams that advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Cats will look to build on back-to-back season in which the program has registered double digit victories and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
For the latest on UK Women’s Soccer, follow the Wildcats on Facebook, Instagram, X and at UKathletics.com.
