Cal women's basketball opens the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2, against Washington State at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. Tipoff is listed for 7 p.m. but could slide, because the game follows the men's opener against Adams State at 5 p.m. It streams on ACCNX.
What is at stake
Cal has won 19 straight regular-season nonconference home games, a streak that began with a win over Nevada on Dec. 9, 2023, the school said. Cal leads the all-time series with Washington State 51-29. It is the first time the two former Pac-12 rivals meet as nonconference opponents.
Cal's roster
Charmin Smith's team went 21-15 last season and was picked 10th in the ACC. It returns four of five starters, who accounted for 75% of its 3-pointers and 58% of its scoring, Cal said. Senior Lulu Twidale is on the Naismith Women's Player of the Year watch list and enters the season second among active players nationally in career 3-pointers. Gisella Maul is coming off career highs of 9.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game.
Newcomers include Missouri transfer Shannon Dowell, Rhode Island transfer Albina Syla and Stanford transfer Carly Amborn, who played high school ball at San Domenico in Larkspur.
The opponent
Washington State went 9-25 last season, its school said, and coach Kamie Ethridge added four newcomers to eight returners. Center Alex Covill and guard Eleonora Villa lead the Cougars.
Other Bay Area women's openers Monday
According to ESPN's schedule, Stanford plays Arizona at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 10:30 a.m. PT (CBS Sports Network), San José State plays at Nebraska at 10 a.m. PT (B1G+), and Santa Clara plays at Wyoming at 5:30 p.m. PT (MW+).
Related: Cal's preseason ACC pick and Stanford's preseason outlook.