A new era for Penn State women’s basketball has arrived in Happy Valley.

After an 11-18 finish in 2025-26 and the departure of head coach Carolyn Kieger, the Nittany Lions faced massive roster upheaval as the entire core of last season’s team entered the transfer portal.

While so much change can be a negative, it also provides an exciting opportunity for new head coach Tanisha Wright, a former WNBA player and coach.

Wright added six new transfers and a sense of anticipation that this new era can bring success the Nittany Lions haven’t seen since the 1990s and early 2000s.

If you are looking to tune in to the Lady Lions in the Wright era, here’s a list of the most exciting games to watch in the 2026-27 season.

November 27 vs. Baylor

One of Penn State’s first tests will be somewhat unique. The Lady Lions are heading down to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam over Thanksgiving break, where they will take on Baylor.

Baylor finished third in the Big 12 last season before running into Duke in the tournament. The Bears offense centers on Talia Scott, a senior guard who led the team in points last season.

If Penn State beats Baylor, it’ll face the winner of USF and Seton Hall.

If the Lions can get a quality win or two in the islands, it would go a long way, and not just the 1,700 miles it takes to get there.

December 13 at TCU

Another game in Penn State’s strong non-conference schedule is TCU.

Finishing ranked No. 6 last season, the Horned Frogs have a revamped team under head coach Mark Campbell. Even after losing most of their talent, they are still projected to be elite.

Seniors Maddie Scherr and Aaliyah Robinson provide size, experience, and strong basketball IQ to the squad.

The team also has its share of transfers, including Lanie Grant from North Carolina and Lara Somfai by way of Stanford, hoping to breathe new life into the Horned Frogs and keep them in contention.

While not the team it was in years past, TCU still provides an early test for Penn State before conference play.

January 5 at Minnesota

As mentioned before, almost the entire roster transferred out of Penn State after last season. One of those players is Gracie Merkle, the Nittany Lions’ second-highest scorer last season, averaging 19.2 points per game.

Guess where she transferred to?

Of all the key players who left Penn State, Merkle is the only one to stay in the Big Ten. While it’s not as exciting as it would be if the Golden Gophers came to the Bryce Jordan Center, it’s always exciting when a star player returns to face her old team, especially so soon after leaving.

Apart from Merkle, Penn State will have Leah Harnon and Mara Braun to contend with. Harnon is a UCF transfer who averaged 15.7 points per game in 2025, while Braun is a returning star guard for the Golden Gophers.

January 15 at UCLA

Penn State’s matchup vs. UCLA will kick off a two-game California road trip, the second game being at USC, which is an exciting game in its own right. But first, Penn State will have to face a team which by this point in the season may very well be ranked No. 1.

UCLA won its first national championship last season. A perfect 18-0 Big Ten play and an overall record of 37-1.

While losing players to the WNBA, the Bruins have no shortage of talent. UCLA added firepower from the transfer portal in Addy Brown and Elina Aarnisalo.

The Bruins beat Penn State 97-61 last season. If the Lady Lions pull off the upset, this game would be an incredible statement win.

January 18 at USC

Penn State’s second leg of the California trip concludes with an interesting matchup against USC. The Nittany Lions beat the Trojans at home last season, 85-82, but one major piece was missing: JuJu Watkins.

Watkins was named the 2026-27 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the coaches’ Preseason All-Big Ten Team despite not playing a single minute last season while recovering from an ACL injury.

Watkins set the NCAA Division I women’s basketball freshman single-season scoring record with 920 points and won the WBCA NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year award.

She’ll be doing everything she can to make sure the Trojans don’t drop two in a row to the Nittany Lions.

January 27 at Michigan

The Wolverines, coming off an Elite Eight appearance last season before losing to No. 1 seed Texas, set team records for total points and Big Ten conference wins last season.

Head coach Kim Barnes Arico returns a strong foundational core from last year’s Elite Eight squad alongside high-profile transfers.

Syla Swords and Mila Holloway will try to repeat Michigan’s success of last season, while newcomers Courtney Ogden from Stanford and the Australian Dallas Loughridge, the 2026 WNBL Breakout Player of the Year, will attempt to inject something new into the Wolverines.

Important road games are becoming a theme for Penn State this season, and this one is no different.

February 18 vs. Iowa

The Hawkeyes finished second in the Big Ten last season and lost a heartbreaker double-overtime matchup in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Virginia.

Iowa returns most of last season’s core, featuring Ava Haiden and Chadazi Wright. The Hawkeyes also have a highly anticipated transfer out of Georgia in Dani Carnegie.

In a season where many of Penn State’s tests will come away from home, a signature win against a strong contender in the Bryce Jordan Center late in the season would send a buzz throughout the team and the conference.