MITCHELL, S.D. — The 2026-27 Dakota Wesleyan Women’s Basketball schedule has officially been released. The Tigers have a total of six non-conference games, and two exhibitions against NCAA opponents Northern State (S.D.) and South Dakota State, alongside the standard slate of 22 GPAC contests.
Jason Christensen is entering his 17th season as the leader of DWU Women’s Basketball. Over the last two seasons, Christensen has compiled a 54-14 record en route to surpassing the legendary Gordie Fosness in all-time wins as a DWU basketball head coach (352). The Tigers are also coming off a historic 2025-26 campaign, with the team making it to the NAIA national semifinals, along with a GPAC Tournament Championship. When asked about this upcoming season, Christensen stated the following:
“We’re excited about the opportunity this season presents. The GPAC continues to be one of the premier conferences in the country, and we know every night will challenge us to be at our best. Our focus is on growth, consistency, and putting ourselves in position to compete when it matters most at the end of February.”
DWU tips off its season in an exhibition contest against Northern State on Oct. 25 at the World’s Only Corn Palace, which will be open to the public. Later in the week, the Tigers compete in the inaugural CorTrust Classic at the World’s Only Corn Palace, facing William Penn on Oct. 30th and Valley City State on Oct. 31st. The most notable non-conference games of the season follow, as DWU heads to Seward, Nebraska, for the CUNE Cattle Classic, taking place Nov. 6th and 7th. The Tigers face out-of-conference rival Dakota State on the first day of the Classic, who finished last season with a 30-6 record, finishing the season nationally ranked No. 7 while making it to the Fab Four before losing to Dordt. The next day, on Nov. 7, DWU takes on nationally-ranked No. 15 Montana Tech, who finished last season 26-5 and won their opening game of the NAIA Tournament.
The final non-conference games on the schedule will be Dec. 18 and 19th, when the Tigers will head to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Arizona Christian Classic. This tournament will see the Tigers face Missouri Baptist on the 18th, followed by hosts Arizona Christian on Dec. 19th. Conference play will officially start for the defending GPAC Tournament Champion Tigers on Nov. 14th as they host RV Hastings. The marquee matchup of the season is on Dec. 9, as DWU hosts Dordt in what is a rematch of the 2026 GPAC Championship game. Dordt finished last season 34-3 (21-1 in conference) before eventually losing in the National Championship game to Marian.
See the upcoming 2026-27 schedule for DWU Women’s Basketball here.