WSU announced their full 30-game 2024-25 women’s basketball schedule. They begin non-conference play Oct. 20, before starting their first season in the West Coast Conference Dec. 19.
The season starts with home games against local opponents Lewis-Clark State College (Oct. 20) and Eastern Washington University (Nov. 4). They then travel to former Pac-12 opponent Stanford University, which will serve as a litmus test for how competitive WSU will be this season. The Cougars have never beaten the Cardinal, but after legendary Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer’s retirement, this year could be the Cougs best chance against new coach Kate Paye.
The Cougars return home for the weekend to host their crosstown rivals from the University of Idaho on Nov. 10. WSU carries a four-game winning streak against the Vandals.
WSU takes off for Lubbock, Texas on Nov. 16 where they will face the Texas Tech University Red Raiders. From there, they head to the University of Iowa for what could be their toughest matchup all season. The Hawkeyes won the National Championship in 2024, and even with Caitlyn Clark moving on to the WNBA, they will be a difficult team to beat.
The Cougars will spend Thanksgiving weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Puerto Rico shootout. There they will match up against Norfolk State University (Nov. 28), University of Virginia (Nov. 29) and Drake University (Nov. 30)
On Dec. 4, the Cougs return to Eugene to face another former Pac-12 rival in the University of Oregon. WSU is currently riding a three-game winning streak against the Ducks. Then they finish up non-conference play on Dec. 13 when they host BYU.
WCC play begins on Dec. 19 at the University of San Diego. After a break for the holidays, the Cougs return home to host Pepperdine University on Dec. 28, then travel to the University of the Pacific on Dec. 30.
They open 2025 hosting Santa Clara University and Oregon State University on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4. Last year the Cougs saw a five-game winning streak against the Beavers come to an end in a 65-52 loss.
WSU will visit Saint Mary’s University on Jan. 9, then return home to host the University of Gonzaga on Jan. 11. The Cougars defeated the Bulldogs in a thrilling 77-72 overtime win last year, and a close rematch should be expected.
The Cougars then head to the Golden State for a pair of road games against the Universities of San Francisco and Santa Clara on Jan. 16 and Jan. 18. They return to the Palouse to host the University of Portland on Jan. 23, and then it is right back to southern California to take on Loyola Marymount University on Jan 25. Back-and-forth travel between California and the Pacific Northwest defines the month of January.
The Cougs come back to Pullman to close the month with a home game against Pacific on Jan. 30, and stay at home to host USD on Feb. 1. They get a week of rest before their Feb. 8 showdown with Gonzaga at Spokane. Then it is back home for LMU on Feb. 13, a road game in Portland on Feb. 15, and two more games at Beasley, hosting USF and SMU on Feb. 20 and 22.
They finish the regular season with a road game at Pepperdine on Feb. 27. That gives the Cougars a week to prepare for the WCC tournament, which begins March 6 in Las Vegas. Noticeable absent from this year’s schedule is the University of Washington, who have an agreement for football and men’s basketball, but failed to schedule a women’s basketball matchup. For the first time since the 1996, the Cougars will not play the Huskies in women’s basketball.
