WATERLOO, Ont. - The Golden Hawks women's basketball team is looking to make it three straight postseason berths with a new head coach at the helm and six incoming student-athletes, and they have a clear idea of their path as the OUA released the 2025-26 regular season schedule.
For the second year in a row, the Golden Hawks will begin the season on the road when they visit the Algoma Thunderbirds for the opening weekend on October 24 and 25. The Golden Hawks swept the season series last year, winning by a combined score of 55 points, and have a 21-0 record all-time against Algoma.
The Athletic Complex will see its first action when the Golden Hawks meet the Waterloo Warriors in the first round of the Battle of Waterloo on Friday, October 31 at 6 pm. Laurier is 2-8 in the last 10 matchups, but won the home game against the Warriors last season.
The Golden Hawks start a long six-game stretch against East Division opponents on Friday, November 7, with the Laurentian Voyageurs in town, and the next night against the Nipissing Lakers. Laurier is 9-1 against both teams and won their respective games a season ago.
Up next, the Golden Hawks head to the nation's capital for a tough weekend against two of the top teams in U SPORTS. First in line is the Carleton Ravens on Friday, November 14. The Ravens sat first in the East with a perfect 22-0 record, were Critelli Cup finalists, and claimed a silver medal at the national championships.
Laurier did take their meeting down to the wire last season but ended up falling by only three points and extended their losing streak against the Ravens to 10 games.
24 hours later, the Golden Hawks take on the reigning OUA Champions in the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Ottawa handed Carleton their first loss of the 2024-25 campaign in the championship match and moved on to become U SPORTS bronze medalists. The Golden Hawks are on a five-game skid and are 3-7 in the last 10.
Still on the road, the team will make their way to Oshawa for the sixth all-time game against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. The Golden Hawks have never lost to the Ridgebacks and look to keep it that way when they meet on Friday, November 21.
It is going to be a quick turnaround for the travelling Hawks as they take on the Queen's Gaels the next night to wrap up the season's meetings with the East and their four-game road trip.
On Wednesday, November 26 at 6 pm, the Highway 7 rivalry reignites in a highly anticipated rematch of last year's playoff game that saw Laurier fall in a heartbreaker when the Golden Hawks host the Guelph Gryphons. It will also be Laurier's manager of women's basketball operations and head coach Megan Reid's first match against her former squad.
The Golden Hawks play their final game of the semester on Friday, November 28 against the Lakehead Thunderwolves. Tipoff is set for 6 pm.
Post winter break, the Laurier squad is back in action on Wednesday, January 7 when they visit the TMU Bold in Toronto. The Golden Hawks' loss last season put them on a three-game skid, and they have a 3-8 road record against the Bold.
The Golden Hawks begin a two-game homestand starting on Friday, January 16 at 6 pm against the Western Mustangs to tip off six straight games against divisional opponents. The purple and gold are 2-8 in the last 10 matchups against the Mustangs and are in tough this stretch as they went 4-6 against the division a season ago.
On Saturday, January 17 the Windsor Lancers come to Waterloo for a 6 pm start time. The Lancers swept the season series last year where Laurier's home game resulted in a single-point loss.
The Golden Hawks will say goodbye to their home court as they begin their longest road trip of the season at five games. They will see the Gryphons, Warriors, Mustangs, and Lancers to end the divisional meetings.
The final road game of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4 against the McMaster Marauders.
To close out the regular season, the Golden Hawks are home for three games. First up on Saturday, February 7 at 6 pm is the Toronto Varsity Blues, who went 2-20 last season, and fell to the Golden Hawks by 22 points.
On Friday, February 13, the Golden Hawks host the Brock Badgers at 6 pm.
Finally, the last regular season game will see the York Lions come to town on Saturday, February 14. The match also marks Senior Night to celebrate the contributions of the graduating student-athletes. Tipoff for the Valentine's Day head-to-head is set for 6 pm.
Golden Hawks women's basketball season tickets are available for purchase here, and single-game tickets are available here.
