WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The 2023-24 schedule for the Purdue women’s basketball team is finally set. The Big Ten Conference unveiled its 18-game league slate for the upcoming campaign, its final as a 14-team conference.
The league returns to the 18-game format for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Game times and broadcast assignments will be announced later.
For the fourth consecutive campaign, Purdue will open league play ahead of the holiday break. The Boilermakers will head to Minnesota for a Dec. 10 contest to start Big Ten action. Purdue is 1-1 in conference openers under head coach Katie Gearlds
Big Ten play picks up after the holiday break with back-to-back games at Mackey Arena on either side of New Year’s Day against Wisconsin (Dec. 30) and Rutgers (Jan. 2). Purdue will hit the road for the first time in 2024 on Jan. 6 with a trip to Maryland.
The Boilermakers will host Iowa and reigning national player of the year Caitlin Clark in the lone matchup between the two clubs on Jan. 10.
Following a game at Penn State on Jan. 18, Purdue will return to Mackey Arena Jan. 21 for a showdown with Indiana and the 2023 Barn Burner Trophy Game.
Two of Purdue’s next three outings will be on the road at Michigan State (Jan. 24) and Nebraska (Jan. 31), with a home tilt Jan. 28 against Ohio State splitting the two.
After squaring off with Illinois at home on Feb. 5, the Boilermakers will play their only two-game road swing of league action with visits to Indiana (Feb. 11) and Northwestern (Feb. 14). Purdue will then return home for a pair of contests against Nebraska (Feb. 17) and Michigan State (Feb. 21).
The Boilermakers close out the regular season with two of three on the road at Wisconsin (Feb. 25) and the season finale (March 3). Purdue’s home finale will be Feb. 28 against Penn State.
For the second consecutive year, the Big Ten Tournament will be played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., March 6-10.
The announcement of the full schedule brings Purdue’s home slate to 15 games during the regular season, plus the Oct. 29 exhibition against Quincy.
Head coach Katie Gearlds returns for her third campaign at the helm of her alma mater. Her 13-player roster includes five returners, two sophomore transfers and six freshmen. The Boilermakers will open the 2023-24 season on the road at UCLA on Nov. 6, before their first game at Mackey Arena on Nov. 12 against Southern.
Purdue will face a Power 5 opponent in four of its first five games of the season.