Wheeling University Women’s Basketball Program Update
Wheeling, West Virginia – The Wheeling University Women’s Basketball team is entering a transformative phase with the announcement of Ella Skeens as the new Head Coach. This comes just in time for the unveiling of the 2025-2026 women’s basketball schedule, marking the beginning of a new era. Fans of the Cardinals will have the chance to support their team during a series of six consecutive home games that kick off the season, providing an excellent platform for a strong start.
Reflecting on Last Season’s Performance
The previous season (2024-2025) was notably successful for the Cardinals, who achieved an overall record of 17 wins and 12 losses, finishing with a commendable 13-7 in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. After a rocky start to the season, where they recorded one win against three losses during the preseason, the team demonstrated resilience by winning four consecutive games, pushing their record above .500. They concluded the first half of the season with a 5-6 record and excelled in the second half, securing six victories out of seven games. This performance allowed them to clinch a spot in the MEC Tournament as the #3 seed, their highest ranking since 2020. Unfortunately, their journey ended in the first round against Glenville State, where they faced a hard-fought defeat of 58-49.
Upcoming Season’s Schedule Highlights
Looking ahead, the Cardinals aim to challenge themselves again in the non-conference preseason. They will host multiple matches at home starting with a game against California University of Pennsylvania (CAL-U) on November 14. Following this, they will welcome Edinboro, Pitt-Johnstown, Washington Adventist, and Ohio Dominican. This early stretch is critical for team preparation as they gear up for their MEC opener against Point Park on December 3, completing their six-game home stand.
First Half of the Season
In the first half of the season, the Cardinals plan to play their last five games with three on the road, including a conference clash against West Virginia State on December 10 and a non-conference bout with Salem on December 6. Two additional home matches are scheduled against the University of Charleston on December 13 and Davis & Elkins on December 17, allowing the team to consolidate its performance before ending the first half on December 20 against Cedarville.
Second Half Schedule and Key Matchups
The second half of the season begins with a road game against West Virginia Wesleyan on January 3. The Cardinals will then return home on February 7 to compete against Fairmont State, leading into a busy schedule with several alternating home and away games. They have back-to-back road fixtures on January 24 and 28 against West Liberty and Charleston, respectively, returning home for a matchup with West Virginia State on January 31.
Final Stretch and Tournament Aspirations
As February approaches, the Cardinals will face a balanced mix of four home games and four away games. They start the month on February 4 by hosting West Virginia Wesleyan, soon followed by consecutive road games against Davis & Elkins and Fairmont State. The final weekends of the season feature home games against Frostburg State on February 14, Glenville State on February 21, and West Liberty on February 28, all critical matchups as they aim for one of the 10 spots in the MEC Tournament.
The Wheeling University Women’s Basketball team officially begins its 2025-2026 campaign on Friday, November 14, with a home opener against CAL-U at 2 PM.
