Photo by: Seth Poplaski
Women's Basketball to take on Siena, Merrimack in Inaugural America East – Metro Challenge
7/1/2026 9:36:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The America East Conference and Metro Conference announced the participating schools and the full schedule of games for the inaugural America East – Metro Basketball Challenge, set for the start of the 2026 women's basketball seasons.
The America East – Metro Basketball Challenge will feature nine women's teams from each conference with games taking place Thursday, November 5 through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Teams will play two games – one at home and one on the road – against opponents from the opposing conference. Game times will be determined by the host institution.
Full Women's Schedule:
In July of 2025 both Conference announced the creation of a basketball challenge, a new early season showcase that is part of a two-year agreement for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This will be the first ever basketball challenge between two Northeast-based Division I leagues. Sharing a regional footprint, a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, and the same men's basketball officiating coordinator, the Challenge represents a natural and strategic collaboration.
-UMaine-
The America East – Metro Basketball Challenge will feature nine women's teams from each conference with games taking place Thursday, November 5 through Sunday, November 8, 2026. Teams will play two games – one at home and one on the road – against opponents from the opposing conference. Game times will be determined by the host institution.
Full Women's Schedule:
| Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Marist at Bryant |
| Siena at Maine |
| Canisius at New Hampshire |
| Merrimack at NJIT |
| Manhattan at UAlbany |
| Niagara at UMass Lowell |
| Mount St. Mary's at UMBC |
| Quinnipiac at Vermont |
| Friday, November 6, 2026 |
| Binghamton at Fairfield |
| Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| UMass Lowell at Canisius |
| Vermont at Fairfield |
| Bryant at Manhattan |
| NJIT at Marist |
| Maine at Merrimack |
| UAlbany at Mount St. Mary's |
| New Hampshire at Niagara |
| UMBC at Quinnipiac |
| Binghamton at Siena |
In July of 2025 both Conference announced the creation of a basketball challenge, a new early season showcase that is part of a two-year agreement for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This will be the first ever basketball challenge between two Northeast-based Division I leagues. Sharing a regional footprint, a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, and the same men's basketball officiating coordinator, the Challenge represents a natural and strategic collaboration.
-UMaine-
Monday, July 13
Monday, March 09
Thursday, March 05
Saturday, February 28
