Women's Basketball to take on Siena, Merrimack in Inaugural America East – Metro Challenge

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:

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-

Print Friendly Version