Wildcats Host Milwaukee to Open at Welsh-Ryan Arena
The Northwestern women’s basketball team tips off the 2026-27 regular season on Tuesday, hosting Milwaukee for the eleventh all-time meeting between the two programs, nusports.com reported. This opening matchup marks the start of a new chapter on the hardwood inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Northwestern holds a 6-4 advantage in the all-series history, which dates back to an 89-46 Northwestern victory on January 12, 1993. Historically, the Wildcats have won three of their four meetings against Milwaukee at Welsh-Ryan Arena. When the two teams last squared off on December 14, 2021, Caileigh Walsh led the charge with 17 points to secure a 55-46 win, while Veronica Burton contributed nine points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals.
Milwaukee Returns Twelve Letterwinners Following Exhibition Victory
Milwaukee arrives in Evanston following a 70-52 exhibition victory over Benedictine last Thursday. Head coach Kyle Rechlicz enters the season guiding a squad that finished 8-24 overall and 4-16 in Horizon League play last year, earning a 10th-place projection in the 12-team Horizon League Preseason Poll.
The Panthers return 12 letterwinners, anchored by a trio of returning starters: Payton Rechlicz, Madison Fitzgibbon, and Jada Williams. Payton Rechlicz started all 32 games last season, averaging 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game after earning a spot on the 2024-25 Horizon League All-Freshman Team. She scored a season-high 15 points against Northern Kentucky on February 12. Fitzgibbon led the team in assists with 62 (1.9 per game) during her freshman campaign, reaching double figures in scoring five times. Williams logged steady minutes, closing out the year ranked third on the team with 711 total minutes played, averaging 22.2 minutes per contest.
Looking Ahead to Xavier
Following Tuesday’s opener, Northwestern will turn around quickly for its next home assignment. The Wildcats return to the Welsh-Ryan Arena floor on Thursday, November 5, to face Xavier in a 7 p.m. CT matchup.
