Marquette Women’s Basketball Announces A Home & Home Series With Missouri State
The Golden Eagles will visit Missouri this coming season before hosting the Bears in 2027.
The Golden Eagles will visit Missouri this coming season before hosting the Bears in 2027. This report comes from Yahoo Sports. The story centres on
Read Full Story at Yahoo Sports →Why This Matters
The announcement solidifies Marquette’s commitment to elevating its women’s basketball program under the Big East banner, where conference competition demands strategic scheduling to stay competitive. For Missouri State, a program with consistent postseason appearances, this series signals an opportunity to test its mettle against a top-25-caliber opponent in front of a sold-out Al McGuire Center.
Background Context
Marquette’s women’s basketball has seen steady growth under coach Megan Duffy, but the program still lags behind perennial Big East powers like UConn and Villanova in terms of national visibility. Missouri State, meanwhile, has been a mid-major mainstay for years, reaching multiple NCAA Tournaments but struggling to break through in the postseason beyond the Sweet Sixteen.
What Happens Next
Both programs will likely use these matchups to gauge roster depth and recruiting pipelines, especially as Missouri State eyes a potential NCAA Tournament bid. Attendance figures for the 2027 home game at Marquette could set a new benchmark for women’s basketball in the Midwest, while the 2024 road trip may provide early insights into how the Bears stack up against a high-major opponent.
Bigger Picture
This scheduling decision reflects a broader trend of mid-major and high-major programs leveraging home-and-home series to build national credibility, particularly in women’s basketball where parity and NIL-driven roster turnover make every game a potential statement. It also underscores how conference realignment—like Marquette’s move to the Big East—is reshaping scheduling strategies to prioritize both competition and exposure.
