MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A new coach and a mostly new roster greet the Memphis Tigers women Monday night, when they open the 2026-27 season against LeMoyne-Owen at Elma Roane Fieldhouse in Memphis. Tipoff is at 6.
It is the first game for Hana Haden, who took over the program in March. She inherits four returners and has added eight newcomers, seven through the transfer portal plus freshman Aubrey Hampton.
Four players are back from last season. Daejah Richmond, the top scorer a year ago, and Jordan Hunter return in the backcourt, while Tamya Smith, the leading rebounder, and Bailey Gilmore anchor the frontcourt.
LeMoyne-Owen, a Division II school, is in its second season under Kimberley Anderson after going 3-24 in her first. The two programs have met only once, back in the 1976-77 season, and Memphis won that one 106-50.
Openers have generally gone well for the Tigers. They are 24-20 all-time in first games and have won 11 of their last 15.
Monday starts a run of five home games in a row. Middle Tennessee visits Friday, Nov. 6, also at 6 p.m., followed by Little Rock on Nov. 9, Alabama on Nov. 12 and South Alabama on Nov. 19. The Blue Raiders lead that series 12-5 and have won the last seven meetings. Middle Tennessee went 17-16 last season, reached the WNIT and now has a first-year coach of its own in Matt Insell, who spent five seasons in charge at Ole Miss.
After that, Memphis heads to Frisco, Texas, for the Hoopfest Basketball Women’s Challenge against Old Dominion and SMU on Nov. 23 and 25, then plays at Ole Miss on Nov. 29.
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