Kentucky women’s basketball locks in dates for 16 SEC games this season

Mark Humphrey/AP

The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team announced dates for all 16 of its Southeastern Conference games in the 2022-23 season on Wednesday.

The Wildcats, entering their third season under head coach Kyra Elzy, open SEC play on Dec. 29 at Missouri.

UK then plays its home opener on New Year’s Day, a Sunday, against Arkansas.

The highlight of the home schedule comes Jan. 12, when the defending SEC Tournament champion Wildcats host defending national champion South Carolina. UK also visits the Gamecocks this season, that game tipping off on Feb. 2 in Columbia, S.C.

Kentucky’s SEC schedule includes seven teams that played in last season’s NCAA Tournament: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

In addition to playing South Carolina twice, Kentucky’s home-and-away opponents also include Missouri and Georgia.

The SEC Tournament will be held in Greenville, S.C., March 1-5.

Kentucky’s non-conference opponents for 2022-23 have not been announced, other than its appearance in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in Nassau, Bahamas. The Cats will face Virginia Tech there on Nov. 21 and Dayton on Nov. 23.

The Wildcats’ roster features just five returning players (guards Robyn Benton, Blair Green, Emma King and Jada Walker and forward Nyah Leveretter) along with 10 newcomers.

Of the newcomers, six are freshmen and four are transfers from other Division I programs, including guard Maddie Scherr, a former Miss Kentucky Basketball from Ryle High School who previously played at Oregon.

UK’s SEC schedule

Dec. 29: At Missouri

Jan. 1: ARKANSAS

Jan. 5: At Georgia

Jan. 8: LSU

Jan. 12: SOUTH CAROLINA

Jan. 15: At Florida

Jan. 22: At Mississippi State

Jan. 26: AUBURN

Jan. 29: MISSOURI

Feb. 2: At South Carolina

Feb. 9: ALABAMA

Feb. 13: At Mississippi

Feb. 16: GEORGIA

Feb. 19: At Vanderbilt

Feb. 23: At Texas A&M

Feb. 26: TENNESSEE

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