Louisville to Face Texas in 2026 SEC/ACC Challenge
June 05, 2026 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals are 1-0 on the road since the challenge began in 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville women's basketball team will be heading to the Lone Star State as their opponent in the 2026 SEC/ACC Challenge was announced Friday afternoon. The Cardinals are heading to Austin on Wednesday, December 2 to take on Texas for the fourth edition of the SEC/ACC Challenge. Tip time and TV designation will be announced at a later date.
This will be the second time the Cardinals will hit the road for the annual challenge between the two conferences. In the first year of the SEC/ACC Challenge, Louisville traveled to Oxford and defeated Ole Miss during the 2023-24 season. The past two seasons, Louisville has hosted Oklahoma and South Carolina as part of the challenge.
The Cardinals are coming off its 13th Sweet 16 appearance in school history during the 2025-26 season. It is the 11th time since 2013 that the Cardinals have reached the Sweet 16 or further, the fifth most in the country. All 13 Sweet 16 appearances have come under head coach Jeff Walz and he is tied for third among active coaches for most Sweet 16 appearances for their careers.
Louisville returns three of its five starters from last season in Tajianna Roberts, Elif Istanbulluoglu and Mackenly Randolph. They also return the reigning ACC Sixth Player of the Year in Imari Berry from a squad that finished second in the ACC in the regular season and advanced to the ACC Championship game.
Louisville is 2-2 all-time against Texas but have won each of the last two matchups. The Cardinals and Longhorns faced off twice during the 2022-23 season. Louisville defeated Texas in the Battle 4 Atlantis in November and then took down the Longhorns in Austin in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.
This is the second confirmed game of the 2026-27 season for the Cardinals. Earlier this week, it was announced that the annual Battle of the Bluegrass against Kentucky will take place on Wednesday, December 9 at Rupp Arena. For more game updates on the 2026-27 season, stay tuned to GoCards.com and the team's social media channels.
This will be the second time the Cardinals will hit the road for the annual challenge between the two conferences. In the first year of the SEC/ACC Challenge, Louisville traveled to Oxford and defeated Ole Miss during the 2023-24 season. The past two seasons, Louisville has hosted Oklahoma and South Carolina as part of the challenge.
The Cardinals are coming off its 13th Sweet 16 appearance in school history during the 2025-26 season. It is the 11th time since 2013 that the Cardinals have reached the Sweet 16 or further, the fifth most in the country. All 13 Sweet 16 appearances have come under head coach Jeff Walz and he is tied for third among active coaches for most Sweet 16 appearances for their careers.
Louisville returns three of its five starters from last season in Tajianna Roberts, Elif Istanbulluoglu and Mackenly Randolph. They also return the reigning ACC Sixth Player of the Year in Imari Berry from a squad that finished second in the ACC in the regular season and advanced to the ACC Championship game.
Louisville is 2-2 all-time against Texas but have won each of the last two matchups. The Cardinals and Longhorns faced off twice during the 2022-23 season. Louisville defeated Texas in the Battle 4 Atlantis in November and then took down the Longhorns in Austin in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.
This is the second confirmed game of the 2026-27 season for the Cardinals. Earlier this week, it was announced that the annual Battle of the Bluegrass against Kentucky will take place on Wednesday, December 9 at Rupp Arena. For more game updates on the 2026-27 season, stay tuned to GoCards.com and the team's social media channels.
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