Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
North Andover, MA – The hunt for a Metro Conference championship begins in December. Merrimack Women’s Basketball now knows its conference schedule for the 2026-27 season, with the Warriors set to face a slate filled with postseason rematches, challenging road trips and important games at Lawler Arena.
A new era will also begin for the Warriors, as Missy Traversi takes over as Merrimack’s new head coach. Traversi will lead the Warriors into the 2026-27 campaign as Merrimack looks to make its mark in the Metro Conference and compete for a spot in the conference tournament.
A Familiar Opponent Opens Conference Play – Merrimack will begin conference play at home against Siena on Dec. 19. The matchup will serve as a rematch of the 2025 Metro Conference Tournament quarterfinals, giving the Warriors an opportunity to open league play against an opponent they have postseason history with.
The Warriors will face Siena again later in the season, but the second meeting will come on the road. Merrimack will travel to Siena on Feb. 11, 2027, giving the two teams another opportunity to battle during the regular season.
Defending Champions Await on the Road – Merrimack’s first conference road game will come on Dec. 21 against Fairfield, the defending Metro Conference champions. The matchup will also be a rematch of the 2026 Metro Conference Tournament semifinals, adding even more significance to the Warriors’ first trip of conference play.
Fairfield will make the trip to North Andover later in the season when the Stags visit Lawler Arena on Jan. 9 2027. Merrimack will have the opportunity to defend its home court while facing the reigning conference champions for the second time.
The Warriors will close out the 2026 calendar year with another difficult road matchup, traveling to face Iona on Dec. 29. Iona is one of the opponents Merrimack will face only once during the conference season, with the matchup taking place exclusively on the road. This should make the matchup an important opportunity before the calendar turns to 2027.
A New Year Begins at Lawler – Merrimack will begin the 2027 calendar year at home when the Warriors host Manhattan on New Year’s Day. The Jan. 1 matchup will give Merrimack the chance to start the new year in front of its home fans at Lawler Arena.
Two days later, the Warriors will hit the road to face Quinnipiac on Jan. 3. The matchup will be another postseason rematch, as Quinnipiac and Merrimack previously met in the 2025 Metro Conference Tournament semifinals.
The Warriors will see the Bobcats one more time during the regular season, with Quinnipiac coming to Lawler Arena on Feb. 27. The matchup will serve as Merrimack’s regular-season finale and Senior Day, giving the Warriors an important final home game before the postseason.
Buffalo Road Trip Awaits – The Warriors will face one of their more challenging stretches in the middle of January when they travel to Buffalo for back-to-back conference games. Merrimack will face Canisius on Jan. 16 before taking on Niagara on Jan. 18.
The Buffalo trip will not be the only time Merrimack faces either opponent. Niagara will travel to Lawler Arena on Feb. 18, while Canisius will follow two days later on Feb. 20, giving the Warriors a chance to respond at home after the January road trip.
More Postseason History at Lawler – Merrimack will also welcome Mount St. Mary’s to Lawler Arena on Jan. 28. The matchup will be another rematch from the 2026 Metro Conference Tournament quarterfinals, giving the Warriors another opportunity to face a team they previously saw in the postseason.
Mount St. Mary’s is one of the opponents Merrimack will play only once during the regular season, with the Warriors getting the benefit of home court. That makes the Jan. 28 matchup another important opportunity for Merrimack to take advantage of its home schedule.
Rider is another opponent Merrimack will face only at Lawler Arena. The Warriors will host Rider on Feb. 6, adding another conference matchup where Merrimack will look to defend its home floor.
The Final Road Test – Merrimack’s final conference road game of the regular season will come on Feb. 25 against Sacred Heart. The matchup will reunite the two programs with some familiar history, as Sacred Heart previously competed against Merrimack during the Warriors’ Northeast Conference days.
The late-February road matchup could prove important as Merrimack makes its final push toward the conference tournament. After facing Sacred Heart, the Warriors will return home for their final game of the regular season.
Senior Day Finale – The regular season will conclude on Feb. 27, when Merrimack welcomes Quinnipiac to Lawler Arena. The game will not only be a rematch from the 2025 conference tournament semifinals but will also serve as Senior Day for the Warriors.
With the final game taking place at home, Merrimack will have an opportunity to close the regular season in front of its fans before turning its attention toward the postseason. The matchup could also carry significant conference standings implications heading into the tournament.
The Hunt Is On – From rematches against Siena, Fairfield, Quinnipiac and Mount St. Mary’s to the Buffalo road trip and a new chapter under Missy Traversi, Merrimack’s conference schedule is filled with storylines. The Warriors will have opportunities to make statements both at home and on the road throughout the 2026-27 campaign.
The schedule is set, the opponents are known and a new era is ready to begin. Now, the hunt for the Metro Conference crown is officially on.
