If you’ve ever walked into the Foster Pavilion on a game day, you know that buzz. It’s a specific kind of Baylor energy that has lingered since the Mulkey era but feels distinctly different under Nicki Collen. People are constantly asking me about the Baylor Lady Bears basketball schedule, usually because they missed a tip-off time or can’t figure out which streaming service actually has the game this week.
Look, keeping up with a top-20 program isn't just about knowing who they play on Saturday. It's about the travel grinds, the weird 11 a.m. weekday starts for "Future Bears Day," and those brutal Big 12 road trips that can make or break a seeding. Honestly, the 2025-26 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster already, and if you aren't looking at the calendar right, you’re going to miss the best parts of the stretch run.
Why the Baylor Lady Bears Basketball Schedule is Harder Than It Looks
The Big 12 isn't the same conference it was three years ago. You’ve got teams like Utah and Colorado in the mix now, which means the Lady Bears are logging way more flight miles than they used to. This isn't just a hop over to Austin or Norman anymore.
When you look at the Baylor Lady Bears basketball schedule, the first thing that jumps out is the diversity of the venues. They started the season in Paris—actual France—beating a ranked Duke team. Then they were in Las Vegas, then Orlando, and then Fort Worth for that massive showdown against Texas. By the time conference play really got moving in January, this team already had enough frequent flyer miles to retire.
But the schedule isn't just a list of dates. It's a test of depth. Coach Collen has been pretty vocal lately about the "elevation" factor. Heading into the mid-January road trip to Salt Lake City and Provo, she basically told the media she’d have to "sub when you can sub." Playing at nearly 5,000 feet back-to-back is a nightmare for your lungs. If you're a fan, you need to watch those mid-week road games closely because that's when you see players like freshman Marcayla Johnson or SMU transfer Ella Brow getting those "survival minutes."
The Crucial Big 12 Gauntlet
January and February are basically a fistfight. The Big 12 schedule is an 18-game slate where nobody is safe. Just look at what happened right before Christmas—Baylor dropped a heartbreaker to Texas Tech by one single point at home. 60-61. That’s the kind of loss that haunts you in March.
Here is what the remaining high-stakes games look like as we move through the heart of the season:
The Bears just came off a massive defensive masterclass against Utah on January 14, winning 61-45. Now, the focus shifts to a Saturday matinee at BYU on January 17. After that, they finally get back to the Brazos.
Waco gets a heavy dose of home games to close out January. You’ve got UCF coming in on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for "Rodeo on the Brazos" night. Then, Houston visits on Sunday, Jan. 25. These are the games Baylor has to win to stay in the hunt for a top-two seed in the conference tournament.
February is where it gets really spicy. Mark your calendars for these:
- February 1: At West Virginia. Morgantown is a notoriously tough place to play, and that 12 p.m. start time is a trap.
- February 7: Arizona State comes to Waco for the "Play4Kay" game.
- February 12: The "Go Gold" game against TCU.
- February 21: Senior Night against Arizona. This will likely be the final home game for staples like Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Bella Fontleroy.
Breaking Down the Roster Impact on the Slate
You can't talk about the schedule without talking about who is actually playing. Taliah Scott is the engine. She’s averaging over 20 points a game and basically has a green light from anywhere on the court. But she’s had some ankle issues, and when she’s out, the schedule becomes ten times more daunting.
Then there’s Jana Van Gytenbeek. After missing all of last year with an ACL tear, she’s back and leading the team in assists. Watching her navigate the high-pressure defense of teams like Iowa State or Kansas is a clinic in veteran poise. Baylor is one of the few schools in the country that actually kept its 2022 recruiting class together. Having Buggs, Fontleroy, and Kyla Abraham all in their fourth year gives this team a "shared brain" that helps them survive those hostile road environments in places like Ames or Stillwater.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About Tip-Off Times
I see it every week on social media: "Wait, the game started already?"
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The Baylor Lady Bears basketball schedule is notorious for "Future Bears Day" or school-day games. For instance, the Alabama State game back in December tipped off at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday. If you’re a working adult, you’re basically checking the score on your phone under your desk.
Also, the "TV" listing is often a lie—or at least a half-truth. Most of these games are tucked away on ESPN+, which is great if you have it, but a total pain if you’re trying to find it on a standard cable box. Only the massive games, like the Texas matchup at Dickies Arena, usually make it to ABC or big ESPN.
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated Fan
If you want to actually stay on top of this without losing your mind, don't just rely on the Google snippet. It's often outdated or doesn't account for time zone shifts.
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- Sync the Calendar: Go to the official Baylor Athletics site and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. It’ll push updates directly to your phone so when a game time moves from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. because of a TV broadcast change, you aren't standing outside the Foster Pavilion wondering why the doors are locked.
- Watch the Standings: The Big 12 is a mess of tiebreakers. Keep an eye on Kansas and Iowa State. Since Baylor already beat Iowa State in Ames on January 4 (a huge 72-70 win), they own that tiebreaker for now.
- Plan for Kansas City: The Big 12 Championship is at the T-Mobile Center from March 4-8. If the Lady Bears stay in the top 4 of the conference, they get that double-bye. That’s the difference between playing three games in three days versus four or five.
- Check the "Status": Before you drive to Waco, check the weather and the "promotional" schedule. Games like "Whiteout" nights or "Senior Night" sell out way faster and usually require you to be in your seat 30 minutes early if you want the giveaway shirts.
The road to the NCAA Tournament is basically a math problem now. Every win on the Baylor Lady Bears basketball schedule adds a decimal point to their NET ranking. With a core of veterans who have been through the fire and a coach who knows the WNBA-style X’s and O’s, this February stretch is going to be electric. Just make sure you’ve got your ESPN+ login sorted before the West Virginia game—you're gonna need it.