EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball will compete against the University of Evansville in a four-game, multi-year deal starting in the 2027-28 season.
 
The head-to-head series will begin in 2027-28 and run through the 2030-31 season, with host sites alternating. The first matchup in 2027-28 will be inside Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles. UE will host at Ford Center in 2028-29 before the series shifts back to Liberty Arena in 2029-30. UE will host the last game of the four-game set back at Ford Center in 2030-31.
 
"We are excited to kick off a four-year series against the University of Evansville, starting here at Liberty Arena in 2027-28!" USI Women's Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein said. "In my time here at USI, we have had a few exhibitions and some closed-door scrimmages with our two programs, but getting a regular-season matchup started should be a fun and competitive experience for the city of Evansville and fans of both USI and UE."
 
The 2027-28 matchup will mark the 23^rd meeting all-time, the first with both programs at the Division I level, and will renew the regular-season series for the first time since 1988. The two sides first went head-to-head in 1971. Evansville leads the all-time series 15-7. Overall, the two teams face off for the first time since a 2014 exhibition at Ford Center that USI won 76-72.
 
"We would like to play the University of Evansville in every sport, every year, so we are happy that everyone is making this happen in women's basketball," USI Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall said. "Starting the series here in Liberty Arena next year will be a great way to showcase the two programs. We are excited to have the community on campus celebrating women's basketball."
 
More information about specific game dates, times, and tickets will be made available ahead of each season.
 
The announcement comes after it was recently announced that the USI and UE Men's Basketball programs will square off in the upcoming 2026-27 season on November 7 at Ford Center in the River City Classic, presented by the Evansville Regional Sports Commission and Old National Bank.
 
Additionally, the Screaming Eagles and Purple Aces have met in several sports since USI transitioned to Division I prior to the 2022-23 season. The two schools have met head-to-head as NCAA Division I foes in baseball, men's and women's golf, men's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, and volleyball. USI has also competed against UE in cross-country and track & field.