PHILADELPHIA – In coordination with the Philadelphia Big 5, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team announced its 2026 Big 5 Classic schedule on Tuesday with the championship round set to take place at The Palestra for the first time as part of the historic venue's 100th anniversary celebration.
For the third consecutive year, all six of the city's NCAA Division I women's basketball programs have been split into two pods of three teams. Each team will play the others in their pod at on-campus sites in a round-robin format.
Following pod play, the teams will be seeded based on their respective pod finishes for a championship tripleheader at The Palestra on Sunday, Dec. 6. The first-place teams in each pod will compete for the Big 5 championship, while the second-place teams will meet for third place and the third-place teams will compete for fifth place.
For the 2026-27 slate, one pod will feature Drexel, Penn, and Saint Joseph's while the other pod features La Salle, Temple, and Villanova.
The Hawks open Pod 1 play on Sunday, Nov. 15, traveling to Drexel. Saint Joseph's concludes pod play on Wednesday, Nov. 18, hosting Penn.
Ticket information for the Big 5 tripleheader at The Palestra will be announced at a later date.
2026-27 Philadelphia Big 5 Women's Basketball Schedule
(All game times TBA by host school)
Pod 1
Friday, Nov. 6 – Drexel at Penn
Sunday, Nov. 15 – Saint Joseph's at Drexel
Wednesday, Nov. 18 – Penn at Saint Joseph's
Pod 2
Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Temple at La Salle
Tuesday, Nov. 24 – La Salle at Villanova
Tuesday, Dec. 1 – Villanova at Temple
Big 5 Women's Classic
Sunday, Dec. 6 at The Palestra, game times TBA
About the Palestra
Known as the "Cathedral of College Basketball," the Palestra is recognized as one of the country's most iconic venues. Located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, the Palestra has hosted countless memorable games since opening in 1927 and remains one of the most revered arenas in college basketball. Its intimate atmosphere, historic architecture, and unparalleled legacy have made it a bucket-list destination for players, coaches and fans from across the country. The 2026-27 season marks the 100th Anniversary of the Historic Palestra.
