CHICAGO – Under first-year head coach Megan Coronado, the UIC softball team announced its 2026 season schedule on Thursday. 
 
"This schedule is about more than wins and losses; it's about changing standards, growing the culture, and leaning into the challenges," said Coronado. "Our players are committed to becoming better athletes, better teammates, and better people through every challenge we face. We're proud to represent UIC and the city of Chicago in every environment." 
 
The Flames open the year on the road, competing in four separate tournaments. UIC will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. (Feb. 6-8), Lake Charles, La. (Feb. 13-15), Chattanooga, Tenn. (Feb. 20-22), and Madeira Beach, Fla. (Feb. 27-Mar. 1) to kick start the season. During these tournaments, they will face opponents including 2025 Big Ten semifinalist Purdue, SoCon semifinalist Tennessee-Chattanooga, and MAAC semifinalist Siena, as well as 12 additional universities. 
 
Following their 20-game non-conference season-opening schedule, the Flames will remain on the road to begin Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play. The conference season will begin in Nashville, Tenn., where they will take on the reigning MVC Tournament Champions, the Belmont Bruins, in a three-game series.  
 
Their first appearance on home soil will be on Tuesday, March 17^th, when they host the Illinois State Redbirds in a doubleheader. They will remain at home that weekend when they host the Drake Bulldogs in a three-game series between Mar. 20-21. Following their opening weekend, the Flames will host 10 home games at Flames Field, featuring a single game against their non-conference Chicagoland foe, DePaul, on April 15^th. They will close out the season against the reigning MVC Regular Season Champions, the Southern Illinois Salukis, in a three-game series between May 1-2.
 
Between conference play, UIC will take on Big East opponent DePaul, Northern Illinois, Big Ten opponent Purdue, Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champion Eastern Illinois, and ACC Opponent Notre Dame in single-game contests to round out its non-conference schedule. 
 
The softball promotional schedule for home contests will be announced at a later date. 
 
The full 2025 UIC softball schedule is available here
 
Important Dates:

• Feb. 6 vs California Baptist (season opener/first meeting)
• Feb. 7/8, Apr. 8 vs Purdue (Big 10 opponent)
• Mar 6-7 vs Belmont (MVC opener)
• Mar. 17 vs Illinois State (home opener) 
• Apr. 15 vs DePaul 
• Apr. 28 vs Notre Dame (ACC opponent) 
• May 1-2 vs Southern Illinois (final home series/final regular season games/senior weekend/alumni weekend)
• May 6-9 – 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championships (Carbondale, Ill.)

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For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_Softball and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_softball and @uicflames)
 
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