SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Women's Water Polo team announced its 2026 schedule, as set by Head Coach Emma Myall, Wednesday. The Gauchos' first campaign with Myall as the full-time skipper features three non-conference tournaments, a visit to last year's national runners-up and four Big West home matches.
 
The season begins in Riverside, where the Gauchos will be on Jan. 16 to take part in California Baptist's The Joust. The following weekend, Santa Barbara takes a drive south to play Biola and 2025 national finalists USC, both from Uytengsu Aquatics Center on Jan. 23. As the calendar turns to February, the Gauchos will take part in two big-time tournaments, first joining the action at UC San Diego's Triton Invitational, Jan. 29 through Feb. 1. The next weekend, Santa Barbara heads out to the desert and the ASU Invitational in Tempe, Arizona.
 
Santa Barbara will enjoy a week off after their visit to the Sun Devils and then launch into conference play, opening their Big West slate on the road at UC Davis on Feb. 21. The Gauchos then host three straight conference matches, welcoming Cal State Fullerton to town on Feb. 28. UC Irvine and Long Beach State are next to pay a visit to the American Riviera, with Santa Barbara hosting the Anteaters on March 6 and the Beach on March 8.
 
The Gauchos' final road trip of the season sees them make the quick trip down the 101 to face CSUN on March 13, then the long flight across the Pacific to visit reigning conference champions Hawai'i on March 28. Santa Barbara rounds out the regular season at home against UC San Diego on Apr. 4, then heads to Long Beach for The Big West Championship, Apr. 10-13. Myall and the Gauchos will look to build on the successes of their 2025 season, when Santa Barbara went 16-13 thanks to a collection of dramatic overtime wins. Myall was promoted from interim head coach to the full-time role following the season.