SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Basketball team is ready to tip off the 2026-2027 season with a pair of matchups against UC Santa Cruz and Pepperdine. The Gauchos will open their season at home against the Banana Slugs on Nov. 3 before taking on the Waves away on Nov. 5.
With seven new faces joining the roster, Santa Barbara looks to build momentum early and establish its identity heading into the new season. Head coach Renee Jimenez returns for her third season leading the Gauchos and 16th season overall, bringing a wealth of experience to a bright and eager Santa Barbara squad.
GAUCHO GUIDE
The Gauchos enter the season with a new-look roster, highlighted by several promising additions. Sophomore forward Nicole Steiner joins Santa Barbara following a standout freshman campaign at Cal State Fullerton, where she earned a spot on the 2025-26 All-Big West Freshman Team. Steiner started 22 of 24 games for the Titans and finished second on the team, scoring 243 points and averaging 10.1 points per game.
Joining Steiner is highly acclaimed freshman guard Karisma Flores, who arrives from Oak Park, California. Flores was ranked No. 44 in the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings and No. 55 in ESPN's SportsCenter NEXT 100. The incoming freshman surpassed 2,000 career points during her high school career while leading Oak Park to its first CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoff berth.
With emerging talent and new additions, Jimenez and the Gauchos will look to build chemistry and set the tone in their opening week.
SIZING UP THE SLUGS
UC Santa Cruz enters the 2026-27 season looking to turn the page after finishing last year with a 12-12 overall record. The Banana Slugs will be under new leadership this season, with interim head coach Scott Davis taking the reins.
RIDING THE WAVES
The Gauchos will face a strong early-season test against Pepperdine on Nov. 5. The Waves are coming off an impressive 2025-26 campaign, finishing 21-13 overall and 10-8 in conference play.
Pepperdine carried that success into the postseason, advancing to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Super 16 for just the second time in program history. After
securing victories in the opening two rounds, the Waves' postseason run came to an end against South Dakota in the Super 16.
Coming off one of the program's most notable postseason runs, Pepperdine will look to carry that momentum into the new season.
FOLLOW ALONG
Tickets are available at ucsbgauchos.com and live stats will be available for both games.
