LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky and NC State women's basketball programs will square off in the Ally Tipoff at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, Nov. 8, according to an announcement by the Charlotte Sports Foundation on Thursday.

The matchup is the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference opponent on Kentucky's nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season. The Ally Tipoff will also feature a matchup between South Carolina and North Carolina, as part of a doubleheader showcasing elite women's college basketball at the prominent early-season event.

Kentucky trails NC State 2-5 in the all-time series. The Wildcats have lost their last three straight meetings in 2023, 2019 and 1995, with the previous two losses coming against ranked teams. Kentucky's last victory over the Wolfpack came on Dec. 28, 1984, with a 78-69 road win.

Head coach Kenny Brooks enters his third season leading the Wildcats. Kentucky will open Southeastern Conference play on the road at Florida on Dec. 31 and close the regular season at home against Mississippi State on Feb. 28, playing a 16-game league slate featuring eight home games and eight road contests.

Kentucky's roster is ranked ninth in the nation according to On3's Preseason Rankings. The team includes four returners, four transfers, three freshmen and 2025 WNBA Draft pick Ajša Sivka. Senior center Clara Strack, an All-American and Lisa Leslie Center of the Year finalist, returns for her fourth season under Brooks after averaging 16.9 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game last season. Senior guard Asia Boone also returns for her final year, after recording 96 three-pointers last season, the second-most in program history.

The transfer class, ranked sixth by On3, includes 6-4 junior forward Me'Arah O'Neal from Florida, 6-2 redshirt junior forward Ayanna Patterson from UConn, 5-10 senior guard Diana Collins from Alabama and 5-4 junior guard Jemma Amoore from IU-Indianapolis. The freshman class, ranked sixth by ESPN, features three McDonald's All-Americans in Maddyn Greenway, Savvy Swords and Emily McDonald.

Big Blue Nation can sign up for presale ticket information through the Charlotte Sports Foundation website. More nonconference game announcements, ticket information, tip times and television designations are expected in the coming days.