The 2026-27 WVU Athletics season officially gets underway Thursday night when the women’s soccer team steps onto the field at 7 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown. Fresh off one of its strongest performances in the past decade, the squad returns with plenty of momentum after posting a 14-3-4 record and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament last season. What follows is the first chapter in what promises to be an exciting year for Mountaineer fans across all sports. Read more: WVU Athletics are back in session.
Women’s soccer returns with momentum
Last season marked a high point for the program, showcasing the depth, resilience, and talent that have become hallmarks of Mountaineer soccer. Fans packing Dick Dlesk Thursday will get their first official look at a squad determined to climb even higher this fall.
The energy around the program is palpable as the team returns to familiar turf ready to defend home and set the tone for the entire athletic department.
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And despite the major loss of Maddie Levy due to injury, there is a lot of potential in this year’s team.
Soccer stays in the spotlight
Soccer remains front and center in the early days of the season. The men’s team travels for an exhibition at Georgetown Friday, before opening its regular season on the road at Charlotte on August 20.
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That same day, the women’s squad hosts Penn State in another highly anticipated matchup at Dick Dlesk. The dual August 20 bouts underscore how quickly the soccer schedules ramp up and how central both programs are to the early narrative of 2026.
Men’s team aims high
The men’s team carries lofty ambitions of its own. The Mountaineers are targeting a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance while seeking to reclaim the Sun Belt Championship they last captured in 2024. Consistency in reaching the national stage has become expected, yet the drive to hoist another conference trophy remains a clear priority as the season unfolds.
Don’t forget about volleyball, golf
It will not be long before WVU Volleyball and WVU Golf get in on the action, too.
Volleyball gets things going August 22 at 3 p.m. when the Mountaineers start their season at JMU. Hopes are high for steady improvement to the program under head coach Jen Greeny.
Golf is coming off an impressive year as well, and the guys get things going at the New York Harbor Cup. It begins August 31.
Football joins the calendar
While soccer lights the fuse, the broader athletic calendar continues to build. Football joins the fray on September 5 when the Mountaineers open at home against Coastal Carolina, giving Mountaineer fans another marquee date to circle.
It is the first of back-to-back home games at Milan Puskar Stadium to kick off the season on the gridiron. The aforementioned bout with the Chanticleers will also mark the celebration of Pat White’s legendary career; complete with a white-out theme.
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Together, these early contests signal the arrival of another exciting year of competition across multiple sports.
A new chapter begins
Thursday’s women’s soccer match is more than just the first whistle of the fall. It represents the official start of a new chapter for WVU Athletics, one defined by recent success, clear goals, and the familiar roar of Mountaineer crowds. Whether at Dick Dlesk this evening or later in the season under the lights of Milan Puskar Stadium, supporters have every reason to feel optimistic about what lies ahead.
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