The toughest games on LSU WBB's 2023-24 schedule

LSU women’s basketball schedule is now set, from the home and away SEC games to a non-conference schedule that is significantly more challenging than last year’s, we now know the path ahead for LSU to repeat. 

The Tigers’ offseason could take hundreds, if not thousands, of words to recap, but to put it simply, Kim Mulkey added two all-americans to a squad that already has Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson and the No. 1 freshmen class in the country. The stage is set, now LSU will look to take a step forward as a team from last year as the preseason No. 1.

Here are the eight toughest games on the Tigers’ schedule in 2023. 

*All rankings are from ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 from May 2.

8. vs. Arkansas

The dates for the conference season have not been announced yet, so we’ll have to wait and see the order of the schedule. Still, Arkansas is going to be formidable with their 3-point shooting and returning production in Samara Spencer, Chrissy Carr, and Saylor Poffenbarger. The Razorbacks attempted over 1,000 threes in 37 games last year and they’ll likely do it again. LSU had a close win over Arkansas in the PMAC last year 79-76 after blowing them out in Fayetteville.

7. @ Texas A&M / vs. Texas A&M

Grouping both A&M games together, this is a team that has a ton of potential with Janiah Barker and Sydney Bowles returning as talented second year players. Barker will be one of the 10 best players in the SEC this season. In addition, A&M added Endyia Rogers from Oregon and Aicha Coulibaly, a second-team all SEC player from Auburn. A&M will have the top end talent to compete with anyone in the conference, but the depth is still a work in progress.

6. No. 21 Colorado 

Monday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. CT

The Tigers start their season with a trip to Las Vegas where they’ll take on a really talented and accomplished Colorado team looking to make a statement. The Buffaloes went 25-9 last year and reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Iowa by 10. From that team, Colorado returns its top six scorers and top five in minutes played, including four starters. This is a team that should be top 20 in the preseason AP Poll come the start of the season, making this a really tricky game for LSU who has a lot of turnover with personnel compared to Colorado.

5. @ Mississippi State

One of the sneaky really good teams in the SEC this year will be Mississippi State. Likely a top 25 team at some point in the season with a really impressive returning dio in JerKaila Jordan and Jessika Carter, but also three top 20 transfers according to 247Sports in Darrione Rogers, Lauren Park-Lane, and Erynn Barnum. That’s five proven players coming to make noise in the top half of the SEC this year. 

4. @ No. 11 Ole Miss

Despite losing Angel Baker, the Rebels return their next three leading scorers and now add more high-level talent to pair with their incredible defensive intensity. Transfer forward Kennedy Todd-Williams was an All-ACC second team selection at North Carolina and is a versatile piece that coach Yo will love on both ends. Then KK Deans transfers in from Florida after averaging 14 points per game for the Gators. This team will always be challenging with coach Yo, but now there’s more offensive talent to really put Ole Miss in contention to be a top 10 team.

3. vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech

Thursday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m.

That team that was up nine on LSU going to the fourth quarter in the Final Four? Yea, they return three starters including their two best players in ACC POTY Elizabeth Kitley and first-team All-ACC guard Georgia Amoore. The Hokies also return an elite 3-point shooter in Cayla King.  LSU fans saw how challenging that trio can be and you add two solid transfers in 6-foot-2 forward Rose Micheaux who averaged 14 and 7 boards at Minnesota, and another shooter in Matilda Ekh, who averaged nearly 12 points per game the last two years at Michigan State.

Fortunately for LSU, this game is in the PMAC.

2. vs. No. 8 South Carolina

South Carolina loses a keystone senior class, so it’s understandable to see regression, but with 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso in the paint, there’s still a lot to handle. The addition of Te-Hina Paopao, a 5-foot-9 transfer guard from Oregon provides the Gamecocks with 3-point shooting, while Raven Johnson and Bree Hall will look to take a step forward in their development as guards. 

1. @ No. 12 Tennessee

This is a top ten team in the country and will push to be the second best team in the SEC this year. The Volunteers return Rickea Jackson and Tess Darby, while also getting back Tamari Key who missed most of last season due to injury. Key is 6-foot-6 and one of the best defensive bigs in the country, averaging 3.5 blocks per game in 2021-22. Then you get to the two transfers Tennessee brought in in point guard Jewel Spear from Wake Forest and Destinee Wells from Belmont and it’s a roster with great versatility and the potential to beat teams in a variety of ways. This game being on the road also plays a factor in it being the toughest game on LSU’s schedule.