Pitt Begins 2026 with ACC Home Opener Against Wake Forest

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt women's basketball team will bring in the New Year with their ACC home opener against Wake Forest Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ACCNX.

NEED TO KNOW – GAME 16

Pitt (7-8, 0-2 ACC) vs. Wake Forest (11-3, 1-1 ACC)
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 – 6:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Petersen Events Center

THE OPENING TIP

Pitt fell to No. 18 Notre Dame, 94-59, on the road Monday night in their first game back from the holiday break.
Mikayla Johnson posted her second consecutive 20+ point game, leading the Panthers with 22 points to go along with a career-high three steals, three assists and two rebounds.
Fatima Diakhate pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds in her sixth double-double performance of the season, adding 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
Theresa Hagans Jr. chipped in 12 points and a team-high five assists.
Lauren Rust grabbed 10 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.

SERIES HISTORY

Thursday marks the 16^th meeting between Pitt and Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons lead the all-time series 9-6.
The Panthers won the previous meeting, earning a 79-63 victory in Winston-Salem on March 2, 2025.

SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS

Wake Forest is off to their best start under head coach Megan Gebbia.
The Demon Deacons are led offensively by Grace Oliver (14.1 ppg) and Mary Carter (11.6 ppg).
Three players - Oliver, Raven Preston and Milan Brown - have each recorded 19 steals through 14 games.
Oliver, Carter, Brown and Aurora Sorbye have started all 14 games this season.

UP NEXT

Pitt will go back on the road to face Boston College on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m.