Arkansas women’s basketball will face No. 18 Kentucky on Sunday at Bud Walton Arena, continuing a challenging stretch in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on SECN with Chuckie Kempf providing play-by-play commentary and Charli Turner Thorne serving as analyst.
This matchup marks the 44th meeting between Arkansas and Kentucky since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season, and the 45th overall. Kentucky leads the series, having won seven of the last ten encounters. The Wildcats have secured more victories in Fayetteville recently, with Arkansas defeating them only twice at home since 2013. The last contest took place in Lexington in 2025, where Kentucky won 89-69.
Arkansas enters this game with an overall record of 11-11 and remains winless in SEC play at 0-7 under first-year head coach Kelsi Musick. Musick has not previously faced Kentucky during her coaching career. The Razorbacks’ schedule has been demanding; seven of their first ten conference opponents are ranked in this week’s AP Top 25 poll.
Key players for Arkansas include Bonnie Deas, who ranks fifth in rebounds within the SEC and among the top thirty nationally with 199 total rebounds. As a team, Arkansas averages over 43 rebounds per game, placing them fifth in the conference and thirteenth nationwide. Taleyah Jones is another standout performer, ranking ninth in scoring within the SEC.
Reflecting on their most recent outing, Arkansas lost to No. 6 LSU by a score of 92-70 but managed some season-high statistics for conference play, including thirteen three-pointers made and sixteen assists. Taleyah Jones led all scorers with twenty-three points.
Kentucky comes into Fayetteville with a record of seventeen wins and five losses overall, holding a balanced four wins and four losses in SEC competition under second-year head coach Kenny Brooks. Junior center Clara Strack leads Kentucky statistically across several categories, while guard Tonie Morgan stands out nationally as the only player averaging at least fourteen points per game along with eight assists per game.
Earlier this season, Arkansas claimed two victories at the Music City Classic held in Nashville, Tennessee—defeating Drake and Southern Illinois—with Taleyah Jones earning Most Valuable Player honors after scoring thirty-eight points across both games.
Jones continues to lead Arkansas offensively through twenty-two games this season, posting averages that place her among conference leaders. She transferred from Oral Roberts University after playing two seasons under Coach Musick there.
The current roster features eight newcomers: five transfers—including Maria Anais Rodriguez from Oklahoma State—and three freshmen such as Harmonie Ware, Aisha Hassan, and Bonnie Deas. Several players have represented their countries internationally; notably Deas helped Australia secure a silver medal at the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup.
Kelsi Musick became Arkansas’ first female head coach since Susie Gardner (2003–2007). This season also marks notable firsts for several athletes representing their home regions or countries for the program.
Joining Musick are new assistant coaches Brad Johnson—previously successful at Farmington High School—and Alex Furr from SMU. Returning staff members include assistants Lacey Goldwire and Nick Bradford as well as Director of Operations Amber Shirey.
After facing Kentucky, Arkansas will host Missouri on Thursday, February 4th at Bud Walton Arena.
