It’s officially holiday week, and we’re not just talking about Thursday’s big Thanksgiving meal. This week is also all about fantastic women’s college basketball as the nation’s top teams head to warmer locations for tournaments. This is also the time to find out which teams are real as conference schedules approach.
This week you can watch basketball all day long, and we’re here to help if that’s what you want to do. Here’s a look at the games you can’t miss while you digest the turkey, stuffing, and pie.
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Wednesday November 26
Maryland vs. Kentucky in Puerto Rico
The San Juan Shootout’s marquee matchup will feature these two ranked teams. Maryland began its season primarily against other Mid-Atlantic teams that haven’t quite had the same level of success as the Terrapins. Those warm-up games should help them against Kentucky, which beat rival Louisville 72-62 on Saturday before heading south. Maryland freshman Addi Mack has been turning heads, but she’ll have a tough matchup against Kentucky’s Tonie Morgan.
UCLA vs. Texas; Duke vs. South Carolina in Las Vegas
The Players Era Championship only has four teams, but those four are powerhouses. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina reached the Final Four last season, while Duke reached the Elite Eight.
South Carolina beat Duke 54-50 in the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA tournament. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Sarah Stier via Getty Images)
When UCLA and Texas have faced off over the past decade, the games have almost always been in the NCAA Tournament. Seeing them play in November is a treat, and post-play fans should be especially excited. UCLA’s Lauren Betts has the height advantage over Madison Booker. If Betts can stop Booker in the paint, can players like Aaliyah Crump and Jordan Lee find ways to score? For UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens made an immediate impact as a transfer from Utah, and she gets another chance to show off her skills against the Texas defense.
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Duke-South Carolina is a rematch of an Elite Eight battle from the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Although Duke faltered early in the season, there are still many reasons to believe in Kara Lawson and the Blue Devils. South Carolina’s roster is markedly different from the team that beat Duke in the tournament, but they are still incredibly talented. So far this season, South Carolina has beaten USC and topped 100 points twice. The game won’t be easy for Duke, but it’s also the exact type of test that could help the Blue Devils on their way to victory.
Thursday November 27
Richmond vs. TCU
Richmond was ranked early in the season, but fell out after a rough performance against Texas on November 7. Now, Richmond has another chance against a ranked team when they take on the Horned Frogs in Cancun. The two players to watch in this matchup are Maggie Doogan, who averages 24.4 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Spiders, and transfer Olivia Miles, who averages 17.5 points and 7.8 assists per game for TCU.
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Players Era Finals
The winner of UCLA vs. Texas and Duke vs. South Carolina will face off, as will the losers of the third-place game. Regardless of the final matchups, there’s a very good chance that both games will provide a glimpse into the future of the 2025-26 season. Personally, I’m hoping for a Texas-South Carolina game, whether for the championship or third place. This would be an exciting rematch of last season’s national semifinal and SEC championship games.
Friday November 28
Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss
Black Friday is a full day of basketball, starting at 11 a.m. ET. The Badgers vs. Rebels, playing in Daytona Beach, Fla., stands out for how good Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s Ole Miss team has been this season. Keep an eye on their leading scorer, Cotie McMahon, who transferred from Ohio State this year and is averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
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Sunday November 30
Tennessee vs. UCLA
By Sunday, you will be able to return to normal life and the remains may be gone. But there’s still some basketball to enjoy. Just days after the Players Era Championship, UCLA will host Talaysia Cooper and the Tennessee Lady Vols. UCLA has put together an incredibly tough non-conference schedule, and Feast Week will show if it’s ready for the equally tough Big Ten schedule.
