The 2026-27 women's NCAA basketball season opens Nov. 1 with nonconference games carrying major seeding weight in the expanded 76-team tournament field. Ohio State's top-16 finish last season, Duke's slow start costing them a No. 1 seed, and West Virginia's marquee win over Duke illustrate how early games shape March Madness positioning.
The Players Era Championship moves to just before Christmas with an expanded field featuring Duke, South Carolina, Texas, UCLA, Notre Dame, and USC. Over two days, six games will be played, each with Elite Eight/Final Four-level potential.
Top-ranked South Carolina and No. 2 UConn face demanding opening stretches. UConn plays nine ranked teams before Christmas, including a rematch with No. 5 Michigan on Nov. 8. South Carolina hosts No. 3 USC on Nov. 15, marking Ju Ju Watkins' return from injury.
Other key nonconference matchups include No. 13 Notre Dame vs. Villanova in Rome, Italy on Nov. 1, No. 8 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Iowa on Nov. 15, and No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 UConn on Nov. 24 in Uncasville, Connecticut at the Hall of Fame Women's Showcase.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing