South Carolina women’s basketball is gearing up for a high-stakes holiday showcase as the No. 2 Gamecocks head to Las Vegas to compete in the inaugural Players Era Women’s Championship, a new tournament featuring an elite four-team field: South Carolina, Texas, Duke, and UCLA.
The undefeated Gamecocks (5-0) will open the event on Nov. 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET on TruTV, taking on Duke, before preparing for a second matchup on Nov. 27. Depending on their opening-round result, South Carolina will face either Texas or UCLA later that night at 8 p.m. ET or 10:30 p.m. ET, also on TruTV.
According to an official release from the program, the Players Era Championship provides “an opportunity for athletes to engage in at least $1 million of NIL activities for Players Era and its sponsors outside of competition.” It is one of the first major women’s basketball events created with direct financial opportunities for student-athletes built into the format.
Familiar Foes Return
South Carolina is no stranger to the competition in this year’s bracket. Dawn Staley’s squad faced all three opponents during the previous season — Texas four times, Duke twice, and UCLA once — finishing with an overall 5-2 record in those matchups. Both losses came at the hands of national contenders: one to UCLA and one to Texas, adding even more intrigue to the rematches in Las Vegas.
A fresh AP Top-25 poll will release ahead of tipoff in Vegas, but as of the latest rankings:
- UCLA sits at No. 3,
- Texas holds the No. 4 spot,
- South Carolina remains firmly at No. 2.
This sets up a likely top-five showdown in the championship game should the Gamecocks advance.
Players Era Women’s Championship Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 26
- Game 1: Texas vs. UCLA — 2 p.m. ET
- Game 2: South Carolina vs. Duke — 4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Nov. 27
- Game 3 (Championship): Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 — 8 p.m. ET
- Game 4 (Third-place game): Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 — 10 p.m. ET
