The switch portal has closed and the teaching carousel has stopped spinning in girls’s faculty basketball. So, let’s sit up for subsequent season.
We gained’t know official schedules for some time, however some big-time matchups have already been introduced or decided.
TCU owes N.C. State a return recreation for a home-and-home sequence (that will likely be on Nov. 16, a supply confirmed to SB Nation), South Carolina is because of journey to LSU this season — the place they’ll see former Gamecock MiLaysia Fulwiley — and the Ally Tip-Off will return to Charlotte, although the groups concerned haven’t been revealed but.
Whereas it’s tough to search out schedules on-line proper now — many coaches are nonetheless working so as to add video games and finalize their schedules — we do know a couple of key dates of some essential clashes. Take into account this to be a way-too-early look-ahead on the 2025-26 schedule, and circle your calendars for this handful of video games.
UConn vs. Louisville: Nov. 4 (Germany)
The Huskies will start defending their nationwide championship within the Armed Forces Basic at Ramstein Air Base. Paige Bueckers is gone, however Ultimate 4 Most Excellent Participant Azzi Fudd and All-American Sarah Robust return, as do different key contributors like KK Arnold, Jana El Alfy, Caroline Ducharme, Ashlynn Shade and Ice Brady. The Huskies additionally added All-Huge Ten ahead Serah Williams from Wisconsin, who provides them extra depth and one other scoring risk within the frontcourt.
Jeff Walz’s Louisville will attempt to enhance on its robust end to the 2024-25 season, which ended with a second-round NCAA Match exit. Walz broke even within the switch portal, shedding three transfers and including three. The incoming group contains the most effective gamers out there within the portal in Laura Ziegler. At St. Joseph’s final season, she averaged 17.5 factors, 10.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per recreation. The 6-foot-2 ahead from Denmark was additionally the one participant within the nation to common at the very least 17 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists per recreation.
Tennessee vs. N.C. State: Nov. 4 (Greensboro, N.C.)
Greensboro gained’t host the ACC Match subsequent season, however it should kick off the school basketball season with a pair of groups that purpose to have robust campaigns in two of the most effective conferences, the SEC and ACC. The historic coliseum ought to be near capability for this one, because it’s simply an hour from Raleigh and three hours from Knoxville and brings collectively two passionate girls’s basketball fanbases that usually journey effectively.
The Wolfpack can have a little bit of a brand new look to them with Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Madison Hayes transferring to the professional ranks, however a stellar guard-forward pairing in Zoe Brooks and Tilda Trygger return for Wes Moore. Tennessee added three stable gamers within the switch portal in SMU’s Nya Robertson, LSU’s Jersey Wolfenbarger and UCLA’s Janiah Barker, who ought to assist Kim Caldwell fill any holes heading into her second season on the helm of the Girl Vols.
South Carolina at USC: Nov. 15
Dubbed the battle of “The Actual SC,” the Gamecocks will journey to Los Angeles to tackle the Trojans within the first of a two-game sequence. USC will then play South Carolina in Greenville, S.C. within the 2026-27 season.
Whereas it’s unlikely that JuJu Watkins will likely be featured on this matchup, it ought to inform us so much about each groups. For South Carolina, this will likely be an early check for a reshuffled squad that brings again Raven Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson and Joyce Edwards, however provides Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot. For USC, we’ll see how transfers Londynn Jones and Kara Dunn impression the squad, and if the Trojans are able to contending with out Watkins.
Texas vs. UCLA: Thanksgiving Weekend (Las Vegas)
This is only one matchup that will likely be a part of a jam-packed multi-team occasion in Las Vegas. After debuting with a males’s event final yr, the Gamers Period Championship will function Duke, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA in a round-robin event, that means every staff will play three video games, one every towards the opposite groups within the subject. Groups can even have the chance to have interaction in as much as $1 million of NIL alternatives.
Whereas Duke vs. South Carolina will likely be an intriguing matchup that will likely be a rematch of the Elite Eight this previous season in Birmingham, Texas towards UCLA will see two of the most effective frontcourt gamers within the sport face off towards one another. Madison Booker is again to guide the Longhorns in her junior season, whereas Lauren Betts returns for her senior marketing campaign at UCLA. Each will likely be attempting to take their groups again to the Ultimate 4, and this matchup might inform us so much in regards to the ceilings for the Bruins and Longhorns.
