Staley and Auriemma Clash Again in Early November Rematch

South Carolina and UConn will meet on Nov. 24 at Mohegan Sun, two days before Thanksgiving. The preseason No. 1 Gamecocks face second-ranked UConn in a contest that echoes their Final Four meeting last year. That game featured a loud exchange in the handshake line between UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. While the two coaches have resolved their differences publicly, fans expect close attention on their interaction before and after the game.

The nonconference calendar is dense with ranked matchups. A women's doubleheader in Paris will feature four ranked teams. This event marks the fourth consecutive year a women's game has been held in the French capital. It is the second time South Carolina has participated in that specific international fixture. The Paris games occur one day after Villanova and No. 13 Notre Dame open their seasons in Rome.

JuJu Watkins returns to the national spotlight when Southern California travels to Greenville, South Carolina, to face the Gamecocks. Watkins won the AP Player of the Year award as a sophomore before suffering a torn ACL in the NCAA Tournament. She missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering and is ready to play again.

After Thanksgiving, Duke and UConn will meet in Boston. Duke head coach Kara Lawson spent a season as an assistant with the NBA's Celtics before taking the Blue Devils job. UConn holds a 11-game winning streak against Duke, though the schools have not played since the 2023-24 season.

The ACC/SEC Challenge brings another high-profile matchup. Hannah Hidalgo and the Fighting Irish travel to face Mikayla Blakes and the Commodores. Notre Dame won their last meeting, a Sweet 16 game, by a score of 67-64. Hidalgo posted 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists in that victory.

The season culminates in Las Vegas for the second annual Players Era tournament. Six programs will compete: South Carolina, Southern California, Duke, Texas, UCLA, and Notre Dame. The opening night features a national championship rematch between UCLA and South Carolina. Duke plays Texas, and Notre Dame faces USC. That final game pits Watkins against Hidalgo.

The second night of the Las Vegas event includes a Final Four rematch between Texas and UCLA. Notre Dame plays South Carolina, and Duke takes on USC to complete the slate.