The 2026-27 South Carolina women's basketball schedule is shaping up to have some huge marquee matchups. The Gamecocks now know they will get a chance for revenge against the team that knocked South Carolina out in last year's national title game, the UCLA Bruins.
South Carolina will take on UCLA on Saturday, Dec. 19 as part of the 2026 Players Era Women's Basketball Showcase. The two-day event features heavyweight teams across the sport, including Notre Dame, Duke, USC, Texas as well as the Bruins and Gamecocks.
The tournament will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will have six games across Dec. 19 and 20th. The two-day tournament will be held at Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandala Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The games will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN 2:
Introducing the 2026 Players Era Women’s Showcase 🍿‼️
— Players Era (@Players_Era) August 31, 2026
🗓️ December 19-20
📍 Las Vegas, NV
All on ESPN and ESPN2 📺 pic.twitter.com/Qxt4f1EVOH
South Carolina will play UCLA for the first time since the Bruins' 79-51 dominant victory that secured a first-ever national championship for UCLA in women's basketball. The loss marked Gamecock head coach Dawn Staley's second loss in the national title game, having lost the last two in a row.
In addition to playing the Bruins, South Carolina will also take on Notre Dame on Sunday, Dec. 20. The Fighting Irish had a great season last year, earning a No. 6 overall seed and advancing to the Elite Eight. The Fighting Irish, which return star Hannah Hidalgo from last season, last played the Gamecocks in 2023 during a season-opener in Paris. South Carolina won 100-71, and head coach Dawn Staley went on to lead her team to a national championship.
“We are excited to be back for the second year of the Players Era Women’s Championship with an expanded field,” Coach Staley said in a statement. “From elite matchups on the court to great accommodations and opportunities for our team and our fans off it, it will be great to get back to Las Vegas and a full weekend highlighting women’s basketball.”
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The tournament also has a unique prize involved, as the event will also feature a seven-figure NIL pool. According to ESPN, it's one of the largest in women's college sports history.
South Carolina fans can purchase tickets, starting on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. ET. Gamecock fans can get their seats through the South Carolina ticket office by following this link.
Per the school, South Carolina’s allotment of 100-level tickets cost $100 per session, with fans having the option to purchase tickets for either one or both days. The tickets are digital and "will be transferred to the purchaser 48-72 hours before the first game on Saturday." per South Carolina's official release.
South Carolina's non-conference schedule already features some huge matchups, including games against Maryland, Duke, Oklahoma State and UConn. The Gamecocks, who return stars in Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson and Chloe Kitts, will have no problems getting motivated for this one against the UCLA Bruins.
In addition to its returning stars, Coach Staley also landed a on of new talent this offseason, including five-star signees Jerzy Robinson and Oliviyah Edwards. South Carolina also added the likes of former Texas star guard Jordan Lee, and added late addition Brooke Daniels from Michigan. The Gamecocks are considered the favorites to earn the No. 1 overall seed during the 2027 NCAA Tournament.
Bruins head coach Cori Close has to replace a lot of talent from her national title team last season, but UCLA is expected to still be a talented squad. The two-day event should be a great showcase of women's basketball in a very cool venue for players and fans alike.
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