The USC and UCLA women’s basketball teams will be playing in the 2026 Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase in Las Vegas this December, a spotlight that highlights Los Angeles’ role as an epicenter of the sport.
The Trojans, ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, and the defending national champion Bruins, ranked No. 13 preseason by ESPN, will be joined by the South Carolina Gamecocks, Duke Blue Devils, Texas Longhorns and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) and forward Timea Gardiner (30) guard USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) during the second half of the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament final game on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. UCLA defeated USC 72-67. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
“In addition to elite on-court action, the event marks a landmark investment in the future of women’s sports by offering a seven-figure NIL financial pool for the single event, one of the largest in women’s college sports history,” organizers said.
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A high level of competition
All six of those teams are predicted to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament come March 2027, creating what organizers called “an early season competitive atmosphere rivaling post-season play” when the squads face off on Dec. 19 and 20 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
UCLA will play South Carolina and Texas, while USC will face Notre Dame and Duke.
“We’re happy to be back in the Players Era Women’s Championship for another year,” said UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. “We’re excited for rematches with South Carolina and Texas, and the opportunity to play some elite competition at this exceptional event. It will be the premier non-conference tournament and have a lot of eyeballs with some great programs going head-to-head. We’re honored to be back!”
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While UCLA will be fielding a largely new squad following the departure of stars like Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jacquez, USC returns several stars, including Juju Watkins, who missed last season due to an ACL injury, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson.
Tickets for the showcase start at $109 and go on sale starting at 10 a.m. PT on Thursday.
All games will also be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2.
“Women’s college basketball is thriving, and ESPN is committed to helping grow the sport by showcasing its biggest stars and best matchups,” ESPN’s Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions Dan Margulis said. “With six elite programs competing on a national stage, this event reflects the depth of talent and competition that continues to drive the game forward.”
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Will you be trekking to Las Vegas or tuning in to watch?
The post USC, UCLA Show Rise of Women’s Basketball in LA with Invites to Tourney with 7-Figure Payout appeared first on LA Sports Report.
