South Carolina and UConn Set for Preseason Rematch at Mohegan Sun

The November and December nonconference schedules for women's college basketball feature multiple matchups between ranked programs, including rematches from last season's postseason.

The central fixture is scheduled for Nov. 24, when preseason No. 1 South Carolina hosts second-ranked UConn at Mohegan Sun. This date falls two days before Thanksgiving. The teams previously met in the Final Four, a game remembered for an outburst by UConn coach Geno Auriemma toward South Carolina coach Dawn Staley during the postgame handshake line. The two coaches have appeared to reconcile publicly, yet the handshakes surrounding the rematch will draw attention.

A four-team doubleheader is planned for Paris, marking the fourth consecutive year a women's game has been held in that city. It is the second time South Carolina has participated in the Paris event. This game is set for one day after Villanova and No. 13 Notre Dame open their seasons in a men's and women's doubleheader in Rome.

JuJu Watkins returns to the national stage 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 tearing her ACL in the NCAA Tournament. She missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering and is described as raring to go.

Following Thanksgiving, Duke and UConn will meet in Boston. Duke coach Kara Lawson spent the previous season as an assistant with the NBA's Celtics before taking the Blue Devils job. UConn has won the last 11 meetings between the schools, though they have not played since the 2023-24 season.

The ACC/SEC Challenge features a rematch of last season's Sweet 16 game, with Hannah Hidalgo and the Fighting Irish visiting Mikayla Blakes and the Commodores. Notre Dame won that contest 67-64. Hidalgo recorded 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists in that victory.

The season concludes with the second annual Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, featuring South Carolina, Southern California, Duke, Texas, UCLA, and Notre Dame. The first night includes a national championship rematch between UCLA and South Carolina, as well as Duke against Texas and Notre Dame against USC. The USC and Notre Dame game will showcase Watkins and Hidalgo. The second night features a Final Four rematch between Texas and UCLA, along with Notre Dame against South Carolina and Duke against USC.