The first women’s basketball games are set for tipoff during the first weekend in November, including an international doubleheader comprising four ranked teams. The rest of the month features matchups between programs with aspirations of advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament and perhaps hoisting the national championship trophy in April.
Here are eleven games to keep on your radar in the opening month:
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 20 Maryland, Nov. 2, noon, ESPN
Two of the five active coaches with a national championship take the stage overseas. Dawn Staley has directed the Gamecocks to three titles while Brenda Frese led the Terrapins to the national championship in 2006.
The game will be played amid the backdrop of civil unrest in Paris, where student-led demonstrations and anti-government rallies have surfaced in recent weeks. Both coaches indicated they have addressed safety concerns with players.
No. 12 North Carolina vs. No. 21 Oklahoma, Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2
The second leg of the doubleheader at Adidas Arena in Paris features a pair of teams that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season.
Highly regarded freshman Kate Harpring leads the Tar Heels. The 5-foot-11 guard had 29 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks in an exhibition game against Maryland on Oct. 24. The Sooners return sophomore Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to ESPN.
No. 2 UConn at No. 5 Michigan, Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Huskies Coach Geno Auriemma embraces high-level competition during the nonconference schedule. This time UConn faces an opponent it beat by only three points last year in the regular season.
Reigning National Player of the Year Sarah Strong leads the Huskies, who reached the Final Four for a record 25th time. Wolverines guards Olivia Olson and Syla Swords form one of the top back courts in the country.
No. 14 Kentucky vs. No. 25 North Carolina State, Nov. 8, 3 p.m, ESPN2
The Wolfpack play what amounts to a home game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., roughly 170 miles from campus. NC State senior forward Khamil Pierre finished first in the ACC last season in rebounding (11.9) and double doubles (22).
Center Clara Strack led the Wildcats in scoring (16.9), rebounding (10.1), blocks (2.5) and steals (1.2). The 6-foot-5 senior became the second player all-time (Candace Parker) to amass at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 150 blocks, 125 assists and 50 steals within her first two seasons at an SEC school.
No. 3 Southern Cal vs. No. 1 South Carolina, Nov. 15, 1 p.m., ABC
This matchup in Greenville, S.C., is billed as the showdown for “The Real SC.” It marks the return of Trojans guard JuJu Watkins to national television after the projected No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft missed last season with a torn ACL in her right knee.
An intriguing piece is which Gamecocks player will draw the defensive assignment in trying to slow the 6-foot-2 preseason All-American. Staley has plenty of options, starting with 6-foot-3 forward Joyce Edwards.
No. 8 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Iowa, Nov. 15, 1 p.m., FS1
Commodores junior Mikayla Blakes can score unlike almost any other player in the country. The 5-foot-8 guard holds the NCAA record for most points by a sophomore in a single season (918), and she’s third in NCAA history for most points over the first two years of her career (1,687).
The Hawkeyes, playing this game in-state in Sioux City, have designs on challenging for the Big Ten title with sophomore center and leading scorer Ava Heiden (18.0 points, 7.2 rebounds) and freshman forward McKenna Woliczko, the second highest rated recruit in program history behind Caitlin Clark.
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 18 Ohio State, Nov. 22, 1 p.m., ESPN
It’s technically a neutral site game, but expect plenty of Longhorns supporters filling the stands at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Forward Madison Booker is the centerpiece for Texas, which has advanced to two straight Final Fours.
The Buckeyes counter with the Cambridge sisters, both guards. Jaloni Cambridge is a preseason All-Big Ten selection. Kennedy Cambridge was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team last season.
No. 11 UCLA at Tennessee, Nov. 22, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
The Bruins have undergone considerable roster turnover since winning their first national championship in April. Gone are stars such as Lauren Betts, selected Final Four most outstanding player, and guard Kiki Rice. They’ll lean instead on 6-foot-4 forward Siena Betts, Lauren’s younger sister.
Lady Vols Coach Kim Caldwell enters her third season seeking dramatic improvement after Tennessee lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Fifth-year guard Kaylene Smikle transferred from Maryland, where she missed all but seven games last season because of knee surgery.
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 UConn, Nov. 24, 8 p.m., FS1
Whenever these heavyweights play one another, it’s virtually guaranteed to be highly entertaining. The programs have combined to win 15 national championships and reached three of the past five Final Fours.
This latest meeting in Uncasville, Conn., comes after Auriemma and Staley had a heated exchange following the Gamecocks’ 62-48 victory in the most recent Final Four. Auriemma, in the aftermath, issued several apologies for his behavior.
No. 16 Washington vs. No 22 Oklahoma State, Nov. 27, 12:30 p.m., BDG Sports Live
The Huskies and Cowgirls play in the Coconut Hoops Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla., on Black Friday. Both schools are coming off seasons in which they reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma State landed perhaps the most coveted player from the transfer portal in 6-foot-3 center Audi Crooks, who averaged 25.8 points last season at Iowa State. Washington senior guard Sayvia Sellers scored in double figures in 23 straight games last season, the longest streak for the Huskies since Kelsey Plum in 2016-17.
No. 4 Duke vs. No. 2 UConn, Nov. 28, 7 p.m., Fox
Blue Devils coach Kara Lawson is the current coach of the Team USA women, who won the FIBA World Cup in Berlin in September. Auriemma held the position immediately before Lawson, winning two Olympic gold medals. They’ll face one another in Boston, where Lawson spent one season as an assistant for the Celtics.
Top players back for Duke include forward Toby Fournier and guard Riley Nelson. Sophomore guard Aayliah Crump is a key addition after transferring from Texas. Crump was rated the No. 5 prospect in the 2025 class, per ESPN.
Meet your guide
