Pod 2 and the road to the Palestra
The Big 5 has revealed the pod structure and championship schedule for the 2026‑27 women's basketball season, setting the stage for a competitive slate that begins in November and culminates in a December tripleheader.
Pod 2 will be anchored by three Philadelphia‑area programs — La Salle, Temple and Villanova — who will each face one another in a round‑robin format that highlights the conference’s depth.
La Salle opens its pod schedule with a home matchup against Temple on November 11, followed by a road test at Villanova on November 24, giving the Explorers early opportunities to build momentum.
The championship weekend is set for December 6 at the historic Palestra, where the three pod winners will meet in a tripleheader that marks the venue’s centennial celebration, adding a layer of nostalgia to the proceedings.
La Salle’s recent trajectory has seen its win total climb over the past three seasons, yet the program has been unable to capture a Big 5 title since the 2022‑23 campaign, a drought that adds extra intrigue to the upcoming games.