PowHER Player Classic Set to Elevate HBCU Women's Basketball
The University of South Carolina's women's basketball program is set to launch the inaugural PowHER Player Classic, a tournament that brings together three historic HBCU programs — Alabama A&M, North Carolina Central and Tennessee State — in a first‑of‑its‑kind showcase.
Games will be played at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, with Alabama A&M facing NC Central on November 28 and the host Gamecocks taking on Tennessee State the following night, creating a compact schedule that maximizes exposure for the participating schools.
Beyond the hardwood, the event will incorporate a community‑service initiative on Thanksgiving, allowing players and staff to give back to local families, and will be followed by an NIL Marketplace on the next day that connects student‑athletes with name, image and likeness opportunities.
Rae Rose Media’s Role in Amplifying the Event
Rae Rose Media, a sports‑centric platform dedicated to amplifying women’s athletic programs, is partnering with the tournament to provide multimedia coverage and to help market the event to a national audience.
Coach Dawn Staley, who has guided the Gamecocks for nearly two decades, says the tournament reflects a broader mission: to use basketball as a conduit for access, mentorship and economic empowerment for young women, especially those from under‑represented communities.
Staley notes that she has scheduled at least one regular‑season game against an HBCU in 15 of her 18 seasons in Columbia, and she recently agreed to a home‑and‑home series with Coppin State in Baltimore, breaking from traditional scheduling patterns to prioritize equity.
The tournament also builds on recent March Madness experiences, such as South Carolina’s first‑round matchup with Southern University, another HBCU, a game that Staley says has helped raise the profile of these programs and foster greater respect across the sport.
With former players like Olivia Gaines now coaching NC Central and Candice Dupree having guided Tennessee State, the event underscores a growing pipeline of HBCU talent both on and off the court, and it aims to ensure that no young woman is left behind as opportunities expand.