A New Chapter for the Gamecocks
The Players Era Championship is set to return to Las Vegas this December, bringing together six of the nation’s top women’s basketball programs in a single‑site showcase that promises marquee matchups and a festive atmosphere.
South Carolina will open its schedule against UCLA on December 19, followed by a clash with Notre Dame on December 20, a pair of games that have already sparked conversation after being leaked on social media.
The Gamecocks enter the season with a nine‑game non‑conference slate that includes contests against Maryland, North Carolina, Southern California, Providence, UConn, Duke, Oklahoma State and the aforementioned Bruins and Fighting Irish, while also navigating a full SEC schedule dotted with high‑profile rivals.
Beyond the Las Vegas event, South Carolina is slated to participate in the PowHER Player Classic, an HBCU women’s basketball tournament and NIL marketplace that will take place in Columbia this November, featuring teams such as Tennessee State, Alabama A&M and NC Central.
The tournament will also see return games scheduled for the 2027‑28 season, with the Gamecocks slated to host Penn State and Grand Canyon in Columbia, and to travel to Oklahoma for a neutral‑site showdown against Oklahoma State.
While the exact format of the championship remains unconfirmed by organizers, the anticipation among fans and analysts alike underscores the growing prominence of women’s college basketball on a national stage.