The 2026 Players Era Showcase will bring together some of the nation’s most elite women’s college basketball programs for a marquee December 19 matchup in Las Vegas, where South Carolina will meet UCLA in a much‑anticipated rematch of the 2026 NCAA championship game.
A Milestone Match in Las Vegas
That game will replay the 79‑51 victory the Bruins secured in the title contest, a contest in which the Gamecocks shot a mere 29 % from the field — the third‑lowest percentage recorded in a women’s title game since the NCAA began tracking the statistic in 1982.
The two teams are tied 3‑3 in their all‑time series, and the most recent encounter in Paris saw South Carolina roll past Notre Dame 100‑71, a performance overseen by head coach Dawn Staley, who continues to shape the Gamecocks’ identity.
The showcase will also feature contests against Texas, Duke and Southern California, all to be played at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, with a seven‑figure name‑image‑likeness (NIL) financial pool that ranks among the largest ever assembled for women’s college sports.
South Carolina’s schedule does not stop there; the Gamecocks will also test themselves against North Carolina, UConn, and other powerhouses in multi‑team events and neutral‑site games, while the 2027 Players Era is already slated for their return.
The season will open with a Paris‑based showdown against Maryland on November 2, part of the Oui Play event that promises to kick off the year with international flair.