The Rady Children's Invitational will take place in San Diego on November 26 and 27, bringing together a handful of college basketball powerhouses for a compact, high‑profile event.
First Matchup on Thursday
UCLA’s opening contest pairs the Bruins with the St. Mary's Gaels at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of the University of San Diego. The game is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Pacific time and will be streamed live on FS1. Key contributors such as Skyy Clark and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are expected to anchor the lineup, while Drew Timme adds veteran presence.
The following day, the winners of the opening round will meet in the championship game, while the losers will contest a third‑place matchup. Thursday’s second slot will be filled by either Georgetown or Texas, a detail that will be decided by the outcome of UCLA’s game.
All games will also be carried on Fox, with Friday’s contests airing on the broadcast network. Ticket prices range from $95 to $200 for access to all four contests, and $5 from each sale will be donated to Rady Children's Hospital‑San Diego.
Recent NCAA Tournament Recap
UCLA entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament as a top seed but fell in the second round to the UConn Huskies. Meanwhile, St. Mary's advanced to the first round before being edged out by the Texas A&M Aggies.
The Bruins’ performance has set the stage for a redemption narrative, as they look to rebound against a St. Mary's squad that has participated in five straight NCAA tournaments, a streak that includes seven of the past nine years aside from the 2020 cancellation.
Beyond the competition, the event underscores a partnership between college basketball and a leading children’s hospital, channeling proceeds into vital health services for the region.