A Milestone Event for Women's College Basketball
In December 2024, the newly launched Players Era Women's Showcase will transform the Las Vegas arena into a showcase of the nation's top women's college basketball programs. Six teams — including the University of Southern California — will compete in a two‑day tournament that blends high‑stakes play with a seven‑figure name, image and likeness prize pool, one of the largest ever awarded in women's collegiate sports.
The schedule pairs USC with Notre Dame on December 19 at 8 p.m. Pacific and with Duke on December 20 at 7 p.m. Pacific, while the first day also features South Carolina versus Texas and the second day pits Texas against UCLA and South Carolina against Notre Dame. All games will be televised on ESPN and ESPN2, with USC's matchups slated for the primary channel, giving the Trojans a national platform to attract new fans.
Beyond the marquee matchups, the event underscores a broader shift in how collegiate athletics are monetized. The prize pool, sourced from NIL agreements, reflects the increasing commercial interest in women's sports and could set a precedent for future tournaments.
USC enters the showcase riding a 18‑14 record from the 2023‑24 season, a campaign that ended with a loss in the Big Ten Tournament and an NCAA second‑round exit to South Carolina. The Trojans will rely on returning stars such as JuJu Watkins and Jazzy Davidson, alongside veteran Kennedy Smith, while welcoming fresh talent including Saniyah Hall, Ryann Bennett and Pania Davis.
The team's non‑conference slate also includes games against UNLV on November 4, South Carolina on November 15 and Miami on December 16, providing a rigorous preparation window before the Las Vegas tournament.
Fans can secure access to all six games through an all‑event pass priced at $109, available via AXS beginning September 3, 2024, while individual tickets will be sold through the same platform.