The ladies’s faculty basketball season ideas off Monday, Nov. 7, and a few star-studded matchups spotlight the calendar.
Not solely are these video games merely enjoyable to observe, they’ll additionally bolster or undermine circumstances for bracket seeding come March.
Listed here are 10 non-conference video games to circle in your calendar:
Texas at UConn — Monday, Nov. 14
The non-conference lineup begins per week into the season with Texas visiting UConn in what’s now a top-10 matchup. The second recreation of the season for each comes with an enormous take a look at.
With Paige Bueckers happening for the season with a torn ACL, this may present a glimpse into how the Huskies will look with out the star junior and with out three graduated seniors Christyn Williams, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Evina Westbrook, who had been vital items to final season’s nationwide championship runner-up group.
In the meantime, the Longhorns have a key alternative to solidify their place as one of many top-5 groups within the nation. The AP ranked Texas No. 3 within the preseason ballot as UConn sits at No. 6. Massive 12 event MOP — as a freshman — Rori Hamron will look to take Texas to new heights. That begins with defeating a Geno Auriemma squad irrespective of the personnel.
Catch the sport Monday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
South Carolina at Stanford — Sunday, Nov. 20
The final two nationwide champions. Two doable contenders for this 12 months’s title. What extra may one ask for in a non-conference matchup?
After the 2021 Last 4 the place Stanford escaped South Carolina by a single level, the Gamecocks received revenge final common season defeating the Cardinal at dwelling 65-61. However South Carolina didn’t simply avenge its semifinal heartbreak — it broke program historical past overcoming an 18-point deficit.
This season, South Carolina and Stanford rank No. 1 and a couple of respectively within the AP preseason ballot, and will stay on the the highest all through the season. Each rosters, aside from a a pair impression seniors shifting on, look comparatively the identical. Aliyah Boston headlines the Gamecocks; Haley Jones leads the Cardinal.
It is a can’t-miss checklist, however this one specifically, you don’t need to miss. The 2 face off Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. on ABC.
UConn vs. NC State — Sunday, Nov. 20
The Huskies and Wolfpack final met earlier this 12 months within the 2022 Elite Eight. Sure, that one, that grew to become immediate traditional.
If you happen to don’t keep in mind, right here’s a refresher: the bid for the Last 4 went into double time beyond regulation for the primary time in event historical past, Paige Bueckers and Jakia Brown-Turner went blow-for-blow hitting clutch pictures, and UConn completed off the Wolfpack 91-87 to advance to its 14 consecutive Last 4.
Nearly seven months eliminated, they’ll face off once more in Connecticut, however each groups will look totally different than their respective Elite Eight squads. UConn can be with out star guard Bueckers after a torn ACL ended her season in August. Final season’s Wolfpack was a veteran group with three graduate starters and one senior. Solely Brown-Turner stays from that lineup, however nonetheless NC State retains a reasonably skilled group.
The matchup will get issues began earlier than South Carolina vs. Stanford at 1 p.m. ET on FS1. That Sunday can be enjoyable, actually enjoyable.
RANKINGS: View the most recent girls’s basketball AP ballot
Ohio State vs. Louisville — Wednesday, Nov. 30
The 2022 ACC/Massive Ten Problem options Louisville vs. Ohio State. The problem characteristic six groups from every convention.
Earlier than this. Ohio State will get a gathering early towards Tennessee. Each the Cardinals and Buckeyes are coming off profitable event runs, with the Buckeyes upsetting a No. 3 seed to make the Candy 16, whereas Louisville danced all the way in which to the Last 4.
Ohio State returns with its 4 of 5 prime scorers whereas Louisville integrates new starters into the combo. Hailey Van Lith can be one to observe as a participant than get can scorching and keep scorching; Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell on the Buckeyes lead a high-powered offense.
Tune in on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ACCN.
Iowa vs. NC State — Thursday, Dec. 1
The second spotlight of the ACC/Massive Ten Problem comes from Iowa vs. NC State within the fifteenth annual occasion.
As of the preseason ballot, Iowa solely has two ranked non-conference video games on the schedule, which means each will carry nice significance. Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes can gather extra nationwide recognition and show that top-5 rank.
NC State will get its second main non-conference evaluation towards a enjoyable Iowa squad. Monika Czinano vs. Camille Pastime can be a matchup to observe with Czinano incomes All-Massive Ten honors and Pastime most definitely stepping right into a beginning function at middle. Watch the sport on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
UConn vs. Notre Dame — Sunday, Dec. 4
In yet one more UConn matchup on this checklist (and never the final), the Huskies face Notre Dame within the Jimmy V Girls’s Traditional.
It’ll stage Notre Dame’s first top-10 matchup, based on the preseason ballot, and function an enormous Irish take a look at after a Candy 16 run in final season’s event. Niele Ivey’s third season on the helm may end in a deep postseason run with a proficient roster, and that begins towards UConn.
The Huskies make this checklist 5 instances whole with considered one of hardest schedules within the nation. Two sophomores Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles can be an thrilling matchup at guard. Each had profitable seasons as freshmen, Miles notably bloomed within the postseason, whereas Fudd ought to get an expanded function this season.
Watch this non-conference recreation Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Iowa vs. Iowa State — Wednesday, Dec. 7
These two faculties could also be only a couple hours away in Iowa, however they play in distinction conferences. Every matchup between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones comes with heavy implications for who will get bragging rights for all the 12 months.
This 12 months could be the largest between in-state rivals with each rating within the preseason prime 10, the best for each packages.
The Hawkeyes are led by Caitlin Clark, who topped the nation in scoring and was second in assists, Iowa State’s greatest scorer Ashley Joens is already the Cyclones’ all-time chief in factors. Count on a high-scoring, high-energy recreation Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Stanford vs. Tennessee — Sunday, Dec. 18
Simply earlier than the vacations, Stanford and Tennessee face off in one other pivotal Pac-12 vs. SEC matchup. Whereas Stanford could have already competed towards South Carolina, this may mark Tennessee’s first massive important take a look at towards a prime squad.
Stanford has gained three straight towards the Girl Vols since 2019. Nonetheless, Tennessee total has the Cardinal beat in all-time conferences 25-13 relationship again to the dominant Pat Summitt groups.
Watch these two sq. off Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
2023 MARCH MADNESS: Girls’s NCAA event schedule, dates, instances
Tennessee vs. UConn — Thursday, Jan. 26
Maybe the best non-conference rivalry in girls’s basketball meets for the twenty sixth time. The Girl Vols haven’t beat the Huskies sine 2007 when Candace Parker led a Summitt-coached group.
At this level within the season, each groups can be nicely established and never vying for an early assertion. We don’t but know what the rankings will appear to be, however you’ll be able to’t miss this rivalry it doesn’t matter what.
Catch these rivals battle Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
South Carolina at UConn — Sunday, Feb. 5
A rematch of the 2022 NCAA nationwide championship headlines the final non-conference matchup for this checklist and for these two groups. South Carolina gained the title handily 64-49 final season and beat the Huskies within the common season as nicely within the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Regardless of UConn not having three of 5 starters from that title recreation, the rivalry will nonetheless be a sight to see. In Hartford, UConn will look to make use of the house courtroom benefit to avenge the loss.
The Huskies maintain the all-time wins within the matchup 9-3, successful the primary seven matchups earlier than the Gamecocks lastly caught them in 2020. This recreation may show vengeance for UConn or proceed South Carolina’s dominance towards the once-unbeatable juggernaut.
