Five Key Women's College Basketball Games for the 2025-2026 Season
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Summary
- The 2025–26 NCAA Women’s Basketball season promises elite matchups with several top-10 programs reloading through transfers and incoming stars.
The 2025-26 NCAA Women’s Basketball season is slated to be one for the books. With NIL soaring to even greater heights, teams are getting even better. When the premier teams square off against one another, they are always the best matchups. Here are five matchups for the 2025-26 season to keep an eye out for.
UConn vs. USC - December 13
The UConn Huskies enter the new season as the preseason number one and reigning national champions on the prowl to defend their title. Paige Bueckers, the face of the Huskies throughout the 2020s, has kicked off her WNBA career with the Dallas Wings. While Bueckers’ promotion is a tough loss for UConn, they are still the team to beat in 2026.
Three of their five starters from the 2025 National Championship remain on UConn’s roster: NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Azzi Fudd, All-American Sarah Strong and center Jana El-Alfy. The Huskies got a huge addition in the transfer portal, scooping up the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, forward Serah Williams from Wisconsin.
At 6-foot-4-inches, Williams’ size gives UConn a huge upper leg on opponents. Strong, at 6-foot-2, was the Huskies’ tallest player last season. UConn now has flexibility to guard the bigger opponents of women’s college basketball. Additionally, head coach Geno Auriemma can run a “small-ball” lineup with Strong at center, or a taller lineup with either Williams solely or partnering her with Strong. This newfound adjustment makes the Huskies even more of a taunting challenge.
The USC Trojans enter 2025 in an interesting position. The preseason number 18 will be without the reigning National Player of the Year, JuJu Watkins, for the entire season as she recovers from an ACL tear. But new to the Trojans is ESPN’s number one recruit for the class of 2025, guard Jazzy Davidson.
Davidson brings in a huge scoring threat for the Trojans. Her senior season at Clackamas High School in Oregon she lit up the court, averaging 28.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-1, Davidson is a versatile scorer who is capable of taking over any given game. She may not be the primary scoring option in 2026, but Davidson will certainly alleviate some of the pain of missing Watkins this season.
Davidson will team up with 2025 Big 10 All-Freshman Team honoree Kennedy Smith and Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn to keep one of the most potent offenses alive in 2026.
Smith emerged as a two-way threat in 2025, leading the Trojans in steals with 2.2 per game. She is an effective defender, disrupting opponents with her hands and instincts. Smith is a great spot up shooter from deep, and she can attack off of the bounce or in transition, allowing her to be a multi-faceted weapon in the offense.
Dunn was Georgia Tech’s primary scoring threat in 2025, averaging 15.5 points per game on an efficient 49.3 percent shooting. She is also an effective rebounder out of the guard spot with 5.8 per game last season. Dunn will be picking up a lot of the slack out of the get go that Watkins would have otherwise been responsible for.
The Huskies and Trojans last squared off in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament. UConn came out victorious in the Elite 8, 78-64. Bueckers and Strong dominated this match up. Bueckers scored 31 points, shooting 9-for-18 from the field, adding six assists and four steals, too. Strong was all over the place, grabbing a career-high 17 rebounds and scoring 22 on 8-for-13 shooting.
USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb had nothing but respect to say for the Huskies following the Elite 8 loss.
“How do you not have respect and root for a team that had to figure some things out along the way, too,” said Gottlieb.
Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma sent Gottlieb a message following USC’s win against UConn in the 2024-25 regular season. Auriemma expressed his love for the Trojans’ program and how significant of a win it was for USC.
Auriemma echoed the same respect for the Trojans for how hard they fought last season, especially in the tournament.
“I give a lot of credit to USC for what they were able to do given what they had to endure with JuJu,” said Aureimma. “It’s not easy. I’ve been there.”
USC is without their star player, but added a new one. UConn, too, has added star power. These two teams with great admiration for each other are sure to make a must-watch game for the 2026 season.
LSU vs. South Carolina - Feb 14
Two powerhouses. Two ferocious head coaches at the top. The Tigers vs. the Gamecocks will be a battle all fans have circled on their calendars.
Led by the studded guard duo of Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, the Tigers are poised to be one of the most ferocious offenses in women’s college basketball. With strong post play complimented by perimeter scoring, LSU’s offense constantly keeps defenses on their toes.
Forward Aneesah Morrow, who averaged 18.7 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in 2025, has kicked off her WNBA career with the Connecticut Sun. Her scoring and rebounding production leaves a significant gap in the Tigers’ lineup.
Thankfully, LSU added forward Amiya Joyner from East Carolina to help Morrow’s role. Joyner’s ability to score and rebound inside gives LSU a promising option to step into the spotlight. She will be a key player to watch as the Tigers aim to keep their status as one of the nation’s most potent offenses.
South Carolina has remained one of Women’s College Basketball’s stellar programs for over a decade. Their balanced and movement-first offense remains superb.
Senior forward Chloe Kitts has become a key contributor for the Gamecocks, averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, earning her All-America honorable mention. Sadly, their star tore her ACL prior to the 2025-26 season, and will be out for the year.
Fortunately, the Gamecocks added Florida State guard Ta’Niya Latson. She was the nation’s leading scorer in 2025, with 25.2 points per game. Latson will be a great fill-in for Kitts, and an interesting watch to see how her scoring load changes in South Carolina’s offense.
These two last faced off in the 2024-25 regular season. South Carolina handed LSU its first loss of the season, 66-56. Guard Joyce Edwards was the star performer, scoring 14 points and shooting 5-for-11 from three.
It was a gritty battle as South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley explained.
“We continued to fight, continued to get loose balls and 50-50 balls,” said Staley. “The rebounds we didn’t come up with, we were in the mix.”
Tigers’ head coach Kim Mulkey did not hold back her frustration after the tough loss.
“We had 28 offensive boards and you lost by 10 so what does that tell you,” said Mulkey. “We’re not doing anything when we get those offensive boards.”
Texas vs. Oklahoma - Feb 1
The Red River Rivalry is one of the most contentious in college sports. Texas and Oklahoma despise each other and want nothing to do with one another. These battles are often fact-paced and physical. Both teams are frequently powerhouse fighting for Big 12, now SEC, supremacy. It is a meeting of pride that supersedes standings, regional bragging rights are in contention every game.
Texas enters this season with one of the most dynamic duos in the nation, led by reigning SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker and guard Rori Harmon. The Longhorns’ offense thrives on pace and ball movement, a nightmare matchup for opponents. Their ability to control tempo and create efficient scoring opportunities has been a defining trait of head coach Vic Schaefer.
Harmon is the engine that keeps Texas running, leading the SEC in 2025 with 239 assists. Her court vision and defensive pressure set the tone on both ends of the floor. Harmon’s leadership and playmaking are irreplaceable assets for a program built on discipline and intensity.
As her backcourt mate, Booker has become Texas’ go-to scorer and most dependable player, averaging 16 points per game and a conference-leading 1,214 minutes played. Her versatility as a forward who can score, distribute and defend multiple positions makes her difficult to defend and a key piece to the puzzle of the Longhorns’ title hopes.
Oklahoma comes into the 2025-26 season with momentum and experience, anchored by one of the best frontcourts. The Sooners thrive on spacing and ball movement, giving a balanced offense that can score from anywhere on the court. Oklahoma looks destined to build on last season’s success and be a challenger in the SEC.
Raegan Beers has quickly become the face of Sooners women’s basketball. Her first season since transferring from Oregon State, she averaged 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, earning All-SEC First Team honors. Beers established herself as an elite post scorer, shooting at a 63.3 percent clip.
Sharing the court dynamic with Beers is dynamic guard Payton Verhulst and athletic forward Sahara Williams. The two balance out Beers in the post game with three-point shooting. Verhulst last season made 2.4 threes per game on 35.2 percent shooting. With another year together, the Sooners could be an even greater threat to their fellow powerhouses in the SEC.
The Sooners and Longhorns last faced each other in the 2025 regular season. Despite just eight points from Booker, Texas got the upper hand, winning 80-73. This was a tough game for Verhulst, too, scoring 23 points on 23 shots.
This classic rivalry should be another epic battle to have highlighted on your schedule.
Duke vs. UNC - Feb 15 & Mar 1
One of the most iconic rivalries in college basketball meets twice in the span of two weeks. When last the Blue Devils and Tar Heels met, Duke got the best of UNC in the Sweet Sixteen, 47-38.
That was a tough, defensive first matchup. Duke shot 31 percent from the field and UNC was a brutal 28 percent. The Tar Heels did not have a single player score double figures.
Duke returns a strong foundation built around two of the ACC’s brightest young stars. Head coach Kara Lawson continues to center around a disciplined defense and an efficient offense. Their ability to grind out wins and control tempo has kept them among their conference’s foremost contenders.
ACC Rookie of the Year Toby Fournier comes into 2026 on the heels of an impressive freshman campaign, averaging 13.2 points per game while showcasing her athleticism, rebounding and defensive instincts. Her versatility as a forward who can run the floor and finish through contact has her positioned as the focal point of the Blue Devils’ offense.
All-ACC guard Ashlon Jackson adds consistent scoring from the perimeter, averaging 12.4 points per game on 37.2 percent shooting from the field and from three. Jackson’s shooting ability perfectly compliments Fournier’s interior presence, giving Duke the capability of another deep tournament run. With both players returning, especially another year of development for Fournier, the Blue Devils are the team to beat in the ACC.
The Tar Heels are entering a transitional yet promising season, as they look to reload after several big departures while maintaining the movement-first offense. UNC emphasizes movement and spacing to generate clean looks, keeping the offense flowing regardless of personnel changes.
With the leading scores from 2025 gone, the burden shifts significantly. Graduations and departures claimed key contributors. Namely Alyssa Ustby, Lexi Donarski and Maria Gakdeng. Together, they account for almost 60 percent of the Tar Heels’ scoring last season. Junior guard Reniya Kelly, who averaged 9.6 points per game last season, is now in position to take control of this offense. Sophomore guard Lanie Grant, who showed promise as a sixth-player, is expected to gain an expanded role in 2026.
To help fill in the gaps, North Carolina added veteran talent. Forward Nyla Harris from Louisville and guard Elina Aarnisalo from UCLA are both capable of making an immediate impact on the preseason number 11. These additions give UNC a solid base to build on as they navigate the next phase of their roster and aim to stay competitive in the ACC.
These two powerhouses are separated by just eight miles. Every game carries immense weight as each school wants to outperform the other. ACC supremacy, postseason position and bragging rights are at stake.
Duke and UNC will face each other twice in the 2025-26 regular season. The Blue Devils host game one on February 15. The second match is just two weeks later on March 1 in Chapel Hill.
The ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament kicks off just three days after the second game on March 4. Bragging rights for the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament will be at stake for these two preseason top 11 teams.
UCLA vs. Maryland - Jan 18
The Bruins and Terrapins have been forces in the women’s college basketball landscape for decades. Now, they are conference opponents looking to gain the upper hand against one another.
The preseason number three enters the 2025-26 season with one of the most formidable frontcourts in the country, anchored by All-American Center Lauren Betts. Under head coach Cori Close, the Bruins flourish built by interior presence and defensive discipline. This combination makes them a perennial contender capable of taking control of any given game.
Betts has developed into the centerpiece of UCLA’s lineup. She led the Big 10 in blocks, with 2.9 per game, en route to winning the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. Betts’s game is complimented by her scoring and rebounding ability, netting 20.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
For 2026, Betts joins forces with her younger sister Sienna, ESPN’s number two player for the class of 2025. Her senior year at Grandview High School in Colorado saw her score 23.5 points per game and grab 16.5 rebounds per game. Sienna was named a McDonald’s All-American and the winner of the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year. The younger Betts brings two key factors to the Bruins for 2026: the same skillset as her sister and the pre-existing chemistry. The Betts sisters form a towering duo that makes UCLA a true threat for the national championship.
The Terrapins come into this season with a potent offensive core led by senior guard Kaylene Smikle. UMD’s system emphasizes up-tempo play and spacing, aiming to outpace opponents and capitalize on transition opportunities. Entering the 2025-26 season as preseason number 10, the Terps are destined to contend for a conference title and make a big tournament run.
Smikle has cemented herself as the centerpiece of Maryland’s offense. She averaged 17.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, earning her All-Big Ten First Team honors. Under pressure in the NCAA Tournament, she rose to the occasion, scoring 20.7 points per game in Maryland’s three tournament contests.
Saylor Poffenbarger provides key support on offense and veteran presence. She scored 9.1 points per game and hauled in 7.2 rebounds per game, good for second on the Terrapins last season.
Maryland has bolstered their roster with a pair of incoming freshmen guards. Rainey Wilson brings scoring and defensive prowess. Addi Mack offers playmaking and court vision. These rising stars look to enhance the Terrapins’ depth and versatility, unlocking new potential lineups for head coach Brenda Freese.
The Bruins and Terrapins last faced during the 2025 regular season. With UCLA leaving College Park victorious, 82-67. It was a Lauren Betts takeover, scoring 33 points on 14-for-15 shooting.
Now that these two stallworts are conference rivals, this contest is one for fans to tune into.