Players Era Announces 2026 Women's Basketball Showcase with All Games on ESPN

Players Era has announced the 2026 Players Era Women's Basketball Showcase in Las Vegas, featuring six powerhouse programs headlined by South Carolina, Notre Dame, USC, Texas, UCLA, and Duke.

What's Happening:

• Players Era has announced the tournament matchups and ticket information for the 2026 Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase. 
• The two-day event takes place Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20, 2026, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. All six tournament games will air live on ESPN and ESPN2.
• Tickets for the 2026 Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase, starting at $109, will be available as All-Tournament Passes, granting fans access to all six games across both sessions at Michelob ULTRA Arena. School, AXS and MGM Rewards pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale starting Thursday, September 3 at 1 p.m. ET at AXS.com.
• The showcase features six of the top programs in women’s college basketball: South Carolina, Notre Dame, USC, Texas, UCLA and Duke.
• Bringing six likely Sweet 16+ contenders together under one roof in a single weekend, the showcase creates an early season competitive atmosphere rivaling post-season play.  Anchoring the marquee schedule are a National Title rematch between South Carolina and UCLA, a Final Four rematch between Texas and UCLA, and a blockbuster clash between Notre Dame and USC featuring Hannah Hidalgo and JuJu Watkins.
• The event also marks a landmark investment in the future of women’s sports by offering a seven-figure NIL financial pool for the single event, one of the largest in women’s college sports history.
• The weekend will spotlight some of the game’s brightest stars, including Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), JuJu Watkins (University of Southern California), Madison Booker (Texas), Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) and Toby Fournier (Duke).
• USC enters the event boasting three former No. 1 overall recruits – led by consensus National Player of the Year JuJu Watkins alongside decorated superstars Jazzy Davidson and Saniyah Hall.

What They're Saying:

• UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close: "We’re happy to be back in the Players Era Women’s Championship for another year. We’re excited for rematches with South Carolina and Texas, and the opportunity to play some elite competition at this exceptional event. It will be the premier non-conference tournament and have a lot of eyeballs with some great programs going head-to-head. We’re honored to be back!”
  University of South Carolina Women’s Head Basketball Coach Dawn Staley: “We are excited to be back for the second year of the Players Era Women’s Championship with an expanded field. From elite matchups on the court, to great accommodations and opportunities for our team and our fans off it, it will be great to get back to Las Vegas and a full weekend highlighting women’s basketball.”
• Seth Berger, CEO of Players Era: “In 2026, Players Era is guaranteeing women’s college volleyball and basketball players mid-seven figures for available NIL activities – what we believe to be the greatest purse offered by any operator in the space. We also are bringing the best of the best – in volleyball and basketball – to Las Vegas and MGM Resorts venues.”
• ESPN’s Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions Dan Margulis: “Women’s college basketball is thriving, and ESPN is committed to helping grow the sport by showcasing its biggest stars and best matchups. With six elite programs competing on a national stage, this event reflects the depth of talent and competition that continues to drive the game forward.”
• Dan Bernbach, MGM Resorts’ Senior Vice President of Entertainment & Sports Events: “The Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase will, once again, further strengthen our position as the leader in live event programming. This is another opportunity for MGM Resorts to host a prestigious college basketball weekend with our partners at Players Era while highlighting Las Vegas as the Sports Capital of the World.”

2026 Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase Schedule:
(Times subject to change, All times ET)

• Session 1 – Saturday, December 19, 2026
  • 6 p.m. (ESPN2): Duke vs. Texas
  • 8:30 p.m. (ESPN): UCLA vs. South Carolina
  • 11 p.m. (ESPN): Notre Dame vs. USC
• Session 2 – Sunday, December 20, 2026
  • 5 p.m. (ESPN): Texas vs. UCLA
  • 7:30 p.m. (ESPN): Notre Dame vs. South Carolina
  • 10 p.m. (ESPN): USC vs. Duke

About the Games:

• The Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase is a relatively new, high-profile early-season college basketball event designed to put several of the best women’s programs in the country on the same stage.
• The inaugural 2025 women's championship featured four teams - UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Duke. Texas won the championship, defeating South Caroline 66-64, with Rori Harmon earning tournament MVP Honors.
• The 2026 event is much larger, expanding to six teams and taking place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with an unusually strong collection of programs for a December non-conference event.