With the start of the women’s college basketball season underway, ESPN announced on Oct. 21 that games for the second annual WBCA Showcase and the newest event, the WBCA Challenge, will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPNU, and other ESPN platforms. The newest event will be followed by the Showcase, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Challenge Event
The Challenge will be held in Las Vegas starting Nov. 13, including four teams that competed in the 2025 March Madness Tournament. The Thursday matchups will headline Fairfield vs. South Florida, and No. 11 North Carolina vs. No. 3 UCLA. The Saturday, Nov. 15 showdowns will feature South Florida vs. No. 3 UCLA and Fairfield vs. No. 11 North Carolina. Each game will be held at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Showcase Event
Following the challenge event, the WBCA will, for the second year in a row, hold a Showcase at the State Farm Field House. The event celebrates the growth of women’s college basketball, and it offers another way for fans to spectate competitive matchups. For this event, eight teams will participate in six games.
The teams participating are Baylor, Central Missouri, Davidson, Iowa, Miami (Florida), Missouri, Washington State, and West Florida. Games will take place from Nov. 20—23.
AP Top 25 showdown in Vegas 🔥
No. 11 @uncwbb vs No. 3 @UCLAWBB
🏀 Nov. 13 | 6pm PST | 📺 ESPN2
📍 #WBCAChallenge pic.twitter.com/6tpLTrExci— Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (@WBCA1981) November 12, 2025
Rising Stars
Overall, the events provided by the WBCA maintain a goal to shine a light on women’s college basketball, as well as give fans the opportunity to watch rising stars compete against each other. For the newest event, all eyes will be on the No. 3-ranked UCLA and No. 11 North Carolina.
There are multiple players to watch in this event, many of whom are top prospects for the 2026 WNBA Draft. Players like Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts will be the main headlines for UCLA. Meanwhile, Fairfield has a rising star in Meghan Anderson, who has scored 30 or more points in her first two games of the season.
South Florida will be a team to keep an eye on, as guards Edyn Battle and Katie Davidson are likely to put on quite the show. This leaves North Carolina, which will look to take advantage of these non-conference games, with five players currently averaging over 10 points.
Similar to the challenge event, the Showcase event will feature two ranked teams, with fans able to watch No. 7 Baylor and No. 21 Iowa. Altogether, there is phenomenal talent being featured in this event, which can also lead to growth within the smaller programs. This event offers the two DII programs, West Florida and Central Missouri, the opportunity to showcase their programs and talented athletes.
It is important to note that these games will count towards each team’s records; however, this is a great opportunity to spectate the talent across the nation. Not only will we be seeing talent from across the nation, but we will also have the chance to see how programs can compete against non-conference opponents.
NCAAW WBCA Dates & Times:
Challenge Event
Thursday, Nov. 13
- Fairfield vs. South Florida, 6 p.m.
- No. 11 North Carolina vs. No. 3 UCLA, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15
- Fairfield vs. No. 11 North Carolina, 6 p.m.
- South Florida vs. No. 3 UCLA, 9 p.m.
Shining in the Vegas lights ✨
🏀 @USFWBB, @UCLAWBB, @uncwbb + @StagsWBball #WBCAChallenge pic.twitter.com/SAzGg1bKn7
— Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (@WBCA1981) November 12, 2025
Showcase Event
Thursday, Nov. 20
- Miami vs. Davidson, 6:00 p.m.
- No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 21 Iowa, 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 21
- West Florida vs. Central Missouri, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22
- No. 7 Baylor vs. Davidson, 5:30 p.m.
- No. 21 Iowa vs. Miami, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23
- Washington State vs. Missouri, 3 p.m.
For the Showcase and Challenge event, the following times and dates apply, all in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
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