Four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament this past season will meet up in mid-November at a two-day event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Multiple sources confirmed to SB Nation that the teams involved in the event are North Carolina, UCLA, South Florida and Fairfield. The event is sponsored in-part by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and will be broadcast on ESPN platforms.
It’s not technically a tournament or a multi-team event because the matchups are predetermined. One gameday will feature a battle between two of the sport’s marquee programs, UNC and UCLA, and then a contest between two of the best mid-major squads in the sport, Fairfield and USF. On the other gameday, the Stags will face the Tar Heels and the Bulls will take on the Bruins.
The dates of the event are not official yet, but the slate of games will likely be played between Thursday, Nov. 13 and Sunday, Nov. 16, at Michelob Ultra Arena — home of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
The event features three head coaches who have served in prominent roles within the WBCA. USF’s Jose Fernandez is the current president of the association, while UNC’s Courtney Banghart and UCLA’s Cori Close are its past two presidents.
It’s a big and well-deserved stage for Fairfield too, which has gone 74-22 in three seasons under Carly Thibault-DuDonis. The Stags have established themselves as a mid-major power after winning back-to-back MAAC championships, going to two straight NCAA Tournaments, and beating a handful of major conference programs along the way.
UCLA is coming off making the Final Four for the first time ever this past season under Close. Led by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Betts and standout guard Kiki Rice, and with the addition of transfer Gianna Kneepkens, the Bruins aim to get back there next season.
Banghart’s Tar Heels hosted opening weekend NCAA Tournament games for the first time in her six-year tenure this past season and advanced to the Sweet 16. While losing Alyssa Ustby and Maria Gakdeng — who earned WNBA training camp invites — UNC returns Reniya Kelly and Indya Nivar, and has added Louisville transfer Nyla Harris.
For the ninth time in the past 12 tournaments, Fernandez’s USF squad was part of March Madness last season. The Bulls have been NCAA Tournament regulars under his direction and will be aiming for making the Big Dance again in 2026. USF has added a handful of talented transfers this offseason, including IU Indy’s Katie Davidson, Jacksonville’s Edyn Battle, FAU’s Stefanie Ingram, and Kirsten Lewis-Williams of Buffalo.
For all four teams, this event presents an opportunity for them to get resume-boosting neutral site victories and to showcase their programs on a national stage.
This event marks one of two that UCLA will play in Las Vegas in the 2025-26 season. Along with Duke, South Carolina and Texas, the Bruins will be part of the inaugural Players Era Women’s Championship, which will also provide the athletes on each team to engage in at least $1 million of NIL activities.
