LAS VEGAS \u2013\u00a0USC women’s basketball will face Notre Dame and Duke at the 2026 Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase, event organizers announced Monday, Aug. 31. The two-day event will take place Dec. 19-20 at Michelob ULTRA Arena inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
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\nThe Women of Troy will open the two-day event against Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8 p.m. PT on ESPN. USC will follow that up with a matchup against Duke on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN.
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\nA groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind college basketball event that began in 2024, the 2026 season marks the second iteration of the women’s event. In addition to USC, Notre Dame and Duke, the Players Era women’s field also features South Carolina, Texas and UCLA.\u00a0\u00a0All six games will air nationally across ESPN and ESPN2.
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\nThe event will also offer a seven-figure pool for available name, image and likeness opportunities, one of the largest for a single event in women’s college sports history.<\/p>\n
USC’s 2026-27 roster is positioned as one of the nation’s deepest and most talented, highlighted by the return of JuJu Watkins<\/a>, the 2024-25 consensus National Player of the Year, and 2025-26 National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson<\/a>. Davidson led the Trojans in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks last season.<\/p>\n Junior Kennedy Smith<\/a> returns after earning All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors, while USC welcomes the nation’s No. 1 recruit in Saniyah Hall<\/a>. The Trojans also welcome the long-awaited debuts of Sitaya Fagan<\/a> and Sara Okeke<\/a> and add transfers Pania Davis<\/a> (Florida State) and Ryan Bennett (UC Davis). Returners Laura Williams<\/a>, Rian Forestier<\/a> and Brooklyn Shamblin<\/a> provide additional experience and continuity.<\/p>\n All-event passes, which include admission to all six games, start at $109 and go on sale Thursday, Sept. 3, at 10 a.m. PT through AXS.com. School, AXS and MGM Rewards presales will take place ahead of the general public sale.
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\nFor more information on the USC women’s basketball team and a complete schedule and results, please visit USCTrojans.com\/WBB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWBB on Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.
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\nAbout Players Era
\nPlayers Era, the premier college sports event operator and an EverWonder Studio company, is built to reimagine collegiate athletics through innovative NIL opportunities, elite competition, and world-class fan experiences. Today, Players Era operates several marquee destination events, anchored by the Players Era Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in Las Vegas \u2013featuring 24 of the nation’s top men’s programs (including four of the five last men’s NCAA champions) alongside a star-studded women’s showcase featuring multiple Sweet 16 contenders and two of the last three national champions. The company also operates the inaugural Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas and the Eternal City Tip-Off, a season-opening international men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader in Rome. Through partnerships with leading universities, broadcasters, and global brands, Players Era continues to elevate the student-athlete experience while bringing the best of college sports to fans around the world.
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