It was another historic day for TCU women’s basketball as the program hosted ESPN College GameDay on Sunday morning at Schollmaier Arena.
It was the first time GameDay had visited Fort Worth for college basketball as the 11th-ranked Horned Frogs will take on rival No. 18 Baylor at 3 p.m. Sunday for the outright Big 12 championship. TCU already clinched a share of the title on Wednesday after defeating Cincinnati.
It was a solid turnout at Schollmaier Arena as students and other fans filled the lower bowl behind ESPN analysts Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike and made their voices heard throughout the broadcast.
In fact, the ESPN hosts praised the energy provided by TCU fans.
“Fort Worth showed out, the student body showed up,” TCU head coach Mark Campbell said. “College GameDay just went out there and said it’s the best environment they’ve had so far this year. It doesn’t surprise me, this has been what’s happening since we took over three years ago.”
Fans cheer during the filming of ESPN College GameDay at Texas Christian University’s Schollmaier Arena on Sunday, March 1, 2026. None amccoy@star-telegram.com
When Campbell took over before the 2023 season, the thought of hosting GameDay over established programs like South Carolina and Tennessee would’ve been considered a long shot.
Even the Horned Frogs star forward Marta Suarez didn’t think GameDay would be a possibility when she signed with TCU this offseason.
“I didn’t think that at all, but just being here I’m full of joy and gratitude right now,” Suarez said during the show. “I was just talking to my teammate (Veronica Sheffey) about how crazy it is that we’re here. This opportunity was amazing and the turnout that we had, the community showing up, the students showing up and meeting the girls from College GameDay, it was so fun.”
Suarez had a chance to speak directly to the home fans along with Campbell and having that moment meant a lot to the Cal transfer. Despite being in Fort Worth for just one season, Suarez already holds a tight connection to the Fort Worth community that was only strengthened by the fan support at GameDay.
“I love it, I can’t believe a place has had an impact on me in such a few months,” Suarez said. “I’m excited for the future and I want to be rooted here and have people know that I’m here, and I’m for the community and I love this place.”
While Suarez and Campbell had their moments, Olivia Miles was the star of the show. Miles was interviewed early in the show by Carter and Ogwumike as she listed some of her favorite passes from this season.
Texas Christian University guard Olivia Miles, right, talks with ESPN College GameDay’s Chiney Ogwumike at Schollmaier Arena on Sunday, March 1, 2026. None amccoy@star-telegram.com
Miles has also landed on the John R. Wooden watch list, annually given to the best player in college basketball, along with UConn’s Sarah Strong.
Miles and TCU even went a step further by gifting some boots to the ESPN desk in true Texas fashion.
As fun as the morning was, it was also a reminder of just how far the program has come. From going 1-17 in the Big 12 in 2023 to repeating as Big 12 champions three years later is one of the fastest turnarounds you’ll ever see in college sports.
“For ESPN to acknowledge this is a huge game on a national scale, it’s great for our fans and great for our students,” athletics director Mike Buddie said. “It validates what Coach Campbell and his staff have been able to do from moving this team from the netherworlds three years ago to now being nationally relevant in a significant way.”
ESPN College GameDay films at Texas Christian University’s Schollmaier Arena on Sunday, March 1, 2026. None amccoy@star-telegram.com
Campbell echoed the validation. After reaching the Elite Eight last season with Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince and Madison Conner, many wondered how Campbell would follow that, since he was tasked with replacing four of TCU’s five starters.
Campbell responded by landing Miles and Suarez in the portal which led to TCU being ranked No. 17 in the preseason, the highest preseason ranking in program history.
Even with the new weight of expectations, the Horned Frogs were still able to establish themselves as one of the country’s top teams, and they also accomplished one of their primary goals of repeating as Big 12 champions.
Campbell believes that achievement and having GameDay on campus will only help the program to continue to climb up the ranks of the elite.
Texas Christian University guard Olivia Miles interacts with the crowd after being interviewed on ESPN College GameDay at Schollmaier Arena on Sunday, March 1, 2026. None amccoy@star-telegram.com
“It’s the biggest stage in college basketball,” Campbell said. “For them to pick Fort Worth and TCU on the final weekend of college basketball is the greatest testament to what we’ve built and how far we’ve come. It shows last year wasn’t a fluke. To win back-to-back Big 12 titles is hard to do and rare and special.
“Players have changed, but the standard hasn’t. This visibility and this platform I know will continue to help us get the next stars and the next crop.”
As thrilling as the morning was, there’s still some business left to handle as the Horned Frogs aim to beat Baylor for a fifth straight time.
This story will be updated.
ESPN College GameDay prepares to film at Texas Christian University’s Schollmaier Arena on Sunday, March 1, 2026. None amccoy@star-telegram.com
This story was originally published March 1, 2026 at 11:31 AM.