10 Calendar-Worthy Games on the 2025-26 Big Ten Women's Basketball Schedule
Rematches, rivalries, and star-studded matchups you don't want to miss this season
The 2025-26 Big Ten Women's Basketball season is shaping up to be one for the books with powerhouse programs, heated rivalries, and rosters stacked with returning stars and game-changing additions. With six teams ranked in the preseason poll, there are a handful of conference and non-conference matchups you’ll want on your calendar.
Get your calendars ready. Here are the top games you won't want to miss this season.
All times are Eastern.
USC vs. South Carolina – Saturday, November 15 at 9 p.m. on FOX
In just their third game of the season, the Trojans face arguably the most dominant program in women's college basketball. The South Carolina Gamecocks, led by icon Dawn Staley, have appeared in every Final Four since 2021 and won two of the last four NCAA Championships. They were No. 2 in the AP Preseason Poll.
USC, however, is no stranger to the big stage, making two straight Elite Eight appearances under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. With unanimous consensus national player of the year JuJu Watkins out for the season due to injury, the Trojans have reloaded to fill the void. They’ll rely on Kennedy Smith, their lone returning starter, alongside crosstown transfer Londynn Jones (UCLA) and ESPN's No. 1 2025 high school recruit, Jazzy Davidson.
The Gamecocks landed Ta’Niya Latson, who led Division I in points per game last season at Florida State. This early-season epic will be a massive test for preseason No. 18 USC against a perennial powerhouse.
Michigan vs. UConn – Friday, November 21 at 8 p.m. on FOX
The young and talented Michigan Wolverines get an early test against the reigning NCAA Champion and AP Preseason No. 1 UConn Huskies at the Invesco QQQ Women’s Showcase.
Preseason No. 13 Michigan returns its dynamic duo of Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, both 2025 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selections, who combined for 32.3 points per game last season. The Wolverines also brought back alumna Danielle Rauch as an assistant coach, whose experience in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be invaluable.
Meanwhile, legendary coach Geno Auriemma is exploring UConn's new identity following the departure of WNBA No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers. The Huskies still have an arsenal of talent with NCAA Tournament MVP Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong, KK Arnold, and Ashlynn Shade looking to lead the charge toward Auriemma's 25th Final Four. We'll see if Michigan's skilled returning core can take down the defending champs.
UCLA vs. Texas, South Carolina, and/or Duke – November 26-27 on TNT, truTV and HBO Max
Listed by ESPN as a top 10 title contender, UCLA enters the Players Era Women’s Championship looking to build on its first Final Four appearance. The Bruins return Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Betts, who is the program's first player to notch 600+ points, 300+ rebounds, and 100+ blocks in a single season. They were also the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the preseason poll (No. 3).
Their opponents are just as formidable. Texas returns the dynamic duo of Madison Booker and Rori Harmon, while Duke brings back an experienced group from last year's Elite Eight squad. And let’s not forget, the last time the Bruins faced South Carolina, they snapped the Gamecocks’ 43-game winning streak. Stacked with the nation's best teams, this tournament will be one to watch.
UCLA vs. Tennessee – Sunday, November 30 at 4:30 p.m. on FS1
UCLA will face a Tennessee squad on a mission to return to its former glory. The Bruins feature Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, and Gabriela Jaquez, who were clutch during last season's tournament run, and they added sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens from Utah.
The Vols, who won three straight NCAA titles from 1996-1998, have made three of the last four Sweet 16s and could shape up to be a legitimate national contender this season. Head coach Kim Caldwell worked the transfer portal, adding former Bruin Janiah Barker, Nya Robertson, and Jersey Wolfenbarger to complement strong returners and the nation's second-ranked recruiting class. This likely-ranked matchup could be an early benchmark of what these teams can expect on the national stage.
Washington at USC – Sunday, December 7 at 8 p.m. on BTN
Don't sleep on Washington this season. The Huskies could be one of the best teams in the conference, and this game will be their first big chance to prove it. Head coach Tina Langley returns both starting guards, Sayvia Sellers and Elle Ladine, who averaged a combined 32.3 points per game last year.
Adding a little lore to the matchup, sophomore sharpshooter Avery Howell returns to Los Angeles for the first time since transferring from USC to Washington. She’s lethal from three-point range (43.5% from beyond the arc in Big Ten play), so it'll be interesting to see how her former team tries to contain her. Will the dark-horse Huskies pull off an upset against the reigning Big Ten Champions?
Iowa at Iowa State – Wednesday, December 10 at 7 p.m. on ESPN
Few events stir up Iowans like the Cy-Hawk rivalry, especially in women's basketball in the post-Caitlin Clark era. This year's clash could feature two ranked teams.
The Hawkeyes (preseason No. 21) have dominated the series recently, winning three straight and eight of the last nine meetings. Iowa senior Hannah Stuelke, an All-Big Ten Second Team selection and one of the key players from the Hawkeyes' Final Four runs, returns fresh off a gold medal win with Team USA at the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. After falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, the Hawkeyes are hungry for another deep run. We'll see how they stack up against the Cyclones come December.
UCLA vs. USC Rivalry Series
- USC at UCLA – Saturday, January 3 at 8 p.m. on Peacock
- UCLA at USC – Sunday, March 1 at 6 p.m. on FS1
This time, it's not just the Battle of LA. It's a rematch of last year's conference tournament championship game when UCLA defeated USC to claim its first Big Ten Tournament title and a program-first 30-win season.
However, USC won the regular season crown. The Trojans defeated the Bruins twice en route to their first Big Ten Championship, including once behind a massive 38-point performance from JuJu Watkins. UCLA holds the historical edge, but the Trojans have won four of the last five meetings. With USC’s strong newcomers and UCLA building off a big season, both teams will be hungry to prove themselves.
Maryland at UCLA – Sunday, January 18 at 4 p.m. on NBC
Reloaded with transfers, preseason No. 10 Maryland could give the defending Big Ten Tournament Champion Bruins a serious run for their money. Maryland leads the all-time series 5-4, and this will be their first meeting in Los Angeles since 2007.
Maryland head coach Brenda Frese brings in Yarden Garzon (Indiana) and Oluchi Okananwa (Duke) to join veterans Kaylene Smikle, Saylor Poffenbarger, and Bri McDaniel for the 2025-26 campaign. That’s a combined 62.1 points per game from last season. The Terps are strong Big Ten title contenders, but they’ll have a tall task of avenging last season’s 82-67 loss to UCLA at home.
Ohio State vs. TCU – Monday, January 19 at 12 p.m. on FOX
One of the final nonconference games of the regular season could be a ranked battle at the Coretta Scott King Classic. Ohio State, who finished third in the conference last season, returns star guard Jaloni Cambridge and picked up Boston College transfer T’yana Todd, who shot an impressive 45.9% from three.
TCU, however, acquired former Notre Dame star and three-time All-American Olivia Miles, who was projected to be the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA Draft before transferring. This matchup could have implications for NCAA Tournament seeding as the Buckeyes seek their fifth-straight appearance.
Michigan vs. Michigan State Rivalry Series
- Michigan at Michigan State – Sunday, February 1 at 12 p.m. on FS1
- Michigan State at Michigan – Sunday, February 15 at 4 p.m. on FS1
This in-state rivalry is always intense, and both teams enter 2025-26 ranked in the preseason polls. No. 13 Michigan returns its trio of young stars, while No. 23 Michigan State has added key transfers Jalyn Brown (Arizona State) and Rashunda Jones (Purdue) to its veteran core of Theryn Hallock and Grace VanSlooten.
Last season, the Spartans and Wolverines finished with the same conference record and split their regular-season meetings. (About as even as it gets)! With both squads boasting deep and talented rosters, these should be tight contests.
The Road to Glory
From high-stakes rivalries to clashes between national title contenders, the 2025-26 Big Ten Women's Basketball schedule is packed with can't-miss action. As new stars emerge and old rivalries heat up, we'll see who comes out on top – in the conference and on the national stage.