As the leaves change colors and a chill fills the air, the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season is set to ignite with a sizzling slate of nonconference games. The nation’s elite aren’t waiting until March to test their mettle. They’re seeking out the stiffest competition from day one in matchups that will have fans salivating and could provide an early preview of the battles to come at the Final Four in Dallas.
November Blockbusters Set the Tone
The festivities begin on November 4th in the City of Lights as Louisville faces UCLA in a clash of top-20 teams. The Cardinals are reloading with eight freshmen, while the Bruins boast a veteran squad with championship aspirations. Six days later, defending champion South Carolina takes on NC State in Charlotte, a rematch of their 2023 Final Four tilt. The Gamecocks prevailed in that contest but will be without key size after the departures of Kamilla Cardoso and potentially the suspended Ashlyn Watkins.
Later in the month, Notre Dame travels to USC for a duel between dynamic sophomore guards Hannah Hidalgo and JuJu Watkins. The Irish then welcome South Carolina, who follow up that heavyweight bout by venturing to UCLA. The Gamecocks don’t shy away from true road tests, which will serve them well come tournament time.
December Delivers Holiday Treats for Hoops Fans
While the rest of us are shopping for gifts, the ACC/SEC Challenge delivers two presents in one night on December 5th. First, Texas and their star Madison Booker visit Notre Dame, in an individual battle with Hidalgo that could have player of the year implications. Then, Duke heads to South Carolina in a temperature-check game for the rapidly rising Blue Devils.
A new event, the Women’s Champions Classic, brings together Iowa and Tennessee in Brooklyn on December 7th. While their legendary coaches are gone, this matchup of name-brand programs with new leaders at the helm intrigues. Fast forward five days and we get the latest edition of the UConn-Notre Dame rivalry, perennially one of the sport’s best.
The hits keep coming as December rolls on. UConn hosts Iowa State in a battle of top-10 teams that promises offensive fireworks on December 17th. The Huskies then welcome USC and Watkins to Hartford for another potential player of the year duel, this time with Paige Bueckers. Their Elite Eight epic last March only whetted our appetite for the rematch.
February Brings a Late-Season Blockbuster
Just when you thought the nonconference slate couldn’t get any juicier, UConn visits South Carolina in a rare late-season treat on February 16th. It’s a Final Four rematch, a clash of No. 1 and No. 2, and likely a decisive head-to-head assessment for NCAA tournament top seeds. Bueckers and Watkins may be the headliners, but the Gamecocks’ elite backcourt led by Te-Hina Paopao aims to make it 5 out of 6 against the Huskies.
From coast to coast and the first jump ball to the final buzzer, the 2024-25 women’s college basketball nonconference slate packs must-see matchups with potential March Madness implications. The sport’s brightest stars and premier programs are putting it on the line in November, December, and beyond. Will these early tests build their strength of schedule come Selection Sunday or leave them with resume blemishes they can’t overcome? One thing’s for sure: we’ll be watching.
