The 2026 Players Era Women's Basketball Showcase -- which includes expected preseason top-10 squads South Carolina, USC, Texas and Duke among its participants -- will feature a seven-figure NIL pool, one of the largest in women's college sports history, the event announced Monday.
The high-profile showcase boasts six games across Saturday, Dec. 19, and Sunday, Dec. 20, all of which will be held at Mandalay Bay's Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas and air on either ESPN on ESPN2: On Day 1: Duke vs. Texas (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2), UCLA vs. South Carolina (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), Notre Dame vs. USC (11 p.m. ET, ESPN), and on Day 2, Texas vs. UCLA (5 p.m. ET, ESPN), Notre Dame vs. South Carolina (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and USC vs. Duke (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).
"In 2026, Players Era is guaranteeing women's college volleyball and basketball players mid-seven figures for available NIL activities - what we believe to be the greatest purse offered by any operator in the space," Players Era CEO Seth Berger said in a statement. "We also are bringing the best of the best -- in volleyball and basketball -- to Las Vegas and MGM Resorts venues."
All six programs appear in the top 16 of ESPN's Way-Too-Early top 25, with UCLA (the reigning national champion), South Carolina and Texas all making the last two Final Fours. The showcase also brings some of the sport's biggest names -- including USC's JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, and Texas' Madison Booker -- to Las Vegas, with UCLA vs. South Carolina also serving as a rematch of the 2026 national title game.
"We are excited to be back for the second year of the Players Era Women's Championship with an expanded field," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said in a statement. "From elite matchups on the court, to great accommodations and opportunities for our team and our fans off it, it will be great to get back to Las Vegas and a full weekend highlighting women's basketball."
Added UCLA coach Cori Close: "We're happy to be back in the Players Era Women's Championship for another year. We're excited for rematches with South Carolina and Texas, and the opportunity to play some elite competition at this exceptional event. It will be the premier non-conference tournament and have a lot of eyeballs with some great programs going head-to-head. We're honored to be back!"