AUSTIN, Texas — South Carolina, UCLA, Duke and Texas will play in a round-robin tournament in Las Vegas next year during Thanksgiving week.
The Players Era Women's Championship will allow the opportunity for athletes on each team to engage in at least $1 million of NIL activities with the title group and sponsors.
The event will coincide with the men’s Players Era Festival that debuted at MGM Grand Garden Arena last month. Oregon won the men's championship by topping Alabama 83-81.
"We are grateful, honored and excited to have the opportunity to participate in the Players Era Women's Championship in Las Vegas," UT head coach Vic Schaefer said. "This event will allow us to compete against the best teams in the country early in the season.
Schaefer also cited the NIL opportunities that come with the event and their positive impact.
Each of the women's teams will play the other three teams. South Carolina faced Duke and UCLA already this season and will play Texas in the conference as the Longhorns moved to the SEC this year. The overall champion will be determined by head-to-head record, followed by a series of tiebreakers that include point differential, points scored and points allowed.
“As a program striving to consistently compete at a championship level, it’s essential to measure ourselves against the best,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “We’re excited for a rematch with South Carolina and the opportunity to compete against other exceptional programs at the Player’s Era Women’s Championship. This will be the premier out of conference tournament with a national audience to boot. It is a great honor to be included in this elite event.“
The four teams are currently in the top 10 of the poll, with UCLA and South Carolina 1-2. Texas is sixth and Duke is ninth. The Bruins topped the Gamecocks in November to end the defending champions' 43-game winning streak.
“Players Era is creating the first-ever tentpole women’s college basketball MTE with an unbelievably loaded field and fascinating storylines, early season matchups that are sure to set the tone for the rest of the season,” said Players ERA CEO Seth Berger. “Our women’s championship includes the same level of guaranteed NIL opportunities for the players as the men’s championship.”
