The 2023-24 women’s college basketball season is just around the corner. The season begins on Nov. 6, headlined by a matchup overseas in Paris, France between two powerhouse big-brand programs in Notre Dame and South Carolina.
That meeting between the Gamecocks and Irish will of course be a must-watch clash, but there are several other notable non-conference games in November and December that are worth keeping an eye on. Contests like the rematch between LSU and Virginia Tech should help fans put expectations in perspective and give folks a better idea of who the contenders and pretenders are going to be this season.
Aside from the two games mentioned above, here are five other must-watch non-conference games:
1
Iowa vs. Virginia Tech (in Charlotte, N.C.)
Nov. 9 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN2
This battle between two teams that were in the Final Four last spring is going to be a must-watch event from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Especially at point guard, where reigning National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark will square up with Georgia Amoore, last season’s MVP of the ACC Tournament and the Most Outstanding Player at the Seattle 3 regional. Last season, Clark and Amoore were the only two players in all of Division I women’s college basketball to average at least 16 points, 4.5 assists and three 3-pointers made per game, according to HerHoopStats. Oh, and two-time ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley is back for Virginia Tech too, which could create problems for an Iowa team without Monika Czinano.
2
North Carolina at UConn
Dec. 10 | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN
This game is going to be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville as part of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase, but we don’t need to pretend that this is going to be a true neutral court. Regardless, what we’ll get here is a true test for both teams in early December, and a game that features interesting matchups at every position, from Deja Kelly versus Paige Bueckers at the point, to Aaliyah Edwards versus Maria Gakdeng in the paint. This game should tell us how good a fully healthy UConn is, and how effective a new-look UNC can be.
3
Indiana at Stanford
Nov. 12 | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN
This game will feature two All-American post players facing off with Stanford’s Cameron Brink going toe-to-toe with Indiana’s Mackenzine Holmes. Both of these teams come into the seasons with big expectations – especially after both were upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season – and both Brink and Holmes figure to have more responsibilities after some key players around them moved on.
4
Utah vs. South Carolina (in Connecticut)
Dec. 10 | 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Utah returns all five starters, while South Carolina returns none. This is a chance for Utah to prove that its group of returners can hang with some of the best brands in women’s basketball, and a chance for the rebuilt Gamecocks to show that while the faces have changed, the goal remains the same under the direction of Dawn Staley. The matchup to watch is reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Alissa Pili against the 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso.
5
Ohio State at Tennessee
Dec. 3 | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN
Ohio State seems to have a great defense on paper, especially with the addition of Duke transfer Celeste Taylor, but it’s unclear how the Buckeyes will handle the legitimate size that Tennessee has in 6-foot-6 Tamari Key, 6-foot-5 Jillian Hollingshead and 6-foot-2 Rickea Jackson. This could be a real clash of styles. And we’ll get to see former ACC foes Taylor and Jewel Spear – who joins the Vols after three seasons at Wake Forest – go head-to-head.
