Big non-conference schedule news for the UNC women's basketball program dropping on a Monday?!
We love to hear it!
Scheduling news: UNC, UCLA, USF and Fairfield will play in a Las Vegas event in November, to be aired on ESPN platforms. #ncaaW https://t.co/TuEgEuqgYa
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) June 9, 2025
Mitchell Northam of SB Nation revealed that four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament a season ago will meet up in mid-November at a two-day event in Las Vegas, Nevada. North Carolina will be joined by the likes of Fairfield, South Florida and UCLA among the field of teams competing in the event.
This event won't be a tradition tournament in terms of formatting. Each team will play two games against predetermined opponents at the home court of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.
The UNC women's basketball program will face off against UCLA and Fairfield, providing quite the early-season test for Courtney Banghart's squad.
Coming off a trip to the Final Four a season ago, UCLA is poised to once again be one of the top teams in the country. With Lauren Betts returning for another season, plus a steady wealth of talent around her, North Carolina will be battle-tested for sure early on during the 2025-2026 campaign.
Fairfield isn't a team to overlook by any means, serving as one of the top mid-major programs in the country. The Stags put together an impressive 28-5 season a year ago, nearly going unbeaten in conference play.
The UNC women's basketball program will have a bit of a different look from a season ago, but the expectations are still going to be sky-high for Banghart's team. These early season clashes will tell us something about this squad right out of the gate, providing the Tar Heels with some potential NCAA Tournament resume boosting games.
If you want to be the best, you got to play the best, as the UNC women's basketball program isn't shying away from playing some of the big dogs of women's basketball during non-conference play.