The season tips off for several Division I women's team on November 3. The opening few games are a great opportunity for teams to get things right before going into conference play. Teams will have an opportunity to showcase what they are capable of while also finding areas of improvement. There are a number of great games to look out for, and we breakdown five games that you should tune into.
#7 Duke Blue Devils vs. #16 Baylor Bears
Time: 11:00 AM CT
Channel: ESPN
*Game being played in Paris*
The best game of the day is without a doubt a top 15 matchup between Duke and Baylor in Paris. The Blue Devils have a lot of hype going into the season with their top scorer in Toby Fournier returning and getting one of the top players in the Class of 2025 in Emilee Skinner. The Bears return one of their top players from last season in Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who averaged a double-double with 13.8 ppg and 10.0 rpg. Both of these teams have the potential to make deep runs in the NCAA tournament, and them facing off game one makes this the top game of the day.
Grand Canyon Antelope @ #2 South Carolina Gamecocks
Time: 6:00 PM CT
Channel: SEC Network
The Gamecocks have another incredible team this season, with one of their top scorers from last year returning in Joyce Edwards, while also getting a very talented transfer from Florida State in Ta'Niya Latson. With the great overall talent that the Gamecocks bring, they are a favorite again to win it all. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon was an NCAA Tournament team last year, and while a good percentage of their team is gone, they bring in a new head coach in Winston Gandy, who last season was an assistant coach under Dawn Staley at South Carolina. The two former coaches meet in a great opening round contest.
San Diego State Aztecs @ #3 UCLA Bruins
Time: 9:00 PM CT
Channel: Big Ten Network+
The Bruins are going to be back with a vengeance this season after nearly taking down UConn in the Final Four last season. They are returning a good percentage of their production from that team last year, including a first-team preseason All-American in Lauren Betts. This is once again going to be a really solid UCLA team. Meanwhile, the Aztecs were the surprise team in the Mountain West last season, winning their conference as a four seed and going to the big dance. They return one of their top players in Naomi Panganiban, who averaged just above 10 ppg and shot 35.5% from behind the arc as a freshman. This is a solid matchup between teams that both made the tournament last year.
California Bears @ #19 Vanderbilt Commodores
Time: 1:30 PM CT
Channel: ESPNU
Oftentimes, it will take freshman players a little bit of time to adjust to the college game. That was not the case for Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes. The guard was named the Tamika Catchings Freshman of the Year, while also be named a second-team All-American, scoring 23.3 ppg. She is a must-watch basketball player coming into this season. On the flip side, Cal was an NCAA tournament team last season, but lost a lot of their production from that team. However, Lulu Twidale is a great guard for this team, as she averaged 13.2 ppg last season as a sophomore. With two talented guards going at it in this game, this is going to be a fun game to watch for fans and the media alike.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits @ Creighton Blue Jays
Time: 6:00 PM CT
Channel: ESPN+
Last season, the Jackrabbits went undefeated in conference play, en route to a 30-4 season. That team brings back their star player in forward Brooklyn Meyer, who averaged 17.1 points per game and shot 62.7% from the field. The Jackrabbits will look to repeat with her again. On the flip side, the Bluejays were one of the top teams in the Big East last season, but lost their top three scorers from last season. A team filled with newcomers, the Bluejays will look to continue the success that their predecessors had. This is a solid game between two teams that made the tournament last season.