Women's college basketball is gearing up to showcase an extraordinary Thanksgiving week tournament in the coming year. This event is set to bring together some of the sport's most prominent teams and create a buzz like never before.

Unlock the Excitement of Women's College Basketball's Big Tournament

Introduction to the Tournament

According to a recent report by Talia Goodman of On3, Players Era, the operator of the highly successful Players Era Festival men's basketball tournament that debuted during Thanksgiving week last month, is expanding its reach to include a women's tournament next year. The tournament will be a significant event, featuring four of the sport's highest profile teams - South Carolina, UCLA, Duke, and Texas. It will take place in the vibrant city of Las Vegas and utilize a round-robin format, ensuring that every team gets a chance to compete against each other. The champion will be determined based on the head-to-head record at the end of the event, with tiebreakers like point differential and points scored coming into play in case of a tie.

NIL Incentives and Funding

One of the notable aspects of the Players Era Women's Championship is the inclusion of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) incentives similar to the men's tournament. In 2024, the Players Era Festival allocated a substantial $9 million in NIL activities to the players involved. Each women's program will receive $1 million in NIL funds for participating in 2025. This not only provides an opportunity for the players to benefit from their fame but also adds an extra layer of excitement to the tournament.

Viewership and Impact

The 2023-24 women's college basketball season has already shattered viewership records, with the national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa attracting a massive audience that even outdid the men's final on the following day. Although viewership might not be as high this year with the emergence of phenom Caitlin Clark in the WNBA, the audiences have still remained relatively strong throughout the season. Given the teams involved in this upcoming tournament, it is certain to become a major event on the women's college basketball calendar, attracting fans from all over and raising the profile of the sport even further.