ESPN to Deliver Extensive Coverage of NCAA Women’s Basketball for the 2017-18 Season
- Coverage includes More Than 1,200 Games Across TV and Digital Platforms
- Key Matchups to Also Air on Thursdays This Season
- ESPN is the Exclusive Home of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship
ESPN’s women’s college basketball slate for the 2017-2018 regular season includes 140 matchups across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Longhorn Network and SEC Network. Additional coverage on ESPN3, SEC Network + and ACC Network Extra provides more than 1,200 live games throughout the season, streaming live on the ESPN App.
Two of last year’s Women’s Final Four teams – Stanford and UConn – tip off ESPN’s season coverage on Sunday, Nov. 12 (1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), followed by another potential top-10 matchup between Louisville and Ohio State (4 p.m., ESPNU). The Sunday doubleheader will be played in Columbus, Ohio, the site of the 2018 women’s national championship. Nearly every team on Charlie Creme’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 will be featured on ESPN networks this season.
Highlights
- ESPN – coverage on ESPN will showcase nine teams in seven matchups, beginning with the tip off to the regular season when Stanford faces UConn (1:30 p.m.). The Jimmy V Women’s Classic will also be televised on ESPN (Dec. 4) featuring Notre Dame vs. UConn
- ESPN2 – serves as the home for Big Monday matchups; will air a total of 35 games during the regular season
- ESPNU – the college network will air a total of 23 matchups
- SEC Network – more than 60 matchups featuring key in-conference games, the Big 12/SEC Challenge and early rounds of the SEC Tournament
- Longhorn Network – the 24-hour network devoted to The University of Texas will televise one exhibition game (vs. Oklahoma City University) and 11 home games, including eight Big 12 conference matchups
Franchise Programming
- Holiday Hoops presented by Zales – including Ohio State at Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 17 (4 p.m., ESPN2)
- Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank – the six-week series, in its 12th season, with feature a top matchup nearly every week on ESPN2 beginning Jan. 15, with UConn traveling to face Texas. The Big Monday slate will include a rematch of the 2017 national championship game – South Carolina visiting Mississippi State (Feb. 5), and a tripleheader on Feb. 19, as part of Play4Kay, with Florida State at Duke (6 p.m.), Baylor at Texas (8 p.m.) and UCLA at Oregon (10 p.m.)
- Thursday Primetime on ESPN– this season’s schedule will also include a number of primetime games on ESPN, including Notre Dame at Louisville (Jan. 11), Tennessee at Notre Dame (Jan. 18), Texas at Baylor (Jan. 25) and UConn at South Carolina (Feb. 1)
Events
- Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona and hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame – the annual event, in its 16th year, will feature Notre Dame vs. UConn at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. The matchup will be a faceoff between two Hall of Fame coaches – Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw – in a storied rivalry of two top women’s basketball programs. In last season’s matchup between the two teams, the Huskies defeated the Fighting Irish 72-61
- We Back Pat – ESPN will once again support the SEC’s “We Back Pat” initiative honoring the late Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt will include several matchups across ESPN2 and SEC Network on Sunday, Jan. 21. The day-long programming tips off with reigning national champion South Carolina taking on Kentucky (noon, ESPNU), and continues with UConn at Temple (1 p.m., ESPN2), Tulsa at Tulane (2 p.m., ESPNU), Mississippi State at Tennessee (3 p.m., ESPN2) and Florida State at Louisville (5 p.m., ESPN2)
- Play4Kay – ESPN’s 12th annual Play 4Kay – highlighting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the V Foundation and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) – will air a number of games across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU on Sunday, Feb. 18 and Monday, Feb. 19
- Big 12/SEC Challenge – this year’s Challenge will feature four games on SEC Network (Nov. 30, Dec. 2, Dec. 3) and one matchup on ESPNU (Dec. 3). Matchups include Kansas State at Missouri, Iowa State at Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State at Mississippi State, Texas at Georgia and West Virginia at Texas A&M
Top 16 Seeds Reveal
ESPN will once again reveal the NCAA Top 16 Seeds, determined by the NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship sport committee, during marquee games on Mondays and Thursdays. The first of three reveals will take place on Thursday, Jan. 18, during halftime of Tennessee at Notre Dame (7 p.m., ESPN). The second reveal will occur on Thursday, Feb. 1, with the final taking place during Big Monday/Play4Kay on Monday, Feb. 19. The entire 64-team field for the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship will be announced during the Selection Special on Monday, March 12.
ESPN: Home of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Capital One
ESPN’s commitment to women’s basketball continues for the 31st year with coverage of the entire NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship from start to finish. Beginning Friday, March 16, every round of the championship will be carried on ESPN or ESPN2. The Women’s Final Four will be live from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, March 30 and Sunday, April 1. Details and a complete schedule will be available at a later date.
espnW
- A comprehensive season preview November 6-10 will include preseason rankings of the top 25 teams and players in the country, as well as preseason All-Americans and the espnW preseason player of the year
- Mechelle Voepel, Graham Hays and Charlie Creme will write in-depth profiles of the nation’s top teams and players, and offer live coverage and analysis, throughout the season
- Beginning with a preseason Bracketology, Creme will update his 64-team projection throughout the season
- For the sixth consecutive season, espnW will name a national player of the week every Monday
ESPN the Magazine
A host of college basketball preview topics in the QB Crossroads issue — available on newsstands beginning Friday, Nov. 3 — including:
- Men’s and Women’s Top 25 Power Rankings
- UConn is untethered from its 111-game win streak, and power duo Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier look to lead the Huskies into a new era.
The regular-season will culminate with ESPN’s Champ Week presented by Principal Financial Group, providing conference tournament coverage Feb. 28 – March 11.
All games aired on an ESPN network will also be available through the ESPN App, computers, smartphones, tablets and streaming devices to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.
2017-2018 Women’s College Basketball Regular Season Schedule (subject to change)
Note: All ESPN3, SEC Network + and ACC Network Extra games will be announced weekly once the season begins
Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
Sun, Nov. 5 | 2 p.m. | Oklahoma City University at Texas (exhibition) | Longhorn Network |
Sun, Nov. 12 | 1:30 p.m. | Stanford vs. UConn | ESPN |
2 p.m. | Stetson at Texas | Longhorn Network | |
4 p.m. | Louisville vs. Ohio State | ESPNU | |
Mon, Nov. 13 | 7 p.m. | South Carolina at Maryland | ESPN2 |
Wed, Nov. 15 | Noon | McNeese State at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Fri, Nov. 17 | 8 p.m. | UTSA at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Sun, Nov. 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Maryland at UConn | ESPN |
Tue, Nov. 21 | 10:30 p.m. | UConn at UCLA | ESPNU |
Wed, Nov. 29 | 8 p.m. | Middle Tennessee at Ole Miss | SEC Network |
Thu, Nov. 30 | 7 p.m. | Ohio State at Duke | ESPN2 |
8 p.m. | Louisiana Tech at Texas | Longhorn Network | |
9 p.m. | Big 12/SEC Challenge Kansas State at Missouri |
SEC Network | |
Sat, Dec. 2 | 4 p.m. | Big 12/SEC Challenge Iowa State at Vanderbilt |
SEC Network |
Sun, Dec. 3 | Noon | Duke at South Carolina | SEC Network |
2 p.m. | Big 12/SEC Challenge Oklahoma State at Mississippi State |
SEC Network | |
4 p.m. | Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona and hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame Notre Dame vs. UConn |
ESPN | |
Big 12/SEC Challenge Texas at Georgia |
SEC Network | ||
8 p.m. | Big 12/SEC Challenge West Virginia at Texas A&M |
ESPNU | |
Wed, Dec. 6 | Noon | TCU at Texas A&M | SEC Network |
Sun, Dec. 10 | 1 p.m. | Marshall at Florida | SEC Network |
3 p.m. | Texas at Tennessee | ESPN2 | |
Wed, Dec. 13 | 7 p.m. | Oregon at Mississippi State | SEC Network |
8 p.m. | Northwestern State at Texas | Longhorn Network | |
Sun, Dec. 17 | 1 p.m. | Georgia Tech at Georgia | SEC Network |
3 p.m. | Louisville at Kentucky | SEC Network | |
4 p.m. | Holiday Hoops presented by Zales Ohio State at Cincinnati |
ESPN2 | |
Thu, Dec. 21 | 12 p.m. | California at Kentucky | SEC Network |
Sun, Dec. 31 | Noon | Tulane at USF | ESPNU |
Tennessee at Kentucky | SEC Network | ||
2 p.m. | Indiana at Ohio State | ESPN2 | |
Texas Tech at Baylor | ESPNU | ||
Texas A&M at South Carolina | SEC Network | ||
4 p.m. | Florida at Auburn | ESPN2 | |
Vanderbilt at LSU | SEC Network | ||
6 p.m. | Mississippi State at Georgia | SEC Network | |
Wed, Jan 3 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma State at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Thu, Jan 4 | 7 p.m. | Kentucky at Texas A&M | SEC Network |
9 p.m. | Arkansas at Mississippi State | SEC Network | |
Sun, Jan 7 | Noon | Ohio State at Michigan | ESPN2 |
SMU at Temple | ESPNU | ||
Vanderbilt at Tennessee | SEC Network | ||
2 p.m. | South Carolina at Missouri | ESPN2 | |
Texas at Kansas State | ESPNU | ||
Mississippi State at LSU | SEC Network | ||
4 p.m. | Stanford at Arizona State | ESPN2 | |
Alabama at Arkansas | SEC Network | ||
Thu, Jan 11 | 10 a.m. | Marist at Quinnipiac | ESPNU |
7 p.m. | Thursday Primetime Notre Dame at Louisville |
ESPN | |
Tennessee at Texas A&M | SEC Network | ||
9 p.m. | Ole Miss at Mississippi State | SEC Network | |
Sat, Jan 13 | 2 p.m. | Kansas at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Sun, Jan 14 | Noon | UCF at USF | ESPNU |
1 p.m. | Tennessee at South Carolina | ESPN2 | |
LSU at Florida | SEC Network | ||
2 p.m. | Saint Louis at Dayton | ESPNU | |
3 p.m. | Virginia at Duke | ESPN2 | |
Georgia at Texas A&M | SEC Network | ||
4 p.m. | Alabama at Mississippi State | ESPNU | |
5 p.m. | Arkansas at Auburn | SEC Network | |
Mon, Jan 15 | 7 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank UConn at Texas |
ESPN2 |
Kentucky at Vanderbilt | SEC Network | ||
Thu, Jan 18 | 7 p.m. | Thursday Primetime Tennessee at Notre Dame |
ESPN |
Florida at Arkansas | SEC Network | ||
9 p.m. | Missouri at Ole Miss | SEC Network | |
Sun, Jan 21 | Noon | We Back Pat South Carolina at Kentucky |
ESPNU |
1 p.m. | We Back Pat UConn at Temple |
ESPN2 | |
We Back Pat Ole Miss at Florida |
SEC Network | ||
2 p.m. | We Back Pat Tulsa at Tulane |
ESPNU | |
3 p.m. | We Back Pat Mississippi State at Tennessee |
ESPN2 | |
We Back Pat Auburn at Georgia |
SEC Network | ||
5 p.m. | We Back Pat Florida State at Louisville |
ESPN2 | |
We Back Pat Arkansas at Missouri |
SEC Network | ||
Mon, Jan 22 | 7 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank Ohio State at Maryland |
ESPN2 |
LSU at Texas A&M | SEC Network | ||
Thu, Jan 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Arkansas at South Carolina | SEC Network |
7 p.m. | Thursday Primetime Texas at Baylor |
ESPN | |
8:30 p.m. | Florida at Mississippi State | SEC Network | |
Sat, Jan 27 | Noon | Michigan State at Ohio State | ESPNU |
8 p.m. | Iowa State at Texas | Longhorn Network | |
Sun, Jan 28 | Noon | Temple at USF | ESPNU |
1 p.m. | Tennessee at LSU | SEC Network | |
2 p.m. | Mississippi State at Ole Miss | ESPNU | |
3 p.m. | Texas A&M at Vanderbilt | SEC Network | |
4 p.m. | Notre Dame at Florida State | ESPN2 | |
5 p.m. | Alabama at Auburn | SEC Network | |
6 p.m. | Missouri at South Carolina | ESPN2 | |
Mon, Jan 29 | 7 p.m. | Kentucky at Arkansas | SEC Network |
Thu, Feb 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Texas A&M at Tennessee | SEC Network |
7 p.m. | Thursday Primetime UConn at South Carolina |
ESPN | |
8:30 p.m. | Mississippi State at Missouri | SEC Network | |
Sat, Feb 3 | Noon | TCU at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Sun, Feb 4 | Noon | LSU at Kentucky | SEC Network |
1 p.m. | Notre Dame at Duke | ESPN2 | |
2 p.m. | Tennessee at Vanderbilt | ESPNU | |
Arkansas at Alabama | SEC Network | ||
3 p.m. | Stanford at Oregon | ESPN2 | |
4 p.m. | Auburn at Texas A&M | SEC Network | |
Mon, Feb 5 | 7 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank South Carolina at Mississippi State |
ESPN2 |
Florida at Missouri | SEC Network | ||
Thu, Feb 8 | 7 p.m. | South Carolina at Alabama | SEC Network |
9 p.m. | Kentucky at Missouri | SEC Network | |
Sat, Feb 10 | 8 p.m. | Kansas State at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Sun, Feb 11 | Noon | Michigan at Michigan State | ESPN2 |
Dayton at George Washington | ESPNU | ||
1 p.m. | Florida at South Carolina | SEC Network | |
2 p.m. | Ohio State at USF | ESPN2 | |
Kentucky at Mississippi State | ESPNU | ||
3 p.m. | Georgia at Tennessee | SEC Network | |
4 p.m. | Florida State at Miami | ESPN2 | |
5 p.m. | Missouri at Arkansas | SEC Network | |
Mon, Feb 12 | 7 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank Louisville at UConn |
ESPN2 |
Vanderbilt at Auburn | SEC Network | ||
Wed, Feb 14 | 8 p.m. | Texas Tech at Texas | Longhorn Network |
Thu, Feb 15 | 5 p.m. | SIUE at UT Martin | ESPNU |
6:30 p.m. | Alabama at Tennessee | SEC Network | |
8:30 p.m. | Mississippi State at Vanderbilt | SEC Network | |
Play4Kay on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU (Feb. 18-19) | |||
Sun, Feb 18 | Noon | Wake Forest at NC State | ESPNU |
1 p.m. | Purdue at Ohio State | ESPN2 | |
Vanderbilt at Florida | SEC Network | ||
2 p.m. | Texas A&M at Mississippi State or Tennessee at Missouri | ESPNU | |
3 p.m. | Tulane at Memphis | ESPN2 | |
Kentucky at South Carolina | SEC Network | ||
5 p.m. | Tennessee at Missouri or Texas A&M at Mississippi State | ESPN2 | |
Auburn at Alabama | SEC Network | ||
Mon, Feb 19 | 6 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank Florida State at Duke |
ESPN2 |
7 p.m. | Georgia at Ole Miss | SEC Network | |
8 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank Baylor at Texas |
ESPN2 | |
10 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank UCLA at Oregon |
ESPN2 | |
Thu, Feb 22 | 6:30 p.m. | LSU at South Carolina | SEC Network |
8:30 p.m. | Kentucky at Ole Miss | SEC Network | |
Sun, Feb 25 | Noon | Ohio State at Penn State | ESPN2 |
Mississippi State at Kentucky or South Carolina at Tennessee | ESPNU | ||
Florida at Georgia | SEC Network | ||
2 p.m. | NC State at Notre Dame | ESPN2 | |
Ole Miss at Auburn | SEC Network | ||
4 p.m. | South Carolina at Tennessee or Mississippi State at Kentucky | ESPN2 | |
Missouri at Texas A&M | SEC Network | ||
Mon, Feb 26 | 7 p.m. | Big Monday presented by Jos. A. Bank USF at UConn |
ESPN2 |
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