Geno Auriemma's Postgame Tantrum and Why Sarah Strong Hasn't Forgotten a Single Second of It

Alright Emerald City, listen up! We're barely into summer, the transfer portal madness is finally quiet, and coaching carousels have spun to a stop. But hold onto your hats, because the women's college basketball world is already cooking, dropping some absolutely WILD non-conference schedules for the 2026-27 season. Forget waiting, folks. The hype is REAL, and some of these matchups are gonna be must-watch TV from the jump, including a rematch that's got some serious bad blood from last season's Final Four!

International Showdowns and Rising Stars You NEED to Know

First off, these teams are going GLOBAL. We're talking serious passport stamps. The season kicks off on November 1st in Rome, Italy, with Notre Dame facing Villanova. Can you even imagine? Hannah Hidalgo, fresh off powering Notre Dame to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019, is looking for her third consecutive ACC Player of the Year award. That would put her in elite company, with legends like Alana Beard, Alyssa Thomas, and Elizabeth Kitley. Villanova isn't messing around either, bringing back Canadian national team guard Jasmine Bascoe, who absolutely dominated the Big East in conference play last season, averaging 19.5 points per game. You know that's gonna be a battle! Then, on November 2nd, the action moves to Paris, France, for the fourth straight year. It's a doubleheader, but the North Carolina vs. Oklahoma game is gonna be the one to circle. Why? Because we get a backcourt showdown between Oklahoma's Aaliyah Chavez and North Carolina's Kate Harpring, arguably the nation's top incoming freshman. Harpring, whose dad played in the NBA, was named Naismith and Morgan Wooten High School Player of the Year and is ranked ESPN's fourth-best recruit for 2026. She's expected to be a huge contributor right away. Chav

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ez, meanwhile, is leading the Sooners into their post-Raegan Beers era, so this is a big test!

The Rematch Everyone Has Been Waiting For is Set!

Now, let's talk about the *main event* that's got everyone buzzing, but first, a few other spicy matchups. We've got Virginia vs. Davidson on November 5th, giving us an early peek at Virginia's new-look squad after their Sweet 16 run. All-ACC star Kymora Johnson is back for Virginia after flirting with the transfer portal, and new head coach Aaron Roussell returns to his old Atlantic 10 stomping grounds. Later, on November 15th, South Carolina hosts USC in Greenville, the second game of a two-game series. South Carolina won comfortably last season in LA, but this time, USC superstar JuJu Watkins is back in uniform after missing all of last season due to injury. Jazzy Davidson, who won the USBWA's Tamika Catchings Award as the nation's top freshman, is also back for USC, while Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins return to bolster South Carolina's frontcourt. But the one, the ONLY one you CANNOT miss, is UConn vs. South Carolina on November 24th in Uncasville, Connecticut. This is the first time these two powerhouses will face off since last season's Final Four, where Dawn Staley's Gamecocks ended Geno Auriemma's Huskies' perfect 38-0 run. And let's not forget, that game ended with a "regrettable tantrum" from Auriemma! You think reigning National Player of the Year Sarah Strong, a Gamecock, has forgotten that? Not a chance. UConn lost Azzi Fudd but brought in the nation's second-ranked recruit, Olivia Vukosa, so they're coming for revenge. South Carolina, after losing in the national title game, will be out to prove they're still the team to beat. Mark those calendars, Seattle! These games are more than just basketball. They're personal. And believe me, you do NOT want to miss a single second when these rivalries explode on the court this November!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.