Feast Week Showdowns: Can UCLA and Duke Upset Powerhouses in a Festival Full of Surprises?

Feast Week isn’t just about piling your plate high this Thanksgiving Thursday—no, it’s also the signal flare for a dazzling showcase of women’s college basketball brilliance. As top teams jet off to sunnier courts for high-stakes tournaments, we get our first real glimpse at which squads have what it takes before the grind of conference play kicks in. Honestly, if you’re anything like me, the thought of a whole week loaded with non-stop hoops action while you power through turkey and pie is pure bliss. So, buckle up—because I’m about to walk you through the must-watch matchups that’ll keep your eyes glued to the screen as you digest all those holiday calories. LEARN MORE

It’s officially Feast Week, and we’re not just talking about the big meal for Thanksgiving on Thursday. This week is also about the fantastic women’s college basketball on tap as the country’s best teams head to warmer locales for tournaments. It’s also a time when we find out which teams are for real as conference schedules approach.

This week, you can watch basketball all day long, and we’re on board if that’s what you want to do. Here’s a rundown of the games you don’t want to miss while you’re digesting the turkey, stuffing and pie.

Wednesday, Nov. 26

Maryland vs. Kentucky in Puerto Rico

The marquee matchup of the San Juan Shootout will feature these two ranked teams. Maryland has started its season mostly facing other mid-Atlantic teams that don’t have quite the same level of success as the Terrapins. Those warm-up games should help them against Kentucky, which beat in-state rival Louisville 72-62 on Saturday before heading south. Maryland’s freshman Addi Mack has turned heads, but she will have a tough matchup against Kentucky’s Tonie Morgan.

UCLA vs. Texas; Duke vs. South Carolina in Las Vegas

The Players Era Championship has only four teams, but those four are powerhouses. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina made it to the Final Four last season, while Duke made it to the Elite Eight.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 30: Bree Hall #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 30, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) — South Carolina beat Duke 54-50 in the Elite Eight of last year’s NCAA tournament. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

(Sarah Stier via Getty Images)

When UCLA and Texas have matched up in the past decade, the games have almost always been in the NCAA tournament. Getting to see them play in November is a treat, and fans of post play should be particularly excited. UCLA’s Lauren Betts has the height advantage over Madison Booker. If Betts can stop Booker in the paint, can players like Aaliyah Crump and Jordan Lee find ways to score? For UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens has made an immediate impact as a transfer from Utah, and she has another chance to show off her skills against the Texas defense.

Duke-South Carolina is a rematch of an Elite Eight battle from the 2025 NCAA tournament. While Duke has faltered early this season, there’s still plenty of reason to believe in Kara Lawson and the Blue Devils. South Carolina’s roster is markedly different from the team that beat Duke in the tournament, but they’re still incredibly talented. So far this season, South Carolina has beaten USC and has broken 100 points twice. The game won’t be easy for Duke, but it’s also the exact kind of test that could help set the Blue Devils on the winning path.

Thursday, Nov. 27

Richmond vs. TCU

Richmond was ranked early in the season but fell out after a tough showing against Texas on Nov. 7. Now, Richmond gets another shot at a ranked team in playing the Horned Frogs in Cancun. The two players to watch in this game are Maggie Doogan, who is averaging 24.4 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Spiders, and transfer Olivia Miles, who has 17.5 points and 7.8 assists per game for TCU.

Players Era finals

The winner of UCLA vs. Texas and Duke vs. South Carolina will face off, as will the losers in the third-place game. Regardless of the final matchups, there is a very good chance that both games will provide a glimpse at the future of the 2025-26 season. Personally, I’m hoping for a Texas-South Carolina matchup, whether it’s for the championship or third place. It would be a thrilling rematch of last season’s national semifinal and SEC championship games.

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Friday, Nov. 28

Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss

Black Friday is a full day of basketball, starting at 11 a.m. ET. The Badgers vs. the Rebels, playing in Daytona Beach, Florida, sticks out because of how well Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s Ole Miss team has been playing this season. Keep an eye out for their leading scorer, Cotie McMahon, who transferred from Ohio State this year and is averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Sunday, Nov. 30

Tennessee vs. UCLA

By Sunday you may be getting back to regular life, and the leftovers may be gone. But there’s still a little bit more basketball to enjoy. Just a few days after the Players Era Championship, UCLA will host Talaysia Cooper and the Tennessee Lady Vols. UCLA has put together an incredibly difficult non-conference schedule, and Feast Week will show if it is ready for the equally tough Big Ten schedule.