Sports
Your guide to women’s college basketball Feast Week: 36 games to watch over the next 10 days
Las Vegas has already hosted some important and exciting early-season games, but nothing tops next week’s Players Era Women’s Championship, a chance for players to earn NIL money and for teams to separate themselves from the other elite squads in the country.
Four of the nation’s best — Duke, South Carolina, Texas and UCLA — meet up at Michelob ULTRA Arena, the home of the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, on Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day to compete in a Final Four-caliber event.
That’s the highlight of the holiday week tournaments and games — but far from the only intriguing action across the globe over the next 10 days. Games from Puerto Rico to Cancun and from Florida to Texas help create one of the best stretches on the basketball calendar this season.
Many of these games will have far-reaching implications into March and could be the difference between being in or out of the NCAA tournament field.
It’s a crowded sports calendar this time of year, but this is your guide to the best games and how to watch them. Come back after the final whistle to see how each game ended and for analysis on how it might impact March.
All times Eastern
Thursday
9 p.m., ESPN2, WBCA Showcase (Orlando, Florida)
A full week before Thanksgiving, the WBCA Showcase at the The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort gets the holiday hoops feast started with a Top 25 matchup. The No. 7 Bears already have a pair of good wins on their résumé, making this a bigger game for the No. 19 Hawkeyes, who are looking for their first. Both teams are 4-0; one of their perfect seasons will end Thursday.
Friday
8 p.m., Fox, Hall of Fame Showcase (Uncasville, Connecticut)
Syracuse and Utah tip off the event (5 p.m., FS2), but this is the marquee game of the two days at Mohegan Sun — and it got even bigger after Michigan’s 39-point win over Notre Dame on Saturday.
Saturday
8 p.m., ESPN+, WBCA Showcase
The Hawkeyes get two notable games in Orlando. A Hurricanes team with 12 new players gets its first true test.
Sunday
2:30 p.m., FS1, Hall of Fame Showcase
The Utes are another potential bubble team that needs a boost. Winning is not essential here, but a good performance against the No. 1 team in the country will be enough to help.
3 p.m., ESPN+, WBCA Showcase
The WBCA Showcase wraps up with this single game on Sunday. The Tigers need to string together some wins after falling to Kansas over the weekend if they want to remain in bubble contention before SEC play begins.
Monday
Belmont vs. Ohio State
11 a.m., FloHoops, Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Goombay Division (Nassau, Bahamas)
The Buckeyes weren’t able to hang with UConn on Sunday, making this game that much more important. Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge against Belmont’s deep and experienced backcourt is the matchup to watch.
4 p.m., FloHoops, Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Junkanoo Division
If the Bulls want to be in the running for an at-large bid, this is the kind of game they need to win. Minnesota has many more opportunities for résumé wins in the Big Ten, but a good showing in the Bahamas sets up the Gophers nicely.
Tuesday
Emerald Coast Classic, Bay Bracket championship game
1:30 p.m., FloHoops (Destin, Florida)
Mississippi State and Middle Tennessee will be favored to get here. Winning both games is especially important to the Bulldogs, who have gotten off to a good start but need to build up the win total with the SEC gauntlet awaiting.
Oregon vs. Saint Mary’s
2:30 p.m., FloHoops, Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic (Frisco, Texas)
The Gaels and the Ducks have gotten off to good starts against the softer parts of their schedules, so this Thanksgiving trip provides some key tests. Oregon can’t afford a stumble because December brings games against Oregon State, UCLA, Stanford and Michigan.
7 p.m., BallerTV, Hawaii North Shore Showcase (Laie, Hawaii)
Ny’Ceara Pryor, who dominated for three years at Sacred Heart, has made her way to a Power 4 school with the Aggies. She’s filling the stat sheet, leading the team in points, assists and steals.
Emerald Coast Classic, Beach Bracket championship game
7:30 p.m., FloHoops (Destin, Florida)
Virginia and Nebraska are the favorites to meet for the Beach Bracket title. A backcourt meeting of the Cavaliers’ Kymora Johnson, one of the underrated players in the country, against the Huskers’ Britt Prince is worth tuning in to see.
Wednesday
Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Goombay Division championship game
1:30 p.m., FloHoops (Nassau, Bahamas)
West Virginia will likely get the Belmont-Ohio State winner. After beating Duke with just five players in the second half last week, the Mountaineers are getting much more attention.
2 p.m., truTV, Players Era Championship (Las Vegas)
This is the event of the week — and possibly the event of the season prior to March. The Bruins have already had a difficult nonconference schedule with wins over Oklahoma and North Carolina, but nothing on their schedule matches the quality of the Longhorns.
Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Junkanoo Division championship game
4 or 6:30 p.m., FloHoops (Nassau, Bahamas)
If Alabama survives Harvard on Monday, the Crimson Tide will have a game against either South Florida or Minnesota that could have significant bubble implications in March.
Duke vs. South Carolina
4:30 p.m., truTV, Players Era Championship (Las Vegas)
As we were saying, nothing on UCLA’s schedule matches the quality of the Longhorns … unless the Bruins end up meeting the Gamecocks in the Players Era final on Thursday. Duke, meanwhile, has gotten off to a slow start and needs some redemption after losses to Baylor and West Virginia. This is that opportunity.
6:30 p.m., FloHoops, Puerto Rico Shootout (Carolina, Puerto Rico)
Easily the best game of the Puerto Rico Shootout, the Terps and Wildcats meet in the final game of Day 1. Both programs are having success on the fly after major personnel changes in the offseason. Kentucky will play Louisville right before heading south, and Maryland has already beaten Princeton, but this will be the biggest test for either team thus far.
7:30 p.m., FloHoops, Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic (Frisco, Texas)
These are two teams on the periphery of the bubble — and they’ll only stay there with a pair of wins in Texas. Auburn plays UTSA and Cal meets Grand Canyon two days earlier.
Thursday, Nov. 27
South Dakota State vs. North Carolina
11 a.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)
After the Players Era Championship, this is the next-best event of Thanksgiving week. The Jackrabbits and Tar Heels lead off a great first day. South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer is off to a great start and ranks among the national leaders in scoring. North Carolina’s success starts with defense. The winner of that matchup likely wins the game.
4 p.m. ET, FloHoops, Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)
The Wolfpack and Phoenix represent a contrast in styles. NC State wants to run. Green Bay likes to control the pace. This is a dangerous game for the Wolfpack, who can’t afford any more nonconference losses if they want a top-four seed in the NCAA tournament.
Players Era championship game
8 p.m. ET, truTV (Las Vegas)
No matter how this shakes out and what the matchup is in this game, a clear No. 2 team in the country will emerge from this first-of-its-kind women’s event.
9 p.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)
Coming off the most successful season in program history, and with All-American candidate Maggie Doogan back, the expectations are high for Richmond. Four games removed from a 29-point loss at Texas on Nov. 7, this represents a chance to check the Spiders’ progress. The pieces have come together quickly for the Horned Frogs, who should be unbeaten heading into Big 12 play with a win over the Spiders.
9 p.m., ESPN+, Paradise Jam (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Coach Scott Rueck always seems to find a way at Oregon State — and how he defends Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes will be another test. After the Beavers’ win over Illinois, they are back in the NCAA tournament hunt.
0:18
Mikayla Blakes eases in long jumper for Vandy
Mikayla Blakes eases in long jumper for Vandy
Players Era consolation game
10:30 p.m., truTV (Las Vegas)
Despite the quality of the opponents at the Players Era Championship, two losses in Las Vegas would be devastating to No. 1 seed aspirations — or possibly even No. 2 seed prospects given how many more challenges in and out of conference await the Blue Devils, Bruins, Gamecocks and Longhorns.
Friday, Nov. 28
Iowa State vs. Marquette
11 a.m., FloHoops, Coconut Hoops (Fort Myers, Florida)
The Cyclones won’t have been challenged until this trip to Florida. Marquette was dominated by Minnesota two weeks ago and should approach this game with some desperation if the NCAA tournament is part of the Golden Eagles’ future.
1:19
Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Milwaukee Panthers: Game Highlights
Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Milwaukee Panthers: Game Highlights
1 :30 p.m., FloHoops, Coconut Hoops
Allie Turner of Gonzaga and Indiana’s Shay Ciezki are two of the best small guards in the country. Ciezki is off to a fast start and is one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation.
7:30 p.m., ION, Fort Myers Classic (Fort Myers, Florida)
Neither team was on the NCAA tournament radar until a combined 9-0 start to the season. This could be the game that proves whether postseason hopes are realistic.
Saturday, Nov. 29
Oklahoma State vs. Miami
11 a.m., FloHoops, Cayman Islands Classic (Grand Town, Cayman Islands)
Expect plenty of points to be scored in this one. The Cowgirls hit the 100-point mark four times in their first five games.
South Dakota State vs. Kansas State
11 a.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge
Spin the wheel again in Cancun and more good matchups emerge. The Wildcats have eight players averaging at or around seven points per game. That kind of balance will help against a SDSU defense that is consistently good, especially in the half court, under coach Aaron Johnston.
Paradise Jam, Island Division championship game
1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ (U.S. Virgin Islands)
The Vanderbilt-Oregon State winner will meet either BYU or Virginia Tech. Regardless of the matchup, this game will have meaning. If the Beavers come out of the Paradise Jam with two wins, they are not only the clear WCC favorite but also in a position to earn an at-large bid. The Hokies won’t likely threaten for the top of the ACC, but their at-large chances increase significantly with a championship here.
1:30 p.m., FloHoops, Cancun Challenge
The Lions’ Riley Weiss scored 24 points in an NCAA tournament win over Washington last season. If you missed that, here is another chance to watch Weiss, who is having an even better junior season.
George Mason vs. Ole Miss
3 p.m., BallerTV, Daytona Beach Classic (Daytona, Florida)
If the Atlantic 10 is going to get multiple bids to the NCAA tournament like it did a year ago, George Mason is the key. A game at Maryland right before this trip to Florida and this matchup with Ole Miss gives the Patriots their two biggest opportunities for a foundational résumé win.
Georgia Tech vs. Florida
5 p.m. ET, FloHoops, Cayman Islands Classic (Grand Town, Cayman Islands)
In the four games with sophomore Liv McGill, the Gators have scored at least 87 points. In the game she missed with a leg injury, they scored 54. If she’s on the floor, Florida is a must-watch.
Paradise Jam, Reef Division championship game
8:30 p.m., ESPN+ (U.S. Virgin Islands)
LSU and Washington State is the likely matchup here. The Tigers’ nonconference schedule once again doesn’t provide many challenges, and the Cougars are struggling this season. But this might be a chance to see MiLaysia Fulwiley in her new surroundings. She’s leading LSU in scoring despite still coming off the bench.
1:19
LSU Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave: Game Highlights
LSU Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave: Game Highlights
Sunday, Nov. 30
Coconut Hoops, Blue Heron Division championship game
11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., FloHoops (Fort Myers, Florida)
An Indiana–Iowa State meeting seems most likely here, and the Hoosiers have some size to throw at Cyclones star Audi Crooks, who already has a 43-point game this season.
Coconut Hoops, Great Egret Division championship game
4 or 6:30 p.m., FloHoops (Fort Myers, Florida)
With their fast pace, ability to shoot and the addition of freshman Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma is fun to watch. The Sooners meeting Florida State here is the likely matchup in one of the final games of the weekend.
Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo, Junkanoo Division championship game
6:30 p.m., FloHoops (Nassau, Bahamas)
Michigan State and Clemson will be the big favorites to meet in this one. The Tigers’ early losses were to South Carolina and Louisville, but they played well for long stretches in both. The Spartans opened the season by scoring at least 92 points in four straight games, sparked by Grace VanSlooten and the best assist totals in the country.
So, Xabi Alonso becomes the tenth permanent Real Madrid manager of Florentino Pérez’s 21-plus-year presidential reign to be sacked without even completing a year in charge.
Just when the 44-year-old Madrid playing legend seemed to have calmed the stormy waters that had threatened to overwhelm him since autumn, the biggest sin in the entire dictionary of Must Not Commit for Bernabéu managers, losing to Barcelona when a trophy is at stake, has cost him his job. Those around Alonso — who leaves with Madrid only four points off the top of LaLiga, safely in the UEFA Champions League top eight and with a nervy Copa del Rey tie at Albacete on Wednesday — will look back at the final moments of Sunday’s Supercopa final and think about Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio, who each had point-blank chances to score and take the final to penalties.
Alonso, in retrospect, stands condemned, at least in the eyes of Pérez — the only person whose opinion matters when a coach’s fate is concerned — of several offenses.
First: The damage done to Alonso’s public reputation and club credibility when, on substituting Vinícius Júnior in the victorious Clásico last October, the Brazil international erupted in anger while showing disrespect for his manager. Even in victory, the player’s actions hogged the headlines because he screamed into the night air, “This is why I’m going to leave this team. This is why I’m leaving!”
Pérez wants Vinícius to renew his contract, at all costs. So although Alonso palpably repaired much of the damage with his 24-year-old star, and on Sunday helped him produce his best goal and best performance since Carlo Ancelotti left, it’s now clear that irreparable damage was done to Pérez’s view of his coach.
Second: Losing to Barcelona in a big final remains, it seems, a capital offense. Just as a reminder, it has been about five weeks since I wrote in this very space, “If the 44-year-old coach, who won all there is to win in his playing career and then made history by making Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga champions for the first time, can beat Atlético Madrid in the Supercopa semifinal and either Barcelona or Athletic Club in the final, then he’ll finally be left alone to do his job until the end of the season. But to come home without a trophy? Alonso will almost certainly be sacked.”
Third: When Madrid played anodyne, point-dropping football against Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona, and then lost consecutively at home to Manchester City and Celta Vigo, there was a massive manhunt mounted, by the club and by the media, to find someone to blame. Correctly or not, and I think the answer is firmly “not,” it has been the coach — rather than the president or the players — who has been found guilty.
Fourth: Alonso, it must be said, hasn’t “played the game.” Managing upward is an increasingly key skill when you’re coaching at a big club — that’s true anywhere in the world, but particularly when your direct boss is the unaccountable Pérez.
Throughout his life, either as the son of the excellent player Periko Alonso; or while coming through the ranks at Real Sociedad; playing brilliantly for Liverpool, Madrid, Bayern Munich and Spain; or making history by taking Bayer Leverkusen to their best-ever trophy season; Xabi Alonso has been the man. Venerated, respected, ultra talented, backed, fêted, desired, rewarded and awarded deity status. Don’t take my word for it, just think how he’s regarded by Spain (European and world champion), at Liverpool (hero of the greatest match in their entire history), local boy made good at Real Sociedad, José Mourinho’s lieutenant at Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s chosen linchpin while winning trophy after trophy at Bayern. He simply didn’t need to kowtow to anyone. Ever.
It’s different at Madrid and, so, when his friend and mentor, Guardiola, used a vulgar expression in support of Alonso before City won at the Bernabéu in December, it went down very badly indeed when Alonso’s postmatch response, teased out by a journalist, seemed to be sympathetic to what City’s Catalan coach was suggesting about Alonso’s relationship with Pérez.
Until very recently, Alonso, never rude, was standoffish and cool with the assembled, hard-nosed, some would say Pérez-aligned media who turned up to news conferences six times a week at the Madrid training ground. He changed his stance when he knew he was fighting for his continued employment: He began to expand on answers, share a joke, become a bit more touchy-feely, and it was working. But he played that game a little too late.
It was extremely telling when Alonso suggested to his players on Sunday in Jeddah that they form a guard of honor for Barcelona’s victorious players (as Hansi Flick’s men had done for them while they walked up to get their losers’ medals), but Kylian Mbappé usurped him and fiercely gestured to the squad that he, not Alonso, had the final word and that no way would they be forming two lines and letting the Supercopa winners feel honored. Very, very damaging imagery.
What’s a little bit shocking is that the Spanish football media, having set the table for an Alonso sacking over and over again in November and December, were utterly caught by surprise. Even playing pretty moderately, in victory against Sevilla, Real Betis and Atlético, Madrid’s players were clearly pulling for their coach, they were building results — admittedly from a low base — and they were looking very like steering Los Blancos into the extremely valuable top eight of the Champions League with two winnable matches in their sights this month. Marca’s headlines this morning included “Xabi revives the Mourinho style” and “What a miss from Carreras in the 95th minute.” No blame thrown at the coach. Their famous columnist, Alfredo Relaño, stated, “Xabi Alonso lost the final but saved his situation.” The much more hawkish, Pérez-oriented Diario AS used “Only Raphinha was better than Madrid” as their match headline, and the self-confessed ultra-Madridista columnist Tomás Roncero’s column read “Nothing to reproach you over.”
One of the biggest signs, in my opinion, as to the general mood of this singular, polemic, but highly successful, billionaire president, and something that Alonso could have paid more attention to, is the name of the stadium.
For the longest time, it’s been called the Santiago Bernabéu in honor of the man previously regarded as the greatest leader in Real Madrid’s history. More and more, and often in formal terms, it’s being called “the Bernabéu” — a change that, in my view, will preface a gradual, strategic and corporate-driven moving of Pérez toward the top of the podium of all-time presidents. This 78-year-old has, gradually but consistently, aimed at moving beyond his “Primus inter pares” (“first among equals”) status to be regarded as the all-time greatest. His costly and, so far, not wholly successful redevelopment of the stadium was supposed to be the jewel in the crown but, for a host of reasons, hasn’t hit home with the power he expected it to. I think, a couple of months away from his 79th birthday, he feels that time is flying, and he has none to waste.
He needs, desires, more league wins, more Champions Leagues, fewer sights of Barcelona lifting trophies, less whistling and jeering when Madrid play at their imperious HQ. He craves the formation of a European Super League. Right now, he’s being thwarted in too many of those desires.
Those previous nine coaches he sacked only a few months into their reigns usually, it must be pointed out, made way for more successful, more glorious periods for the club as European and domestic trophies were stacked up and the best players actively chose to move to Real Madrid. This fact is incontestable.
President Pérez, in my opinion, has blamed the wrong man, has ignored the real problems and, now that he has passed the baton to Álvaro Arbeloa, he has perpetuated the real flaws rather than cured them in sacking Alonso. But he won’t care about that opinion and, in the past, his irresistible force has defeated any apparently immovable object. This time? I’m unconvinced.
Bad luck, Xabi. You only partially contributed to this situation. But, as you always said yourself, Real Madrid is different. Real Madrid is unique. Good luck with what comes next.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The sister of former New York Giants defensive back Sam Beal pleaded with the public for help finding her brother who has been missing for about seven months.
Essence Zhane took to her Facebook page on Monday to ask anyone who may have seen Beal to contact the Kentwood Police Department in Virginia.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
A picture of Sam Beal uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in October 2025. (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs))
“Tomorrow makes it 7 months since we’ve last heard from or seen my brother,” she wrote on social media. “We’ve done everything we could on our end to piece things together and at this point we’re in desperate need of support on all ends. I’m not here to answer a bunch of why’s and how’s I just need this to land in the right direction to gain some form of answers or closure.
“I’m a Big sister and I need my brother to know that We Love You and miss you and this has been a heavy feeling for months to carry around.”
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System database said the last time Beal had contact with loved ones was back on July 13, 2025. He is missing from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He’s described as having black hair with a muscular and athletic build with brown eyes.
Beal’s girlfriend was the last one to see the former NFL player. He dropped her off at her family’s home and was supposed to head to work. However, Beal headed toward Virginia Beach. His girlfriend said the last time she heard from him, he said he was going back home.
New York Giants cornerback Sam Beal talks to reporters after the first Giants OTA on Monday, May 19, 2019, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)
HOW SHOULD QBS THROW FOOTBALLS INTO THE WIND? TOM BRADY IS HERE TO HELP
“Samuel did not bring anything with him aside from the clothes he was wearing, a pair of slides, and his wallet that contained his banking card and driver’s license,” a description of his disappearance in the database read. “The girlfriend’s vehicle was recovered in Virginia Beach, VA by one of her family members. The vehicle was found with Samuel’s shoes and socks on the floor of the front passenger seat along with some sand on the floor.”
Beal was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended high school in the state. He went to Western Michigan before the Giants took him in the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft.
He played in games with the Giants, including starting three games for them during his rookie season in 2019. He missed the entire 2020 season due to a COVID-19 opt-out.
New York Giants cornerback Sam Beal (23) warms up before his Giants debut against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com, North Jersey Record via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Beal pleaded guilty to gun charges before the 2021 season and was placed on probation for a year.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
He will pay penalties as part of his return through the tour’s limited “Returning Member Program.”
Source link
Why more CEOs are sharing the top job
Glen Powell attends Golden Globes afterparty with beau Michelle Randolph
Alonso wasn’t perfect, but sacking him ignores Madrid’s real problems
-
Entertainment1 week agoMinnesota Governor Tim Walz to drop out of 2026 race, official confirmation expected soon
-
Politics5 days agoUK says provided assistance in US-led tanker seizure
-
Sports1 week agoVAR review: Why was Wirtz onside in Premier League, offside in Europe?
-
Entertainment5 days agoDoes new US food pyramid put too much steak on your plate?
-
Entertainment5 days agoWhy did Nick Reiner’s lawyer Alan Jackson withdraw from case?
-
Business1 week ago8th Pay Commission: From Policy Review, Cabinet Approval To Implementation –Key Stages Explained
-
Business5 days agoTrump moves to ban home purchases by institutional investors
-
Sports1 week agoFACI invites applications for 2026 chess development project | The Express Tribune