If you woke up today looking for women’s basketball scores today on TV, you probably realized pretty quickly that the schedule is absolutely stacked. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are officially in the "moving week" of the college season. This is where pretenders get exposed and the AP Top 25 gets tossed into a blender.
Honestly, the energy around the women’s game right now is just different. We aren't just talking about a few powerhouse schools anymore. From the Big Ten's brutal travel schedules to the high-stakes drama in the Big 12, every bucket feels like it carries weight for March.
The Headliners: Big Names and Bigger Stakes
The marquee matchup today is undoubtedly No. 12 Maryland at No. 3 UCLA. If you haven't been watching the Bruins lately, you’re missing out on some of the most disciplined basketball in the country. They’re hosting Maryland at Pauley Pavilion, and the tip-off is set for 1:00 PM ET on NBC.
Seeing a regular-season women’s game on a major broadcast network like NBC on a Saturday afternoon tells you everything you need to know about where this sport is at. It’s not "niche" anymore. It’s the main event.
Key Games and How to Watch Them
Trying to keep track of these scores is a full-time job today. Here is a breakdown of what’s happening and where you can actually find it on your remote:
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- No. 10 TCU vs. Arizona: This one is a massive Big 12 clash. TCU has been a surprise juggernaut this year, currently sitting at 17-1. You can catch this at 2:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
- No. 17 Texas Tech vs. Kansas State: The Lady Raiders are undefeated (19-0!) and looking to prove they belong in the top tier. They tip at 2:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
- No. 18 Baylor vs. BYU: Another Big 12 showdown. Baylor is on the road in Provo, which is always a tough place to play. Tune in at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
- No. 22 Princeton vs. Dartmouth: For the Ivy League fans, the Tigers are still the gold standard. Catch them at 2:00 PM ET on ESPN+.
It’s worth noting that while the Top 25 grabs the headlines, the mid-major battles today are equally fierce. Longwood (13-4) is hosting High Point (15-2) in a "Big South Showdown" at 2:00 PM. Both teams are 4-0 in conference play. Someone’s "0" has to go.
The WNBA Off-Season "Freezer"
While college hoops are heating up, the professional side of the house is in a weird, tense limbo. We should be talking about where the biggest free agents are signing, but instead, we’re talking about a "moratorium."
As of this week, the WNBA and the Players Association (WNBPA) have agreed to halt all transactions. They missed the deadline for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and now everyone is just... waiting. The players want a 50/50 revenue split, similar to the NBA, especially after that massive $2.2 billion media deal.
Basically, the league is a victim of its own success. Viewership is up 170%, stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are household names, and the players (rightfully) want their piece of the pie. Until then, no trades, no signings, just lots of lawyers in rooms and players training at "hubs" like Stanford and UNLV.
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Why the Big Ten Schedule is a Nightmare This Year
If you’re checking women’s basketball scores today on TV and wondering why teams look a little gassed, look at the travel. The "new" Big Ten is a logistical headache.
Take a team like Oregon or Washington. They are now playing conference games against Rutgers or Maryland. We’re talking about 3,000-mile round trips for a Tuesday night game. Coaches are starting to get vocal about the toll this takes on "student-athletes" who still have to, you know, go to class.
Even with the private charters that many top programs are now using, the jet lag is real. You’ll see it in the fourth-quarter shooting percentages. Tired legs don’t make jumpers.
Watching the "Under-the-Radar" Winners
Yesterday, we saw some gritty performances that might have missed your scroll.
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- Missouri State took down UTEP 71-64. Kaemyn Bekemeier dropped 21 points and basically refused to let her team lose. They head to New Mexico State today.
- Portland staged a wild 13-point comeback to beat Santa Clara 73-66. Ananiev had a career-high 22. They play Seattle today at 5:00 PM.
- Louisiana Tech finally snapped a seven-game skid against Middle Tennessee. They looked like a completely different team, forcing 20 turnovers.
Where to Find Live Scores Right Now
If you don't want to sit in front of the TV all day, the best way to track women’s basketball scores today on TV is through a mix of apps and sites.
Don't just rely on one source. The ESPN app is usually the fastest, but for the smaller conferences (like the Patriot League or the Big South), sometimes the school's own athletic Twitter (X) feed is the only place to get real-time updates.
- Sling TV/Fubo: Great for catching the regional networks and the ACC/SEC channels.
- ESPN+: Seriously, if you don’t have this, you’re missing 80% of the games today.
- Peacock: They’ve got a lock on several Big Ten and Big East matchups, including Iowa State vs. Cincinnati earlier today.
What You Should Do Next
The games are moving fast. If you're serious about following the action today, here is your game plan.
First, check the local listings for NBC right now for that Maryland/UCLA game; it’s the highest-level basketball you’ll see all day. Second, if you’re a fan of a specific mid-major, head over to their official team site to find the live stats link—television broadcasts for some of these smaller games can be spotty. Finally, keep an eye on the Big 12 standings tonight. With Texas Tech and TCU both in action, the top of that conference could look very different by tomorrow morning.
Stay locked in, keep the remote handy, and enjoy the madness. This is exactly what we waited all off-season for.