Honestly, trying to track down the women’s college basketball tv schedule lately feels a bit like a full-time job. One night you’re on ESPN, the next you’re digging through Peacock, and by Thursday, you're wondering if a game is actually on some obscure conference network or just streaming on a school's TikTok.
It’s chaotic. But it’s also a sign of how huge the game has become.
We aren't just looking at one or two "big" games a week anymore. We’re talking about a massive, multi-network ecosystem where South Carolina, UConn, and USC are permanent fixtures on prime-time broadcast TV. If you’re sitting there today, January 15, 2026, wondering where the heck the games are, I've got the roadmap.
Tonight's Must-Watch Matchups (January 15)
If you're looking for action right now, the SEC and ACC are carrying the heavy load this evening. Tonight is basically a showcase of the deep bench of talent across the South and the Eastern seaboard.
Texas at South Carolina is the heavyweight fight of the night. You can catch that on ESPN2 starting at 7:00 PM ET. It’s a massive test for the Longhorns heading into Columbia, and honestly, Colonial Life Arena is going to be rocking.
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Over on the ACC Network, we’ve got Louisville heading to Notre Dame at 6:00 PM ET. This is a classic rivalry that always seems to deliver some late-game drama. If you’re a fan of the "We Back Pat" initiatives or just high-level SEC play, keep these others on your radar for tonight:
- Alabama at Auburn: The Iron Bowl on hardwood. It’s on SEC Network at 7:00 PM ET.
- Florida at Kentucky: Tip-off at 7:00 PM ET (Check your local SEC Network listings).
- Vanderbilt at Mississippi State: Also at 7:00 PM ET.
- Arkansas at Missouri: Rounding out the SEC slate at 8:00 PM ET.
Navigating the Major Networks
It used to be that you just turned on ESPN and hoped for the best. Now? You need a literal checklist.
FOX and NBC have really stepped up their game for the 2025-26 season. FOX has basically claimed the weekend afternoon slot, often putting games like UConn vs. Tennessee (coming up February 1) or Iowa matchups right on the main broadcast channel.
NBC is using Peacock as its primary hub. If you’re following the Big Ten or the Big East, you basically have to have a Peacock subscription at this point. They’re streaming roughly 25 Big East women’s games this year alone, including the entirety of the conference tournament. It's a bit of a bummer if you hate adding another $7.99 to your monthly bills, but the quality of the stream is usually top-tier.
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The ESPN Empire
ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC still hold the keys to the kingdom. They have the rights to the biggest non-conference showdowns and the lion's share of the SEC and ACC schedules.
Check this out: ABC is actually broadcasting UConn at South Carolina on February 8. That’s a Sunday afternoon slot that used to be reserved for the NBA or PGA. It shows you exactly where the "valuation" of women's hoops is right now.
Streaming vs. Linear TV: The Great Divide
The biggest frustration for most fans is the "plus" factor. ESPN+ and SECN+ are not the same thing as the cable channels.
Basically, if a game isn't "picked up" by the big national TV crews, it lives on the digital platforms. For teams like West Virginia or Iowa State in the Big 12, ESPN+ is where you’ll spend 80% of your time.
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Why the Big Ten Network Matters
With the expansion of the Big Ten to include the West Coast powerhouses (USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington), the Big Ten Network (BTN) is suddenly a national channel. You’ll see a game like UCLA at Oklahoma or USC at Los Angeles popping up on FS1 or BTN late at night for East Coasters.
Key Dates for the Rest of the 2026 Season
If you’re planning your life around the women’s college basketball tv schedule, circle these dates in red. These are the "window" games where the networks put their best production teams on the floor.
- January 19 (MLK Day): Look for a massive triple-header. Notre Dame at UConn is the headliner on FOX at 5:00 PM ET.
- February 1: A huge day for the sport. Tennessee at UConn (FOX) and South Carolina at Ole Miss are the ones to watch.
- February 15: Keep an eye on the Louisville at NC State game on ABC. It’s going to have a massive impact on tournament seeding.
- March 4-9: Conference Tournament Week. This is where the schedule gets truly wild. The Big Ten title game will be on CBS on March 8, while the SEC final will hit ESPN on March 9.
The Discoverability Problem
Sometimes you just can't find the game. We've all been there.
If you're searching and coming up empty, check the school's official "X" (Twitter) account or their athletics website about 30 minutes before tip-off. They almost always post a "How to Watch" graphic. Frequently, games that aren't on "TV" are being streamed on B1G+, ACCNX, or Mountain West Network. These often require separate logins or conference-specific passes, which is a bit of a headache, but it beats missing the game.
Actionable Tips for Staying Updated
Don't rely on your memory or a single Google search five minutes before the game. Here is how you actually keep up:
- Download the ESPN App: Even if you don't use it to watch, the "Scores" tab lists the TV provider for every single game. It’s the most accurate database for tip-off times.
- Sync Your Calendar: Most major programs (like South Carolina or Iowa) offer a "sync to calendar" feature on their schedule page. Do it. It updates automatically if a game time gets moved for TV.
- Check the "Extra" Channels: If you have a cable package, make sure you know where SEC Network Overflow or ACC Network Extra are located. They often hide in the 600s or 700s on your channel guide.
- Invest in a Multi-Stream Setup: If you’re a die-hard, using a tablet for an ESPN+ game while the main TV has the FOX broadcast is the only way to survive a busy Saturday.
The landscape is changing fast, but that just means there's more basketball than ever before. Grab your remote, keep the Peacock login handy, and enjoy the stretch run to March.