Conference realignment is significantly transforming women’s basketball, enhancing the competition across major leagues. With Texas and Oklahoma set to join the already formidable Southeastern Conference, and USC and UCLA bringing their talents to the Big Ten, the landscape is changing rapidly. Furthermore, Stanford and Cal’s transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) along with Arizona, Colorado, and Utah joining the Big 12 raises the level of play across the remaining power conferences.
The excitement around women’s basketball is palpable at this moment. “Women’s basketball is at an all-time high. I am super excited about not just our team but the overall competitiveness. I look forward to seeing how teams distributed among various conferences like the Big Ten and the ACC, as well as some former Pac-12 members, adapt,” expressed South Carolina’s coach, Dawn Staley. She added that the anticipation of daily games heightens her enthusiasm for the season ahead.
Staley’s well-ranked South Carolina squad is set to face No. 4 Texas twice and No. 10 Oklahoma once during the regular season. “The additions of Texas and Oklahoma have elevated what I believe is the best conference in the country to even greater heights,” she noted, appreciating the impact of these two programs.
Texas’ Vic Schaefer returns to the SEC, having previously led Mississippi State. He has witnessed a remarkable evolution in the conference, noting how it now features multiple teams competing fiercely for supremacy alongside South Carolina. “The distribution of talent is astonishing. Previously, the league had a few dominant teams, whereas now, any team can claim victory if the others aren’t prepared,” he remarked.
Despite the competitive nature of the leagues intensifying, the challenge of travel logistics has also surged. Schools in the ACC and Big Ten will now operate across vast distances. In the Big Ten, several West Coast teams face the challenge of fitting six games into just three trips across the Eastern and Central time zones, while teams situated in those areas will only head west once to play two games within four days.
Similarly, the ACC is utilizing a strategy of “2-for-1” scheduling, enabling teams to play two games for each travel trip, alternating their home and away games every weekend. This setup means that Stanford or Cal might engage in back-to-back road contests at nearby North Carolina institutions or against teams situated in the Eastern time zone during the same trip.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips commented on the situation, acknowledging the ongoing adjustments. “We’re learning as we go. While it’s not perfect, we approached this in an equitable manner. It’s a work in progress, and I’m optimistic about the position we’re in as we head into Year 1.”
USC’s coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, remarked on the necessity for larger charter planes for her team, contrasting the 30-seat flights used in Pac-12 contests with the demands of longer journeys. Fortunately, many of their trips to the East will coincide with winter break, minimizing disruptions to the academic schedules. “I am eager for our players to experience the vibrant atmospheres of Big Ten games and see how they adapt to these environments,” she added.
The ongoing changes and challenges reflect a new chapter in collegiate women’s basketball, filled with opportunities for teams to showcase their skills in an increasingly competitive environment.