–Bulls Set for High-Profile Matchups Against MAAC Powerhouse Fairfield, Final Four Program UCLA–
TAMPA, Fla., July 31, 2025 — The University of South Florida women’s basketball team will head to Las Vegas this November to compete in the 2025 WBCA Challenge, a premier early-season tournament set to take place at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Bulls will face a pair of 2025 NCAA Tournament teams, taking on Fairfield on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. ET and Final Four participant UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 9 p.m. ET.
The addition of the game vs. UCLA gives the Bulls three games in the non-conference season against 2025 NCAA Final Four participants. USF also faces 2025 National Champion UConn and South Carolina, which has reached the last five Final Fours, in the Yuengling Center.
USF enters the 2025-26 season after capturing its fourth American Athletic Conference championship with a 23-11 overall record, winning the American Postseason Tournament, and making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Jose Fernandez. Fernandez, who enters his 26th season at the helm, led the Bulls to a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament last year, marking the program’s 14th consecutive 19-win season and 12th 20-win season under his leadership.
Fairfield posted a 28-5 overall record and dominated the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 19-1 mark, claiming both the regular-season and tournament titles for the second year in a row. They earned a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, making their seventh all-time appearance in the Big Dance.
Two days after facing Fairfield, USF will take on national powerhouse UCLA, which is coming off a historic season that saw the Bruins reach their first-ever NCAA Final Four. UCLA finished the year with a program-best 34-3 record, captured the Big Ten Tournament title, and earned a No. 1 seed in their NCAA Tournament region, both for the first time in program history.
In addition to his role at South Florida, Fernandez currently serves as the president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), beginning a two-year term in April 2025. His leadership on the national stage reflects a deep commitment to advancing the game beyond USF’s program, as he continues to advocate for the growth and visibility of women’s basketball at all levels.
“We’re excited to be part of a tournament like the WBCA Challenge that brings together some of the most competitive programs in the country,” Fernandez said. “Fairfield has dominated their league and proven they belong on the national stage, and UCLA is one of the top teams in the country, with a Final Four run and conference title under their belt. These games are exactly the kind of challenges we want early in the year to prepare us for the season ahead.”
The addition of the WBCA Challenge games adds to one of the nation’s most exciting non-conference schedules, with the Bulls set to host Duke (Nov. 20), UConn (Dec. 3), and South Carolina (Dec. 18) at the Yuengling Center. All three programs finished last season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
2025-26 SEASON TICKETS
Bulls fans, it’s time to lock in your seats for another exciting season of USF Basketball! The 2025-26 season promises competitive matchups and unforgettable moments at the Yuengling Center. Buy your season tickets here.
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ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
South Florida women’s basketball has made 19 postseason tournament appearances and had 10 NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez‘s 26 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 12 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, and has won 485 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Conference.
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