From the golden hues of West Los Angeles to the glass palaces of downtown Indy, this behemoth will be making sweeping moves all season long. UCLA is a mature team this season, undefeated in the Big Ten Conference. Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and the Bruins are now risking their undefeated record in the annual conference tournament, which ends Wednesday and runs through Sunday.
This game may be universally popular, but overall the field is deep. The other six programs ranked in the top 10 in the AP poll include No. 8 Michigan State, No. 9 Iowa State and No. 11 Ohio State. This year’s contestants are spread across four broadcasters, from traditional CBS to subscription streamer Peacock. Here’s how to watch and when to listen.
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How to watch the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Indianapolis
Dates: March 4-8
Television: Big Ten Network, CBS, NBC Sports Network, Peacock
Streaming: Fubo (Stream for free now!)
See it in person? Get your tickets on StubHub.
BTN also airs live on Fox One. It airs free on CBS and also on Paramount+.
No. 2 UCLA used its versatile roster to make its way to the regular season championship. The team shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, an impressive mark driven by Rice and Gabriella Jaquez and fifth-year transfer Gianna Nipkens. The perimeter action revolves around Bates, a game-breaking senior center who dominates in the paint but can also score in the paint.
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UCLA has all the makings of a national championship, and its postseason run begins at its Big Ten proving ground.
The Bruins won last year’s tournament, defeating crosstown rival USC in the finals. The Trojans are awaiting the return of all-conference superstar JuJu Watkins from a torn ACL.
Only two conference opponents have come close to beating UCLA this season. Ohio State led the Bruins to a seven-point finish last December. The Buckeyes, led by electric guard Jaloni Cambridge, enter the tournament averaging 83 points per game. The sophomore excelled at a high shooting percentage, averaging a league-high 23.4 points per game. Her younger sister, junior Kennedy Cambridge, averages four steals per game in the Big Ten Conference.
Meanwhile, Michigan pushed UCLA to the brink with a thrilling 69-66 victory in Ann Arbor on February 8. The Wolverines entered tournament week ranked 11th nationally in offensive efficiency; their sophomore trio of Olivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway can dictate the tempo from the outside. Olson performed particularly strongly in the following games, shooting 49.6%, 45.2%, and 84.8% from the field in February.
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Iowa has been a champion during the Caitlin Clark era, and the Hawkeyes are on the rise again, led by sophomores Ava Heiden and Chazadi Wright. Hayden is a 6-foot-4 center who averages 17.6 points per game. Wright, a 5-foot-4 point guard, takes more than five three-pointers per game and hits a league-high 46.2 percent of her attempts.
Only 15 of the league’s 18 teams qualify for the Big Ten Tournament. Penn State, Northwestern and Rutgers will not participate.
match schedule
All times are Eastern Time. Conference tournament seedings are also listed.
Wednesday, March 4 – first round
Broadcasting company: NBCSN and Peacock
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Game 1: No. 12 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Indiana, 3:30 p.m.
Game 2: No. 10 Illinois vs. No. 15 Wisconsin, 25 minutes after Game 1
Game 3: No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 14 Purdue, 25 minutes after Game 2
Thursday, March 5 – Round 2
Broadcasting company: BTN
Game 4: No. 8 Washington vs. No. 9 USC, noon
Game 5: No. 5 Ohio State vs. Game 1 winner, 25 minutes after Game 4
Game 6: No. 7 Michigan State vs. Game 2 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Game 7: No. 6 Maryland vs. Game 3 winner, 25 minutes after Game 6
Friday, March 6 – quarter-finals
Broadcasting company: BTN
Game 8: No. 1 UCLA vs. Game 4 winner, noon
Game 9: No. 4 Minnesota vs. Game 5 winner, 25 minutes after Game 8
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Game 10: No. 2 Iowa vs. Game 6 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Game 11: No. 3 Michigan vs. Game 7 winner, 25 minutes after Game 10
Saturday, March 7 – semifinals
Broadcasting company: BTN
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 – Championship
Broadcasting company: cbs
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 2:15 p.m.
Last 10 Big Ten Tournament Championships
2025: UCLA
2024: Iowa
2023: Iowa
2022: Iowa
2021: Maryland
2020: Maryland
2019: Iowa
2018: Ohio State University
2017: Maryland
2016: Maryland
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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