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JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, South Carolina highlight women’s games to watch this week

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JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, South Carolina highlight women’s games to watch this week


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Technically, Feast Week is still three days away, but given some of the star-powered matchups this week in women’s college hoops, those who are craving good basketball are going to get their fill — and then some. 

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The two biggest games of the week are both taking place in L.A., more proof that Hollywood really does attract the biggest and best stars. While USC-Notre Dame and UCLA-South Carolina will command plenty of attention, don’t discount some of the unranked and/or mid-major schools listed below. November is a great time to get familiar with non-brand names that could make a run come March. 

And with that, here are five women’s college games to watch this week. 

Belmont at No. 14 Duke

Thursday, 7 p.m. on ACC Network

Don’t be fooled by Belmont’s 2-2 record — the Bruins took No. 11 Ohio State to the wire last week, and Bart Brooks is one of the best coaches in the country, period. Belmont boasts a balanced scoring attack, with five players averaging 8.0 points or more, but in order to pull an upset in historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, they’re going to need Kendall Holmes (12.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Emily La Chapell (11.5 ppg, 3.0 apg) to step up. Duke, which also has a balanced attack, won’t make it easy, especially if Ashlon Jackson (13.2 ppg, 40% 3FG) and Reigan Richardson (11.4 ppg, 41.2% 3FG) are hitting from outside. 

No. 9 Oklahoma at UNLV

Friday, 3:30 ET on Mountain West Network 

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This could be interesting. UNLV has ruled the Mountain West for a few years, and is often ranked at the end of the regular season. But the Rebels have yet to make major noise in the NCAA tournament, even though they’re often a popular upset pick. Could a win at home over a top 10 team help build the confidence they need to do some damage in March? To upset the Sooners they’ll have to figure out how to handle junior center Raegan Beers (21.2 ppg, 11.8 rpg), arguably the top transfer in the country. 

Harvard at Northwestern 

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network+

Harvard’s already picked up one win against a Big Ten team, knocking off then-ranked Indiana in Bloomington in the second game of the season. And given that the Crimson feature one of the best players in the country you haven’t heard of — senior guard Harmoni Turner is averaging 23.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shooting 45.1% from the field — the chances of notching another big road win look good. 

No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 3 USC 

Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

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The two best sophomores in the country, USC’s JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo take centerstage in a game that could very well break scoring records based on how much these two guards love to push pace. Watkins (21.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.8 spg) is pro-ready in just her second year of college hoops and Hidalgo (25.0 ppg, 5.2 spg) is maybe the best on-ball defender in the country, a pest who knows how to steal the ball and turn it into points on the other end. But these two are hardly one-woman shows. USC got a gem out of the transfer portal in Kiki Iriafen (17.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and the Irish’s other star guard, Olivia Miles (18.3 ppg, 6.8), is healthy after missing last season. You’re going to want popcorn handy when you tune into this game. 

No. 1 South Carolina at No. 6 UCLA

Sunday, 4 p.m. ET on FS1

UCLA junior center Lauren Betts (21.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg) is an early favorite to contend for national player of the year honors. One thing that would help make a case for her: a stellar performance against the defending champs. That’s a tall task though, even for the 6-foot-7 Betts. She’ll be going up against Gamecocks like Joyce Edwards (10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), a freshman who plays like a veteran, and Ashlyn Watkins (5.7 ppg, 1.3 bpg), who proved last year she’s one of the best defenders in the country. Will UCLA and Betts be able to slow Chloe Kitts (17.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and Te-Hina Paopao (13.5 ppg, 44% 3FG)? They’ll have to in order to beat South Carolina. A big game from transfer Timea Gardiner (14.5 ppg, 57.7% 3FG) would also help. 

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Defending national champions remain at No. 1

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Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell





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87-year-old South Carolina businessman says he has no plans to retire

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87-year-old South Carolina businessman says he has no plans to retire


An 87-year-old businessman in Columbia, South Carolina says he has no plans to retire. 

Leonard Fabrizio works as a retailer at Brittons of Columbia, a locally-owned men’s clothing store.

“I’m not the type of person who can sit around by myself,” said Fabrizio. “I just enjoy the interaction and that’s the big thing, is the interaction with people. It’s always been the drive in this business for me, said Fabrizio. 

Fabrizio’s retail career began as a college student when he worked at J.C. Penney. He has watched Columbia grow and has owned a store and managed several others.

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His advice is to “Be patient. It takes time to build a business. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s rewarding. It’s fun. But you have to have compassion for the business.”

Fabrizio recently celebrated another birthday alongside those who have supported his career.



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South Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease

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South Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease


June 9 marked International Batten Disease Awareness Day, shining a light on a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.

It primarily affects children and causes harmful waste material to build up inside the cells of the brain and nervous system.

One South Carolina family used the day to raise awareness as their 2-year-old son, Sam Stockton, lives with CLN2 Batten disease.

Sam was diagnosed at 16 weeks old, and his family says they travel every other week for enzyme-replacement therapy while also searching for clinical research opportunities.

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Through Hope for Sam, the family is working to spread information about Batten disease and support other families facing rare diseases.

“Just the more you know about rare diseases, I never knew that over 300 million people worldwide live with rare diseases. And that means there’s less access to care because people aren’t researching it and not as many people have it. So the more information that’s out there, we feel is the better,” Jordan Stockton said.

There are 13 known types of Batten disease, and there is no cure. Researchers estimate the disease affects about two to four out of every 100,000 births in the United States.

The Stockton family says they have found support through the Batten Disease Support, Research and Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the disease while providing resources.

More information and donation details are available at this link.



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Talent competition takes center stage at Miss South Carolina

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Talent competition takes center stage at Miss South Carolina


Contestants in the 2026 Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina’s Teen competitions will showcase their talents on Thursday at the Township Auditorium.

Miss South Carolina’s Teen’s Got Talent is set to begin at 5 p.m., followed by Miss South Carolina’s Got Talent at 7 p.m.

READ MORE | Miss South Carolina kicks off with preliminary rounds

The talent competitions are part of the weeklong Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization competition, which brings delegates from across the state to Columbia to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to represent South Carolina on the national stage.

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READ MORE | Miss South Carolina’s Teen preliminary round begins

Contestants competed in fitness, evening wear, and onstage question preliminaries on Wednesday, while Miss South Carolina’s Teen contestants completed their preliminary competition on Tuesday.

Preliminary winners include:

Preliminary Fitness Award winners:

  1. Jenna Huggins, Miss Clemson
  2. Lindsay Jones, Miss Charleston
  3. Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin

Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:

  1. Mary Kimball Osborn, Miss Palmetto
  2. Chelby Drafts, Miss Golden Corner
  3. Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin

Teen Preliminary Fitness Award winners:

  1. Alissa Claire Rhodes, Miss Fox Creek High School’s Teen
  2. Kamryn Mathis, Miss Greer High School’s Teen
  3. Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen

Teen Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:

  1. Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
  2. Cleo Floyd-Johnstone, Miss Ballentine’s Teen
  3. Kursten Long, Miss Newberry’s Teen

The Miss South Carolina’s Teen finals are set for Friday night, while the Miss South Carolina finals will take place Saturday.

Watch the 2026 Miss South Carolina Competition LIVE at 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 20. Tune in on WACH FOX 57 in Columbia, ABC 4 in Charleston, ABC 15 in Myrtle Beach/Florence, and My40 in the Upstate.



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