A battle of the giants is set for the Barclays Center this December.
UConn, Iowa, Louisville, and Tennessee will all face off in the Women’s Champion Classic, with the Huskies battling the Hawkeyes on Dec. 20. UConn is 6-4 all-time vs. Iowa following last year’s Final Four matchup.
UConn vs. Iowa To Meet in Women’s Champion Classic at Barclays Center
This year’s inaugural Women’s Champion Classic was just that — classic.
In two thrilling matchups, the now No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers toppled the Iowa Hawkeyes 78-68, and the now No. 3 UConn Huskies smashed the Louisville Cardinals 85-52. Volunteers sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper led all teams in scoring with 23 points, and UConn’s freshman forward Sarah Strong had 21 of her own.
It was just the fourth matchup all-time and the first since 1993 for Tennessee and Iowa.
Now, the teams will mix it up. While the four teams participating will remain the same, the matchups will shift, with UConn facing Iowa and Tennessee facing Louisville. Both games will be nationally televised on FOX in primetime.
The tournament will remain at Barclays Center through 2026.
Last year’s tournament saw over 11,000 fans in attendance and a peak of 800,000 viewers on FOX.
“We are thrilled to advance FOX Sports’ longstanding investment in women’s sports with the continuation of the Shark Beauty™ Women’s Champions Classic,” said Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President of FOX Sports. “We are proud to shine a spotlight on the women’s game on television’s biggest platform, and following the success of the inaugural event, we can’t wait to welcome these storied programs back to Brooklyn in December.”
Tickets go on sale March 14.
What the Coaches Had To Say About the Opportunity
University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma
“The inaugural Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic was everything I hoped it would be when we first came up with the idea. It was a great showcase for women’s basketball and was well run from top to bottom. We’re thrilled to return to Barclays Center next season. I can’t wait to see how the event evolves as we continue it for the foreseeable future.”
University of Iowa head coach Jan Jensen
“I am beyond excited and proud to once again be part of the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic. This is a premier event showcasing some of the best women’s basketball programs in the country. It is a first-class experience that gives our players an early-season NCAA Tournament feel. I am also looking forward to seeing our great Hawkeye fans show out in New York!”
University of Louisville head coach Jeff Walz
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic once again this upcoming season. I thought the event was extremely successful this past year and it was a great opportunity for our team to play in New York City. We look forward to next season’s event as it will be a marquee matchup in our non-conference schedule.”
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University of Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell
“After representing the University of Tennessee at the 2024 Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic, our program is already anticipating a return trip to New York City in 2025. We are proud to be part of the field again and hope Lady Vol fans will plan a trip to the Big Apple and join us at the Barclays Center for an event that shines a bright spotlight on women’s basketball.”
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