Shark Beauty™ Women's Champions Classic, a Premier Women's College Basketball Showcase, Returns Dec. 20, 2025 to Barclays Center, Set to Air Live on FOX
Connecticut, Iowa, Tennessee and Louisville set to return to the Championship Hardwood in Brooklyn for the Horizon Sports & Experiences and FOX Sports Event
NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 12, 2025) – Horizon Sports & Experiences (HS&E) and FOX Sports announced today the return of the premier early-season women's college basketball showcase, the Shark Beauty™ Women's Champions Classic, set for Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 and scheduled to tip off in primetime on FOX (start time subject to change). This marquee event on the college basketball calendar, which enjoys maximum exposure on a national broadcast network, will once again be headlined by The University of Connecticut, the University of Iowa, the University of Louisville and the University of Tennessee. The organizers also announced the event will remain in New York at Barclays Center through 2026.
After an impactful inaugural event, these four women's basketball powerhouses are set for their early season return to Brooklyn, as Tennessee will take on Louisville and Iowa plays Connecticut. Single admission tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 10 a.m. EDT on Ticketmaster. A presale for American Express Cardholders will go live today at 11 a.m. EDT.
'The Shark Beauty™ Women's Champions Classic is a platform that celebrates the dynamic shifts we are seeing in women's sports and enables brands to engage with an expansive, captivated audience growing at an unprecedented pace,' said David Levy, co-CEO/founder, Horizon Sports & Experiences. 'We are delighted to have these four decorated programs make their emphatic return to the 'Court of Champions' in Brooklyn.'
The inaugural Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic was packed with more than 11,000 fans in attendance at Barclays Center and peaked at 800k viewers on FOX. The event also featured a first-of-its-kind in arena styling activation from title sponsor Shark Beauty. Other blue chip event partners stepping up in women's sports included Capital One, Ally, State Farm, Nike and Gatorade.
'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, 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.'
Follow the Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic on the following platforms for more news and announcements ahead of the December 20th event.
Website: https://womenschampionsclassic.com/
Facebook: @WomensChampsClassic
X: @WChampsClassic
Instagram: @womenschampsclassic
TikTok: @womenschampsclassic
Quotes from the Coaches:
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.'
University of Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell
'After representing the University of Tennessee at the 2024 Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic, our program already is 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.'
About the Programs:
The 2025 Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic features: The four teams together have won 19 NCAA Division I National Championships and earned 48 appearances in NCAA Final Fours. These programs have netted over 120 conference titles.
UConn has won a record 11 NCAA Division I National Championships, including a record four in a row from 2013-16. Additionally, they have appeared in 23 Final Fours and won 59 conference regular season and tournament championships.
The University of Tennessee has earned the most victories in the history of NCAA Division I women's college basketball. The Lady Vols have captured eight national championships, with 18 NCAA Final Four appearances, and a combined 35 SEC conference and regular season titles.
The University of Iowa are coming off consecutive Final Four and National Championship Game appearances in 2023 and 2024. The Hawkeyes have appeared in three Final Fours in program history and have captured a combined 16 BIG TEN conference and regular season titles.
The University of Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team has appeared in four Final Fours, including two appearances in the National Championship Game. They have won a combined 15 regular season and conference tournament championships.
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