Latest news with #Women'sChampionsClassic
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa women's basketball to face powerhouse in 2025 Champions Classic
Women's college basketball fans can't get enough of the Iowa Hawkeyes. They are one of the best draws in the sport, both for ticket sales and for television ratings. That combination has landed the Hawkeyes in yet another headliner for the 2025 college basketball season. Iowa will get an early season test in 2025 as they are going to be part of a loaded field of powerhouse programs in the Shark Beauty Women's Champions Classic. The Hawkeyes will be participating alongside some of the best programs in women's basketball. The four participating programs include Iowa, the UConn Huskies, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Louisville Cardinals. The Shark Beauty™ Women's Champions Classic is back on FOX in 2025 with four marquee programs set to return for the early season hoops showcase.@UConnWBB, @LadyVol_Hoops, @IowaWBB, and @LouisvilleWBB at The Barclays Center - Dec. 20th on FOX 🏀🗒️: — FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) March 12, 2025 "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," said Iowa women's basketball head coach Jan Jensen about the Women's Champions Classic. The event is set to take place on FOX from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on December 20th. Iowa will get their shot at the UConn Huskies in a game that will feature two of the most rabid women's college basketball fanbases in the nation. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7 This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women's basketball competing in 2025 Women's Champions Classic
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Geno Auriemma sees difference in Lady Vols under Kim Caldwell after Tennessee upset UConn
Geno Auriemma embraced Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell and shared a few words with her before their teams squared off Thursday. The longtime UConn coach wanted to remind Caldwell, who's in her first year leading the historic Tennessee program, that he had been paying attention to her team since they first met in December at an event before the Women's Champions Classic. "I think stepping into a situation like this, stepping into this program when you're a young coach that's never coached (at this level) can't be the easiest thing in the world," Auriemma said. "And I just wanted to remind her that, watching from afar, I can see the difference, and I can see the impact that she's had. And I just wanted to let her know that I noticed that." "And she should have stayed home to care for her baby," he quipped as he left the podium. Caldwell and her No. 19 Lady Vols upset No. 6 UConn 80-76 in front of a 16,215-strong crowd. It was Tennessee's largest crowd for a women's basketball game since Feb. 26, 2012 when 18,563 fans attended the Lady Vols' win over Florida. Auriemma has now faced four coaches in the longstanding series. The rivalry was canceled in 2007 under the legendary Pat Summitt and was renewed during former Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper's first season. UConn led the rivalry 13-9 when Summitt canceled it – and the Huskies won every matchup since the series was renewed in 2020. Auriemma can see the difference in Thursday's matchup than the last four meetings. He was treated to a chess match in coaching similar to the glory days of the rivalry. Caldwell has a different approach, and her Lady Vols are "in great physical conditioning" and "they play hard." Auriemma also said Tennessee's depth played a role – the Lady Vols go 10 deep, and there wasn't a huge gap between the starters and the eighth and ninth players in the rotation. "I think a lot of people were probably surprised when they saw that hire, but a lot of times that's what's needed, to go outside and get a different point of view, different style," Auriemma said Tuesday at his midweek press conference. "Their athletic director (Danny White) has made a lot of great hires, and this looks like it's going to turn out to be a really good one as well." There was a time when this rivalry "meant a lot to a lot of people." It was a catalyst for the growth of women's basketball. Every matchup was No. 1 vs. No. 2 or a national championship game – every game meant something. CALDWELL: Kim Caldwell after Lady Vols upset UConn: Her dad, Pat Summitt 'having a cold one' to celebrate The rest of the game has caught up. There are a lot of other big-name teams and rivalries, Auriemma said – as it should be – and the Tennessee-UConn rivalry laid the groundwork. "Can this still be one of them? I don't see why not," Auriemma said. "I would think that those people that enjoy watching good basketball are going to – if all the games are like this, with a different ending, I think people will really enjoy watching these games." Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women's athletics. Email her at and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora's coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Geno Auriemma sees difference in Lady Vols under Kim Caldwell
