Potential Delay for Women’s Basketball Season Opener
Louisville and the University of Washington (UW) are set to kick off the women’s college basketball season in a highly anticipated match on November 4 at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. According to the latest Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, the defending national champions, Huskies, are ranked first, while the Cardinals are positioned at 20th.
However, this exciting matchup may be in jeopardy.
The ongoing government shutdown has led to halted pay for active duty military personnel and a reduction in many services. The Ramstein Air Base’s website indicates that “civilian officers who do not engage in exceptional activities shall be placed on a non-working, unpaid status.” Unfortunately, many of the base’s offices and programs now offer only limited services.
This game, part of the Pellaton Armed Forces Classic, is hosted by ESPN Events and has become a regular occurrence at various U.S. military sites globally since 2012.
An ESPN representative mentioned to SB Nation that, “While our goal is to hold this year’s Armed Forces Classic as scheduled at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, we are evaluating contingency plans as the situation warrants.”
A spokesperson from the Louisville women’s basketball team stated that “the game is being played as scheduled.” Meanwhile, UW chose not to comment, and Ramstein Air Base has yet to respond to inquiries.
Next week, all involved parties are expected to meet to explore options. Louisville’s coach, Jeff Walz, has voiced concerns about the sustainability of the game, marking the first time he has done so publicly. He noted, “You know, we hope our first game will be at Air Force Base – if we can get back up and running. Our country is currently closed.”
If the shutdown continues, there’s a possibility of relocating the game to a campus site in Louisville or at UW. Alternatively, they might look for neutral venues with established dates.
This shutdown has reached its 15th day, originating from an October 1st failure of the Senate to advance a House-passed bill that would maintain the current government budget until November 21. While Senate Democrats want to amend health care policies—especially regarding Affordable Care Act subsidies—Republicans have not agreed to these terms. The House’s proposed bill does not extend the medical tax credit, impacting over 24 million people using the ACA Marketplace for health insurance.
Various news outlets have labeled the shutdown as having “no end in sight,” with continuous blame exchanged among politicians. Reports indicate that Republicans and Democrats remain far from reaching an agreement, as the Senate has repeatedly failed to pass a bill to resume operations.
The previous extended government shutdown occurred during President Trump’s first term, lasting 35 days starting in December 2018—a historical record. This week’s remarks from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson pointed to the likelihood of this shutdown being “one of the longest in U.S. history.”
If the shutdown resolves in time, it would align with the length of past records. Should the game take place as planned, it will mark the third time the Armed Forces Classic is hosted at Ramstein Air Force Base, and notably, the first women’s college basketball event there.
Historically, UW holds a strong record against Louisville, with 20 wins and 3 losses. Among their last three regular season meetups, two occurred at neutral venues.
