The Women's Champions Classic returned to Brooklyn in 2025.
After more than 11,000 fans packed into the Barclays Center for its first Marquee College basketball event in December, organizers of Horizon Sports & Experiences announced Wednesday that the two-game showcase will return for its second season.
Connecticut, Iowa, Tennessee and Louisville will once again find the headlines for the Primetime doubleheader scheduled for December 20th. The game will air on Fox.
Lady Vols is set to play Cardinals, but Hawkeyes and Huskies face off.
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said last year's event was “everything I wanted” during the planning process.
“I'm excited to return to Barclays Center next season,” Auriema said. “We look forward to how the event evolves as we continue to do that for a foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile, Iowa State coach Jan Jensen described the Women's Champions Classic as a “premier event” that will provide players with an “early NCAA tournament feel.”
The Women's Champions Classic has been around since 2011 and mirrors the annual boys' college basketball showcase featuring Michigan, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky.
At last year's event in Brooklyn, a Tennessee spokesman proved too much for Iowa, and Connecticut managed Louisville easily.
Connecticut State 3 (30-3, 18-0 Big East) won the title of their 12th consecutive win tournament earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Tennessee (22-9, 8-8 seconds) is currently ranked 22nd in the nation, with Iowa (22-10, 10-8 Big Ten) and Louisville (21-10, 13-5 ACC) being excluded from the AP Top 25 this week.
However, all four teams are projected to be at least number 7 seed in the NCAA tournament starting next week.
