Storrs, CT — The UConn women’s basketball team will take on Iowa in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic on Dec. 20 at Barclays Center, Horizon Sports & Experiences and FOX Sports announced Wednesday.
For the second consecutive season, the primetime event will feature UConn, Iowa, Louisville, and Tennessee on FOX. The tournament will remain at Barclays Center through 2026.
“The inaugural Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic was everything I hoped it would be when we first came up with the idea,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said. “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.”
UConn dominated Louisville in the first Women’s Champions Classic on Dec. 7, 2024, securing an 85-52 win behind freshman Sarah Strong’s 21-point performance.
The Huskies hold a 6-4 all-time record against Iowa. Their last meeting was in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Final Four.
The inaugural event drew over 11,000 fans to Barclays Center and peaked at 800,000 viewers on FOX.
General ticket sales begin March 14. Husky Athletic Fund members and UConn season ticket holders will have priority access in the coming months.
