Women’s Champions Classic Heading to Brooklyn

The women’s basketball teams from Connecticut, Tennessee, Iowa and Louisville will be paired in a primetime doubleheader on December 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic, an early-season tournament that will be organized by Horizon Sports & Experiences and Fox Sports.

The four teams in the inaugural event have a total of 19 NCAA national championships and 46 Final Four appearances. Initial plans call for an annual event featuring UConn along with three other programs each season.

“Interest in women’s sports continues to experience exponential growth and basketball is leading the way with viewership and attendance records continually being set,” said David Levy, co-chief executive officer of HS&E. “The WCC will serve as a platform to showcase the remarkable talent and unwavering dedication of these teams and student-athletes in primetime on FOX, captivating audiences far and wide. We look forward to igniting excitement and celebration around women’s basketball while honoring the exceptional student-athletes who make it shine.”

UConn has won a record 11 national championships, including a record four in a row from 2013–2016. They have appeared in 22 Final Fours. Tennessee has the most victories in NCAA Division I women’s college basketball with 1,447 with eight national championships and 18 NCAA Final Four appearances.

Iowa is coming off a 2023 national championship game appearance. The Hawkeyes have appeared in two Final Fours in program history and have captured a combined 15 Big Ten conference and regular season titles. Louisville has appeared in four Final Fours, including two appearances in the national championship game. The Cardinals are currently the only team in the country that have been to each of the past five Elite Eights.

“The Women’s Champions Classic is the next step in Fox Sports’ longstanding commitment to elevating women’s athletics, and we are eager to showcase these student-athletes at the highest level,” said Jordan Bazant, executive vice president of Fox Sports. “Alongside our partners at HS&E, the exceptional participating schools and their conferences, we could not be more excited to bring the Women’s Champions Classic to college hoops fans around the nation.”