UConn and Tennessee to renew rivalry, set to restart in 2019-20
It has been 11 years since UConn and Tennessee played each other. One of the most exciting rivalries in the NCAA era of women’s basketball is set to be revived as the teams have agreed to play each other again starting in the 2019-20 season. The teams consistently met from 1995-2007.
“I think clearly, it’s a great thing for women’s basketball,” said Lynn Holzman, the NCAA vice president of women’s basketball about the renewal of the series. “You talk about the storied history of those two programs. and the opportunity for those student-athletes to play each other during the season and on that national stage with that type of media coverage is great for the sport. The historical competitiveness of those games and the attention that it garners not just for women’s basketball fans but any and all basketball and sports fans is something that is very exciting to see again.”
In the last contest between the Huskies and the Lady Vols in January 2007, UConn came out on top defeating the Lady Vols 70-64 at the Hartford Civic Center. There have been monumental shifts in the women’s basketball landscape since that game. Most notably and sadly, the death of legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt. While UConn head coach and Summitt had, at some times, a cantankerous relationship, the two coaches broke the ice and shared a warm moment as they hugged each other at the 2012 Final Four in Denver. Summitt had already been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s Type and stepped down from coaching just days after seeing Auriemma in Denver.
Since the 2007 game between the teams, UConn has won five more national championships for a total of 11. Tennessee has won eight national titles. The teams have met 22 times previously and UConn holds a a 13-9 advantage.
From the Tennessee press release:
As part of the two-year series, UConn will host Tennessee during the 2019-20 season, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Pat Summitt Foundation and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In the 2020-21 season, the Lady Vols will host the Huskies in Knoxville, with a portion of the proceeds again benefitting the Pat Summitt Foundation and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as well as the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
“We are so excited to join UConn for games that will generate incredible interest for women’s basketball and benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame,” Tennessee Head Coach Holly Warlick said.
“Basketball fans will be intrigued to watch these two programs meet on the court again, and I know Lady Vols and Huskies fans will be eager to pack arenas, cheer on their teams and make a difference for some very worthy causes, including one bearing the name of my coach, mentor and friend.”
UConn head Coach Geno Auriemma echoed this by saying, “I am happy to have the Lady Vols back on our schedule and am thrilled that proceeds to our games will benefit such an important endeavor like the Pat Summitt Foundation. I know our fans will be excited to renew the rivalry with Tennessee and expect them to fill the building for some good basketball and a great cause.”
The games will be televised and supported worldwide by the ESPN family of networks.
The teams had a back-and-forth between each other on social media teasing fans about the re-upped series.
Hey @LadyVol_Hoops ?
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) August 14, 2018
? What's up? Been a minute …
— Lady Vol Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) August 14, 2018
Oh, nothing. We were just thinking … remember how much fun we used to have together? pic.twitter.com/Wb7dULLRTz
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) August 14, 2018
Oh yeah for sure. We've had a great time the last few times we've gotten together pic.twitter.com/f2sGxsTX2M
— Lady Vol Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) August 14, 2018
Y'all trying to run it back? You're welcome any time pic.twitter.com/pOe4ORdvSD
— Lady Vol Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) August 14, 2018
Well we'd love to bring you by one of our places – we've added a few things since your last visit ? pic.twitter.com/Pb7KkT5Inq
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) August 14, 2018
| Date | Winning team | Losing team | Site | Series | ||
| 16-Jan-95 | Connecticut | 77 | Tennessee | 66 | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT | Connecticut |
| Jan-00 | ||||||
| 2-Apr-95 | Connecticut | 70 | Tennessee | 64 | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN | Connecticut |
| Feb-00 | ||||||
| 6-Jan-96 | Connecticut | 59 | Tennessee | 53 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| Mar-00 | ||||||
| 29-Mar-96 | Tennessee | 88 | Connecticut | 83 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC | Connecticut |
| 1-Mar | ||||||
| 5-Jan-97 | Connecticut | 72 | Tennessee | 57 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | Connecticut |
| 1-Apr | ||||||
| 24-Mar-97 | Tennessee | 91 | Connecticut | 81 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA | Connecticut |
| 2-Apr | ||||||
| 3-Jan-98 | Tennessee | 84 | Connecticut | 69 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| 3-Apr | ||||||
| 10-Jan-99 | Tennessee | 92 | Connecticut | 81 | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT | tie 4-4 |
| 8-Jan-00 | Connecticut | 74 | Tennessee | 67 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| 4-May | ||||||
| 2-Feb-00 | Tennessee | 72 | Connecticut | 71 | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT | tie 5-5 |
| 2-Apr-00 | Connecticut | 71 | Tennessee | 52 | Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA | Connecticut |
| 5-Jun | ||||||
| 30-Dec-00 | Connecticut | 81 | Tennessee | 76 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | Connecticut |
| 5-Jul | ||||||
| 1-Feb-01 | Tennessee | 92 | Connecticut | 88 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| 6-Jul | ||||||
| 5-Jan-02 | Connecticut | 86 | Tennessee | 72 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| 6-Aug | ||||||
| 29-Mar-02 | Connecticut | 79 | Tennessee | 56 | Alamodome, San Antonio, TX | Connecticut |
| 6-Sep | ||||||
| 4-Jan-03 | Connecticut | 63 | Tennessee | 62 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | Connecticut |
| 6-Oct | ||||||
| 8-Apr-03 | Connecticut | 73 | Tennessee | 68 | Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA | Connecticut |
| 6-Nov | ||||||
| 5-Feb-04 | Connecticut | 81 | Tennessee | 67 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| 6-Dec | ||||||
| 6-Apr-04 | Connecticut | 70 | Tennessee | 61 | New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA | Connecticut |
| 13-6 | ||||||
| 8-Jan-05 | Tennessee | 68 | Connecticut | 67 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | Connecticut |
| 13-7 | ||||||
| 7-Jan-06 | Tennessee | 89 | Connecticut | 80 | Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN | Connecticut |
| 13-8 | ||||||
| 6-Jan-07 | Tennessee | 70 | Connecticut | 64 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT | Connecticut |
| 13-9 | ||||||
