Top-Ranked Huskies Face No. 20 Louisville in Armed Forces Classic Opener
On Tuesday, the top-ranked UConn women’s basketball team will kick off the 2025-26 season. They face No. 20 Louisville in the Armed Forces Classic. The matchup is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Maryland, and will be broadcast on ESPN and the UConn Sports Network, including FOX Sports 97.9.
Overview of the Armed Forces Classic
The Armed Forces Classic is an event designed to bring high-level college basketball to U.S. troops stationed worldwide. This season marks the inaugural appearance of women’s basketball programs in this classic.
UConn’s Recent Performances
UConn recently celebrated its 12th NCAA Championship title. The Huskies achieved this with an impressive 82-59 victory over South Carolina on April 6, 2025. This victory highlighted their remarkable journey as they defeated three No. 1 seeds—USC, UCLA, and South Carolina—to clinch the championship.
Historical Success in Season Openers
- UConn is 43-8 all-time in season openers.
- Under head coach Geno Auriemma, their record is 36-4.
- The team has not lost a season opener since November 19, 1995.
- Currently, they are on a 29-game winning streak in season openers.
Head-to-Head Record Against Louisville
UConn holds a 20-3 all-time record against Louisville. The teams clashed in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic last season, where UConn dominated with an 85-52 scoreline. Notable performances included 21 points from Sarah Strong and 18 from Azzi Fudd.
Louisville’s Season Outlook
Louisville has been predicted to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll. Last season, they progressed to the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round. Noteworthy players Tajianna Roberts and Laura Ziegler received Preseason All-ACC honors. Head coach Jeff Walz enters his 19th season at the helm of the Cardinals.
Preseason Highlights for UConn
In their final exhibition match, UConn defeated Southern Connecticut State University 105-39. Graduate student Azzi Fudd led the scoring with 21 points, including five 3-pointers, and contributed five steals. Additionally, all 13 players scored, resulting in 48 total bench points.
National and Conference Rankings
UConn is currently ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and WBCA Coaches’ preseason polls. This is the 13th time UConn has opened the season ranked first in the AP poll. The Huskies were also favored to finish first in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, with Sarah Strong being named Player of the Year and Kelis Fisher recognized as Freshman of the Year.
Upcoming Home Opener
UConn will host its home opener on Sunday against Florida State at 4:30 p.m. Before the game, they will proudly unveil their 2025 National Championship banner at Gampel Pavilion. Limited tickets are still available at www.uconntickets.com.
