HS&E and FOX Sports announce the launch of a new early-season college basketball showcase, the Women’s Champions Classic. The inaugural Women’s Champions Classic will feature the University of Connecticut, the University of Iowa, the University of Louisville, and the University of Tennessee, squaring off in a primetime doubleheader on the FOX broadcast network, Saturday, December 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Initial plans call for an annual event featuring UConn, the most successful women’s basketball program in the nation, in an early season showcase that will include a rotation of some of the most storied college programs.

“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-CEO of HS&E. “This moment feels like the right time to launch the Women’s Champions Classic, set in the mecca of basketball, and we are proud to have these four storied programs participate in our inaugural event. The Women’s Champions Classic 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. Together with our partners at FOX, we look forward to igniting excitement and celebration around women’s basketball while honoring the exceptional student-athletes who make it shine.”

“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 – in primetime on the FOX broadcast network,” said Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President, 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.”

The inaugural Women’s Champions Classic features:

Four women’s college basketball programs, boasting a total of 19 NCAA Division I National Championships and 46 appearances in NCAA Final Fours. Additionally, these esteemed programs have garnered over 120 conference titles collectively.

UConn has won a record 11 NCAA Division I National Championships, including a record four in a row from 2013-16. Additionally, they have appeared in 22 Final Fours and have won 57 conference regular season and tournament championships.

The University of Iowa are coming off a 2023 Final Four and National Championship Game appearance. The Hawkeyes have appeared in two NCAA Final Fours in program history and have captured a combined 15 BIG TEN conference and regular season titles.

The University of Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team has appeared in four Final Fours, including two appearances in the National Championship Game. They have won a combined 15 regular season and conference tournament championships. The Cardinals are currently the only team in the country that have been to each of the last five Elite Eights.

The University of Tennesseehas earned the most victories in the history of NCAA Division I women’s college basketball with 1466. The Lady Vols have captured eight national championships, with 18 NCAA Final Four appearances, and a combined 35 SEC conference and regular season titles.
Tickets for the 2024 Women’s Champions Classic will go on sale in March.