Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge Set for November

Christyn Williams and her UConn Huskies are set to play in the Naismith
Memorial Hall of Fame Women's Challenge in November at the Mohegan
Sun. Mississippi State is also in the field setting up a potential rematch of
the 2017 national semifinal contest in the championship game. (Photo
by Stephen Slade)

By Bob Phillips

UNCASVILLE—Connecticut sports fans finally got a bit of good news today when the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the matchups for the Hall of Fame Women's Challenge to be played November 28 and 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The field is highlighted by 11-time national champion UConn (which returns to the BIG EAST Conference on July 1).

The Huskies will be paired with another team from the Nutmeg State, Quinnipiac (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in the opening round. In the other opening-round tilt, Maine (America East Conference) will face-off with Mississippi State (Southeastern Conference). The opening round games will be played on Saturday, Nov. 28, with the championship and consolation game on Sunday.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the women's game with our Women’s Challenge at Mohegan Sun, a longtime partner of the Hall and a beautiful property for fans to enjoy,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “UConn fans have created an outstanding environment for the many matchups played here over the years and we are excited to host our three additional participating schools in a first-class event.”

The Women's Challenge is one event in the Hall of Fame's series of collegiate events, which continues to grow in an effort to celebrate the game outside the museum walls.

“Playing at Mohegan is always a great chance for our fans in another part of our state to come and see us play,” said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, himself a Hall-of-Famer. “We’re looking forward to playing there for the seventh straight season. This tournament with the Basketball Hall of Fame will feature exciting basketball and it'll be a great event.”

“Our program is very excited to be a part of the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge next season,” added Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri. “We look forward to competing with three outstanding programs at Mohegan Sun, beginning with an in-state matchup with UConn. Challenging ourselves against top-tier non-conference opponents is a part of the fabric of our program's success.”

The matchups, of course, set up the possibility (probability) of a UConn-Mississippi State final. The Bulldogs, of course, snapped a 111-game winning streak by Connecticut when they defeated the Huskies with a buzzer-beater in the 2017 national semifinals.

“I'm really excited to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge,” said Mississippi State head coach Nikki McCray-Penson. “I was a part of this event when I was at South Carolina, and I'm excited for the opportunity to be around basketball greatness and see that again.

“A lot of coaches I know, including my former head coach Pat Summitt, are in the Hall of Fame,” she continued. “Dawn Staley and a lot of my Olympic teammates have been inducted into the Hall as well. It's where this all begins. We will be going up against some great competition in Maine, Quinnipiac, and UConn. I'm really looking forward to the event."  – 

—with staff reports

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