Huskies, Lady Vols To Renew Rivalry

Kellie Harper, who is taking over the legendary Tennessee women's
basketball program made famous by the late Pat Summitt, will lead her
Lady Vols against the UConn Huskies next season on Jan. 23 at the
XL Center.

By Bob Phillips

HARTFORD—One of the greatest rivalries in women’s college basketball history is being revived.  will visit the XL Center on Jan. 23, 2020. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET. UConn and Tennessee will renew their fabled rivalry starting next season when the Lady Vols

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2007 when the late Pat Summitt was working the sidelines for Tennessee. ESPN will televise the game nationally. The home-and-home series was announced in 2018. The Huskies will travel to Knoxville to challenge the Lady Vols in the 2020-21 season. A portion of the proceeds will be used to benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame located in Springfield, Mass.

This will be the first meeting between the Huskies and the
Lady Vols since the late Pat Summitt (left) roamed the
Tennessee sidelines.

Last spring, UConn head coach needled Kellie Harper, his Tennessee counterpart, when he told the Connecticut Post “It’s almost like they’re any other school now.” Harper will be starting her first season as the Lady Vols head coach in 2019-20 after accumulating a 285-208 record in her 16-year coaching career, including 25-10 last season with Missouri State, leading the Lady Bears to the Sweet 16.

Not seeing the humor in Auriemma’s statement, Harper  fired back. “I don’t think we’re just another program,” she said. “I guess everybody can say whatever they feel like they need to say.”

The Lady Vols are the leading all-time team in NCAA women’s basketball with 1,344 wins—most under Summitt’s stewardship. Summitt, who won eight NCAA titles with the Lady Vols, passed away in 2016 at the age of 64. She had been living with early-onset Alzheimer’s since 2011.

UConn has won more NCAA titles than any other women’s program—11—including 20 Final Four appearances. The Lady Vols are second in that department with eight NCAA titles and 18 Final Fours.

—with staff reports

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