The UConn, Tennessee, Iowa and Louisville women’s basketball teams will participate in an inaugural doubleheader on Dec. 7 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Fox Sports, in conjunction with Horizon Sports & Experiences, has dubbed the event the “Women’s Champions Classic.” While the matchups are not set, the games will appear in primetime. This year, Fox does not air the Big Ten football championship game.

The Women’s Champions Classic is the second made-for-TV women’s collegiate sporting event created by Fox Sports for the 2024-25 sports season. The network also will air a four-game women’s volleyball classic Sept. 1-2 in Milwaukee featuring NCAA powers Minnesota, Stanford, Texas and Wisconsin.

“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,” Fox Sports executive vice president Jordan Bazant said in a statement.

The four-team event involves four of the sport’s most iconic brands.

UConn has won a record 11 NCAA national titles and appeared in 22 Final Fours. Tennessee has the most victories in women’s basketball history (1,466) with eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances. Iowa played for the NCAA championship last April and has sold out or set arena records in 30 of its 32 regular-season games this year. Louisville is the only team currently with five consecutive Elite Eight appearances and has appeared in four Final Fours.

Tickets will go on sale in March.

What are coaches saying?

UConn coach Geno Auriemma: “We’re very excited to have the Women’s Champions Classic on our schedule for the foreseeable future. There’s never been a higher level of interest in women’s basketball. The Champions Classic will give fans exciting, marquee matchups early in the season.”

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder: “This is a fabulous opportunity for our team and our Iowa fans — at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. An early-season game like this will have an NCAA tournament feel. Our East Coast fans will show up, no doubt!”

Louisville coach Jeff Walz: “We are very excited and honored to take part in the inaugural Women’s Champion Classic next season. It will be a great showcase for our sport to have some of the best programs in college basketball compete on a national stage. Our team is looking forward to the opportunity the event will provide us next season.”

Tennessee coach Kellie Harper: “We are honored to take part in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic. What an exciting opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in a national showcase event that will continue to elevate the increased exposure we are seeing in women’s basketball. The Lady Vols have a long tradition of doing whatever we can to grow the game, and we can’t wait to hit the court at the Barclays Center next December.”

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(Photo: David Butler II / USA Today)