Geno Auriemma was in attendance at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction to accompany former UConn star Maya Moore-Irons, but the longtime coach also unexpectedly announced some big news.
The historic series between Lady Vols and UConn basketball took a year-long hiatus last season, but Auriemma told Knox News after the ceremony at the Tennessee Theater on Saturday that the Huskies and Tennessee would play in Knoxville during the season 2024-25. The series has not been announced by either school.
The historic series was originally ended after 2007 by legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt. It was renewed under former Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, but games did not officially resume until the 2019–20 season, which was Kellie Harper’s first season. The Lady Vols and Huskies have played four games, alternating between campuses throughout the 2022-23 season. UConn has won all four matchups, the last being a 17-point victory in Knoxville in January 2023.
UConn leads the series 17-9.
The two teams do not play each other in the 2023-24 season due to scheduling conflicts.
“I think we just have some scheduling conflicts,” Harper said last year in April. “But I think we’re going to try to continue after this season. Sometimes you have contractual obligations, facility obligations and it just doesn’t work. But we’re going to try to continue like that.”
Auriemma, who has a career record of 1,213-162, has been UConn’s coach since 1985.
The series will resume under new Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell, hired on April 7. Harper was fired April 1 after five seasons at her alma mater.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @corahall. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that gives you access to the entire thing.
