Top-Ranked Huskies Face Louisville in Armed Forces Classic Season Opener
The UConn women’s basketball team, ranked No. 1, is set to kick off the 2025-26 season against No. 20 Louisville. This exciting match will take place as part of the Armed Forces Classic on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN and the UConn Sports Network.
Armed Forces Classic and Season Overview
The Armed Forces Classic is a notable event that showcases premier college basketball games, supporting U.S. troops stationed globally. This season marks a significant change, as it is the inaugural year featuring women’s basketball programs.
UConn’s Recent Success
UConn returned to the top of women’s basketball by clinching their 12th NCAA Championship in 2025. They achieved this by defeating South Carolina 82-59 in the championship game held on April 6 in Tampa. The Huskies made history as the first team to overcome three No. 1 seeds—USC, UCLA, and South Carolina—en route to their championship title.
Season Opener Stats
- UConn holds a remarkable 43-8 record in season openers.
- Under head coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have a 36-4 record in these games.
- The team boasts a streak of 29 consecutive season-opening victories.
- The last opening loss occurred on November 19, 1995.
Head-to-Head with Louisville
The Huskies have an all-time record of 20-3 against Louisville. In their latest encounter, UConn triumphed 85-52 in the inaugural Women’s Champions Classic at Barclays Center last season. Key contributors included Sarah Strong, who scored 21 points, and Azzi Fudd with 18 points.
Louisville Preseason Outlook
Louisville is projected to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll and reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round last season. Notable players include Tajianna Roberts and Laura Ziegler, both named Preseason All-ACC. Head coach Jeff Walz is entering his 19th season with the Cardinals.
Recent Performance
In their final preseason exhibition, UConn showcased their strength by defeating Southern Connecticut State 105-39. Graduate student Azzi Fudd led the team with 21 points and recorded five steals. The game highlighted UConn’s depth, with all 13 available players contributing to the score, resulting in 48 bench points.
Preseason Rankings
UConn is ranked first in both the Associated Press and WBCA Coaches’ polls, marking the 13th time in program history they have achieved this preseason ranking. Additionally, the Huskies were favored to finish first in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Strong earned the title of Preseason Player of the Year, while Kelis Fisher was named Preseason Freshman of the Year. Other prominent players on the Preseason All-BIG EAST list include Fudd, Serah Williams, KK Arnold, and Ashlynn Shade.
Upcoming Home Opener
Following their match with Louisville, UConn will host Florida State in their Gampel Pavilion home opener on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. A special ceremony will take place before tipoff, unveiling the 2025 National Championship banner in the rafters. Limited tickets for the event are still available at www.uconntickets.com.
