UConn and Texas to Play in 2016 Jimmy V Women’s Classic


Event hosted by Basketball Hall of Fame at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut

The University of Connecticut and the University of Texas will play in the 2016 Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona and hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday, Dec. 4. The annual event, in its 15th year, will be televised from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Although both teams have competed against each other in the regular and post season, this will be the first time that UConn and Texas face off in the Jimmy V Women’s Classic. This the second time Texas will appear in the annual event, while UConn will be playing for the sixth consecutive year and eighth time overall.

Highlights:

The early-season event is part of ESPN’s Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research, which is held yearly in early December, across all domestic ESPN platforms to drive awareness of and donations to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. In 2015, Jimmy V Week raised a record $3.2 million, bringing the nine-year total of contributions to more than $13.7 million. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will be a first-time host of the 2016 Jimmy V Women’s Classic.

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates the Jimmy V Men’s and Women’s Classics. The men’s event will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from NYC’s famed Madison Square Garden and feature Arizona State, Duke, Florida and Purdue.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. and prices range from $15-$115. Tickets to the women’s event are available for purchase at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office and Ticketmaster Outlets by phone at (866) 858-0008 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Quotes on Jimmy V Women’s Classic

“In continuing to feature the very best in women’s college basketball, we are honored to stage this year’s event with the Hall of Fame. The Jimmy V brand reminds us of the positive legacy of his cause and we look forward to a great game.” – Clint Overby, ESPN senior director, ESPN Events

“The V Foundation for Cancer Research has done remarkable work over the years and we are so proud to be a part of this cause. Jim Valvano embodied the spirit of giving and the game — we are honored to host this event in his name.” – John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame

“Being a part of the Jimmy V Classic is always very special and enjoyable. For several years now, this game has become part of the ESPN college basketball landscape and to be associated with it says something about your program and how it’s viewed nationally. More importantly, being a part of the Jimmy V Classic gives us the opportunity to teach this year’s group of players a little about Jimmy, what he stood for and how important the cause of curing cancer is. Playing in this game never gets old.

– Geno Auriemma, UConn head women’s basketball coach

“We are excited to be participating in the Jimmy V Classic. I have great respect for the passion Jim Valvano displayed every day for both basketball and cancer research, and the way he fought cancer was inspiring to us all. We are looking forward to the opportunity to play UConn again next season, and participating in the Jimmy V Classic will be a great experience for our team.” – Karen Aston, Texas head women’s basketball coach

Previous Jimmy V Women’s Classic Results

Date Location Matchup
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 Storrs, Conn. UConn 91, Notre Dame 81
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 South Bend, Ind. UConn 76, Notre Dame 58
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 Durham, N.C. UConn 83, Duke, 61
Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 Hartford, Conn. UConn 63, Maryland 48
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 Hartford, Conn. UConn 81, Texas A&M 51
Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 Durham, N.C. Duke 61, Texas A&M 58
Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers 51, Florida 38
Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers 45, Georgia 34
Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers 68, Maryland 60
Monday, Dec. 4, 2006 Piscataway, N.J. Duke 85, Rutgers 45
Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 Hartford, Conn. North Carolina 77, UConn 54
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004 Raleigh, N.C. North Carolina 71, UConn 65Tennessee 64, NC State 54
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003 Raleigh, N.C. Texas 69, NC State 56Duke 93, Purdue 63
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002 Raleigh, N.C. Tennessee 55, Duke 76UConn 78, NC State 50

 About The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $150 million in cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations to cancer research and related programs. Due to generous donors, the Foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses.  The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process vetted by a Scientific Advisory Committee.  For more information on The V Foundation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage. For more information, follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram or visit www.hoophall.com.