Tournament to feature Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi State and Quinnipiac
Uncasville, CT – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the matchups for the Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge on Saturday, November 28th and Sunday, November 29th at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
Local favorite and 11-time National Champions UConn (which joins the Big East Conference on July 1) will take on Quinnipiac (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in the opening round, and Maine (America East Conference) will faceoff with Mississippi State (Southeastern Conference). The championship and consolation game will follow on Sunday.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the women’s game with our Women’s Challenge at Mohegan Sun, a longtime partner of the Hall and a beautiful property for fans to enjoy,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “UConn fans have created an outstanding environment for the many matchups played here over the years and we are excited to host our three additional participating schools in a first-class event.”
The Women’s Challenge is one event in the Hall of Fame’s series of collegiate events, which continues to grow in an effort to celebrate the game outside the museum walls. Tickets will be available for purchase via the Mohegan Sun box Office and Ticketmaster in September 2020. Specially discounted two-day ticket packages will start at $25 and offer a savings of 30% or more (off the single day rates). Game times and television details will be released at later date. As the health and safety of the athletes, fans and staff is of the utmost importance, the Basketball Hall of Fame will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely in the coming months and provide updates as needed.
Quotes from Participating Head Coaches
“Playing at Mohegan is always a great chance for our fans in another part of our state to come and see us play. We’re looking forward to playing there for the seventh straight season. This tournament with the Basketball Hall of Fame will feature exciting basketball and it’ll be a great event.” – Geno Auriemma, UConn
"We are so excited to be a part of this prestigious event. Being in a tournament with UConn, Mississippi State and Quinnipiac is an honor and an opportunity our program is looking forward to this fall." – Amy Vachon, Maine
"I’m really excited to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge. I was a part of this event when I was at South Carolina, and I’m excited for the opportunity to be around basketball greatness and see that again. A lot of coaches I know, including my former head coach Pat Summitt, are in the Hall of Fame. Dawn Staley and a lot of my Olympic teammates have been inducted into the Hall as well. It’s where this all begins. We will be going up against some great competition in Maine, Quinnipiac, and UConn. I’m really looking forward to the event." – Nikki McCray-Penson, Mississippi State
"Our program is very excited to be a part of the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge next season. We look forward to competing with three outstanding programs at Mohegan Sun, beginning with an in-state matchup with UConn. Challenging ourselves against top-tier non-conference opponents is a part of the fabric of our program’s success.” – Tricia Fabbri, Quinnipiac
About Mohegan Sun:
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Today. It has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Mohegan Sun Arena was also ranked among the top 10 arena venues in the nation for 2014, regardless of size. In 2015, Mohegan Sun took home the IEBA award for “Casino of the Year.” Mohegan Sun also won “Casino of the Year” in 2 categories at the 2013 & 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1-888.226-7711, ext. 27163.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #HOFWomensChallenge or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.