UConn and Texas to Play in 2016 Jimmy V Women’s Classic hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame

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 15^th 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:

• UConn is 7-0 all-time against Texas, including four wins in the NCAA Women’s Championship
• Texas has appeared in this event once prior to 2016, defeating NC State in 2003
• UConn’s record in Jimmy V Women’s Classic is 6-2 with the Huskies winning five straight and falling twice to North Carolina in 2004 and 2005
• UConn has won 11 NCAA Women’s National Championships (1995, 2000, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’09, ’10, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16), while Texas captured the title in 1986  

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

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.

ESPN Events ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; 13 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.