UConn basketball announced Wednesday it will face Maryland in December's 2026 Women's Champions Classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with two of the NCAA's most prominent programs headlining the third-annual basketball showcase.
The Huskies enter next season's Classic on a perfect 2-0 event record, after dominating Iowa last December and crushing Louisville in 2024. The 2025 event drew over 11,000 fans and peaked at 860,000 television viewers with an average of 617,000.
Ranked No. 17 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, the Terrapins are poised to make their 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this year. UConn holds an 8-1 all-time advantage over Maryland. The programs last met in November 2023, when the Huskies delivered an 80-48 rout.
"We have a history playing against Maryland, so it's great to get that started again," coach Geno Auriemma said. "The first two Classics have been a tremendous success, and I think it's going to continue to grow and grow each year."
The matchup adds to UConn basketball's stacked 2026-27 non-conference schedule. The Huskies will resume their rivalry with No. 4 South Carolina on November 24th before launching a three-year series against No. 8 Duke in Boston later that month.
How to Watch UConn Basketball at the 2026 Women's Champions Classic
The 2026 Women's Champions Classic tips off on December 5th at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, with Maryland and UConn sharing a bill with Michigan and Iowa State.
The Wolverines and Cyclones open the double-header at 7 PM ET, followed by the Huskies and Terps at 9 PM ET, live on FOX.
