UConn and LSU Set for 2026 Nashville Showdown
The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball program will open the 2026‑27 season with a marquee nonconference game against Louisiana State University on December 20, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The contest is part of the espnW Invitational, a multi‑team event that will also feature a Virginia versus Kentucky matchup later that day.
Head coaches Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey will square off on the sidelines. Auriemma, who has led UConn to 11 national titles, previously faced Mulkey when both were at Baylor, a rivalry that intensified during Mulkey’s tenure from 2000 to 2021. Mulkey, now in her second year at LSU, captured three NCAA championships at Baylor and added a fourth with LSU in 2023.
A Rivalry Renewed
The two coaches have met five times in the postseason, with Auriemma holding a 3‑2 edge. Their most recent encounter came in the 2021 Elite Eight, where UConn defeated LSU 71‑64. Historically, LSU leads the all‑time series 8‑1, the last meeting dating back to November 2016.
UConn’s broader nonconference slate includes exhibitions against Texas and games versus traditional powerhouses such as South Carolina, Duke, Michigan, Iowa, and Louisville. The Cardinals will host the exhibition at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, while the Wolverines will travel to Ann Arbor’s Crisler Center to face the Huskies in a neutral‑site showdown.
Tickets for the LSU game will go on sale this fall, with a pre‑sale registration available at espnWinvitational.com. Fans can also expect additional matchups at venues ranging from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, rounding out a schedule that blends coast‑to‑coast travel with high‑stakes competition.