A New Chapter in a storied rivalry
The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball program is set to open its 2026‑27 campaign with a high‑profile exhibition against the Texas Longhorns on October 19, 2026. The game will be staged at either PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford or the on‑campus Gampel Pavilion, giving the Huskies a chance to showcase their new‑look roster before the regular season begins.
UConn’s regular‑season slate promises a gauntlet of top‑tier opponents, including Michigan, Iowa, South Carolina, Duke and Maryland. The team will return three starters, highlighted by national Player of the Year Sarah Strong, and will also benefit from the experience of Azzi Fudd, who previously led the squad with a 32‑point performance against Texas in the 2022‑23 season. KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade are among the other key contributors expected to bolster the lineup.
Texas aims to keep the momentum
Under head coach Vic Schaefer, Texas enters the exhibition with a roster that retains top talents Madison Booker and Breya Cunningham. The Longhorns finished the previous season at 35‑4, capping their run with a 51‑44 loss to UCLA in the Final Four semifinals, a result that underscores both their resilience and the gaps they hope to fill heading into the new year.
The historical context adds extra intrigue: UConn holds a 10‑1 edge in the all‑time series, yet Texas captured the most recent meeting with an 80‑68 victory in Austin on December 3, 2023. A year earlier, the Huskies had edged Texas 83‑76 behind Fudd’s 32 points, setting a narrative of alternating dominance that fuels anticipation for the upcoming clash.
Beyond the exhibition, UConn will navigate a full slate of 20 Big East contests, a conference renowned for its competitive balance. The combination of a challenging non‑conference schedule and an ambitious conference agenda positions the Huskies to test their depth early, while the return of core players like Sarah Strong and the emergence of new leaders suggest a season that could once again place UConn among the nation’s elite.