The rivalry renews for the 26th time on Thursday night
Knoxville, Tenn. – A storied rivalry is renewed once again when the Lady Vols and UConn take the Summitt Floor on Thursday evening.
A series that first tipped off in January of 1995 between Tennessee and the University of Connecticut women’s basketball will meet for the 26th time this week.
The rivalry lapsed a season ago, and its renewal reignites excitement that current Lady Vols head coach, Kim Caldwell had during her school days.
“Everyone at school would talk about it; guys, girls, every one! They knew the game was on that week and it would just be the talk of the day,” said Caldwell.
A game everyone had marked on the calendar and couldn’t wait to be in front of their TVs to watch the iconic matchups.
“When that game was on the schedule and you would talk about it at school and you would talk about it at practice. You would just be looking forward to it. Then you would watch it and record it, and it was just such a big deal.”
The game carried much more weight than simply being a regular season matchup. It was crucial for the growth of the sport.
“I think that was something great for women’s basketball,” said Caldwell.
Growing up watching this matchup to now coaching in it, is an anticipated moment Caldwell described as humbling.
“It’s very humbling to now be a part of it,” said Caldwell.
A similar feeling guard Jewel Spear has now wearing the Orange and White.
“I think it means a lot. There’s a lot of history in that matchup,” said Spear.
While there isn’t a specific play or game that stands out to Spear, she simply remembers the feeling of watching iconic players face off in this heated rivalry.
“I was aware of that matchup with just iconic legendary players. Tamika Catchings, Mya Moore, Dianna Torasi, Tamika Hollsclaw. It’s just a lot of history in it and a lot of pride we take in it knowing it’s a historic matchup that it is,” said Spear.
A surreal moment lies ahead for Caldwell.
“Just as we got on the plane and starting our Connecticut scout, it was like, ‘Oh, we’re doing this.”
For a team still on the quest for a signature win, Caldwell knows you can’t get caught up in the storylines of this marquee matchup.
“You have to treat basketball like it’s basketball. You can look at that for a second and then you have to get back to doing what we do.”