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Why Kellie Harper said Lady Vols basketball is unlikely to play UConn in 2023-24 season

cora hall, knoxville news sentinel
·2 min read
12

After playing in the historic rivalry with UConn the last four seasons, it's unlikely Lady Vols basketball will play the Huskies in the 2023-24 season.

UConn revealed most of its nonconference schedule for next season last week and Tennessee was not listed. At the Nashville stop of Tennessee's Big Orange Caravan tour on Wednesday, Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper said she didn't think they'd be able to play UConn in 2023-24.

"I think we just have some scheduling conflicts," Harper said Thursday at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Knoxville. "But I believe we're going to try to continue it after this season. Sometimes you have contractual obligations, facility obligations and it just doesn't work out. But we're gonna try to continue that."

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The storied rivalry, which gained popularity under Lady Vols legendary coach Pat Summitt, was canceled by Summitt in 2007. The rivalry was renewed under former Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, but Harper was at the helm by the time the games were played. UConn has won the last four matchups since the series was renewed, and it now leads the series 17-9.

This season's matchup ended in a 17-point win for UConn at Thompson-Boling Arena. The game drew national attention with ESPN's "College GameDay" in town, and 13,804 fans showed up, which is Tennessee’s largest women’s home crowd since Feb. 15, 2015.

Harper said leading up to the game in January that she believes the series has had a positive effect on women's basketball, and it would be good to continue it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols basketball, UConn likely won't schedule game in 2023-24