Wildcats Fall to Sun Devils 68-61 in Burke's First Territorial Cup Matchup

Arizona women's basketball suffers heartbreaking loss against in-state rivals in Tempe

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:15pm

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The Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team suffered a 68-61 loss against the Arizona State Sun Devils on the road in Tempe on Wednesday. While the Wildcats didn't get the result they wanted, coach Becky Burke praised her team's effort and resiliency, especially being down some important players. The game came down to the final minute, but the Wildcats ultimately picked up their fifth consecutive loss of the season.

Why it matters

This was a big game to help determine the trajectory of the remainder of the season, as well as the first Territorial Cup game for a number of people on the court, including both head coaches. The rivalry between Arizona and Arizona State is intense, and the game featured a lot of back-and-forth action that had the crowd engaged throughout.

The details

Arizona State got off to a hot start early, while the Wildcats struggled with turnovers and sloppy play. The Wildcats were able to keep things close, putting up a strong defensive effort, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Sun Devils' lead. Free throws and turnovers proved to be the difference, as Arizona State knocked down 19 of 21 free throws compared to Arizona's 13 of 18, and the Sun Devils had 11 steals to the Wildcats' 6.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.

The players

Becky Burke

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team.

Molly Miller

The head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils women's basketball team.

Kamryn Kitchen

A player for the Arizona Wildcats who had 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in the game.

Gabby Elliott

A player for the Arizona State Sun Devils who led the team in scoring with 22 points.

Heloisa Carrera

A player for the Arizona State Sun Devils who had a double-double in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I am so proud of our team. Proud of our effort, proud of our fight. Don't get me wrong, I'm very disappointed with the outcome. We did a lot of things right and I thought we had them really out of sorts.”

— Becky Burke, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats

“Becky is going to do great things. She's doing great things. I really admire what she's done with her program. They're one of the hardest playing teams in the Big 12, so she's got that thing going and she's going to continue to do that. She's an amazing coach.”

— Molly Miller, Head Coach, Arizona State Sun Devils

“We've got a lot of players in that locker room who wish they could have a play or two back, and this thing could have gone the other way.”

— Becky Burke, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats

What’s next

The Wildcats will look to regroup in the next few days before taking on Oklahoma State at McKale Center on Sunday, January 2. They have only won one Big 12 game so far this season, but will look to change that as they prepare for the back half of their schedule. The teams will meet again on February 14 in Tucson.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the intensity and passion of the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry, with both teams leaving everything on the court. While the Wildcats came up short, the game showcased the growth and potential of Becky Burke's program, and the respect her counterpart Molly Miller has for the job she is doing. The Wildcats will look to use this experience to fuel them as they continue their Big 12 conference play.