Tennessee Coach Wants Lady Vols-UConn Matchup Moved

Kim Caldwell says annual showdown is too challenging during SEC play.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Tennessee women's basketball coach Kim Caldwell has expressed a desire to move the annual matchup between the Lady Vols and UConn Huskies from its typical January or February timing. Caldwell believes the high-profile game is too tough for her team to handle during the heart of the SEC conference schedule.

Why it matters

The Lady Vols-UConn rivalry is one of the most storied in women's college basketball, but Caldwell feels the timing of the game puts an undue burden on her team as they try to navigate the rigors of SEC play.

The details

With the exception of one game, every regular-season matchup between the Huskies and Lady Vols has been played in January or February. Caldwell believes this scheduling makes the game too challenging for her team, who are in the midst of their conference schedule.

  • The Lady Vols and UConn have played each other annually, typically in January or February.

The players

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols women's basketball team.

UConn Huskies

The women's basketball team of the University of Connecticut, a perennial powerhouse in the sport.

Lady Vols

The women's basketball team of the University of Tennessee, a storied program with a long rivalry against UConn.

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What they’re saying

“It's just too tough for us”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Tennessee Lady Vols

The takeaway

The annual Lady Vols-UConn matchup is a marquee event in women's college basketball, but Tennessee's coach believes the timing of the game during conference play puts an undue burden on her team and would like to see the scheduling reconsidered.