As the NCAA offseason continues, the St. John’s women’s basketball team confirmed on May 12 that they will face the defending National Champion UCLA Bruins at the 13th annual Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase.
The bout between Joe Tartamella’s Red Storm and Cori Close’s Bruins is scheduled for Nov. 24 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The four-team tournament will include four of the last five national champions and three of the four teams that reached the Final Four.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to compete in an event alongside the premier programs in women’s basketball, including three Final Four teams and the defending national champion in UCLA,” Tartamella said.
During the same event, UConn will face South Carolina in a rematch of this year’s Final Four, where the Gamecocks came out on top before falling short against UCLA in the national title game.
“Events like this are invaluable for our program because they challenge our team to compete at the highest level and provide a tremendous experience for our student-athletes,” Tartamella added. “We look forward to showcasing the brand of St. John’s women’s basketball on a national stage.”
After ending last season with a 22-12 record, the Red Storm retained five prominent players, including All-Big East recipients Brooke Moore and Sa’Mya Wyatt.
The Johnnies also received commitments from four new faces, including Belmont transfer Sanaa Tripp and highly touted prospect Yohana Fami.
UCLA, on the other hand, closed out a nearly perfect 37-1 season with a National Championship victory over South Carolina. This year’s roster will look much different since many players either graduated from the program or no longer have eligibility.
The Bruins last faced the Johnnies in November 2021 at the Gulf Coast Showcase, where they beat them by a close margin of eight points. The two programs have met on three other occasions, with St. John’s holding just one win over UCLA.
Their fifth meeting marks the Johnnies 11th appearance at the Mohegan Sun Arena, which is home to the Connecticut Sun of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
The venue has also hosted the Big East tournament since 2021, where St. John’s took down Xavier in the first round before coming up short against Seton Hall in the quarterfinals.
Tickets for the game are expected to go on sale in early September, along with the release of more details about the much-anticipated Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase.
