UConn and Tennessee might not be the juggernaut clash it once was on the court, but when these two storied programs meet, people still tune in - in a big way.
This past weekend’s showdown wasn’t close on the scoreboard - UConn rolled to a 96-66 win as 24.5-point favorites - but it still delivered in a different arena: television ratings. The game drew 1.21 million viewers on FOX, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game on any network so far this season. It also marked the fifth most-watched women’s college game in FOX’s history, a clear sign that the UConn-Tennessee rivalry still resonates, even when the on-court drama doesn’t go the distance.
And for a while, it looked like we might get a classic. Tennessee’s defense came to play early, forcing turnovers and grinding UConn’s offense to a halt just long enough to pull even at halftime, 42-42.
But the second half was a different story - one written by Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong. The duo combined for 53 points in a second-half clinic, helping UConn blow the doors off and record its largest margin of victory ever in this 30-year rivalry.
Strong’s physicality and Fudd’s shotmaking were simply too much for Tennessee to handle down the stretch. It was the kind of performance that reminded fans - and maybe future opponents - just how dangerous this UConn team can be when its stars get rolling.
From a viewership standpoint, this is just the latest chapter in what’s becoming a familiar trend for the Huskies. As of mid-January, UConn ranked as the No. 11 most-watched team in women’s college basketball, according to Nielsen data - and that’s without factoring in the five games aired on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform. The Huskies have consistently drawn big numbers this season, including 725,000 viewers for their marquee matchup against Iowa in New York and another top-10 showing in their game against USC.
Of course, UConn’s reach extends beyond this season. The program was part of the second-most-watched women’s college basketball game ever when over 14 million fans tuned in to watch the Huskies face Iowa in the 2024 Final Four - a game that ended in controversy after a moving screen call on Aaliyah Edwards.
And last year’s national championship win over South Carolina? That one peaked at 9.9 million viewers, the highest mark of the 2025 season.
The spotlight isn’t just shining on the women’s side, either. The UConn men’s team is set to take center stage this Friday night when they face St.
John’s at Madison Square Garden. FOX is sending its top broadcast team - Gus Johnson and Jimmy Jackson - for the call, a clear sign of the game’s importance.
If recent history is any indication, this one could draw big numbers as well. Just last week, FOX pulled in 2.7 million viewers for Michigan vs.
Michigan State, the fifth-most-watched game in network history.
So while the UConn-Tennessee rivalry may not have delivered a nail-biter this time around, it still proved one thing loud and clear: UConn basketball - men’s or women’s - remains must-see TV.