No. 19 Tennessee defeated No. 5 UConn in Knoxville on Thursday, winning the matchup between two of the most accomplished programs in women’s college basketball for the first time in their past five meetings.

The Lady Vols’ 80-76 victory over the Huskies was their first in the rivalry since 2007, but that’s deceiving because the two teams didn’t play again after that until 2020. UConn coach Geno Auriemma thought the rivalry had become too bitter between fanbases and wanted to take a break. Tennessee and UConn last played each other in January 2023.

The first 20 minutes of Thursday’s matchup were tight with the Huskies going into halftime with a narrow 39-37 lead led by Sarah Strong’s 12 points.

However, Tennessee created some separation with six minutes remaining in the third quarter on a jumper by Samara Spencer, who followed that up with a steal and another basket for a 49-45 lead. On Tennessee’s next possession, Sara Puckett hit a 3-pointer to create a seven-point margin.

The Huskies took a four-point lead in the first two minutes of the third quarter and appeared to be taking control of the game. Tennessee then went on a 13-0 run capped by a Talaysia Cooper layup that built a nine-point margin.

UConn slowly chipped away at the Lady Vols’ lead and ended the third quarter down 59-54. Tennessee maintained its lead, but could never get further ahead than six points. The Huskies eventually tied the game twice, first at 69-69 on two free throws by Kaitlyn Chen then at 74-74 on a 3-pointer from Paige Bueckers.

Yet the Lady Vols weren’t shaken by UConn’s rally, quickly regained the lead on a jumper by Zee Spearman and stayed ahead until the end. Spearman’s basket out of a timeout with 15 seconds was the dagger, giving Tennessee an 80-76 lead. Azzi Fudd missed a layup and Bueckers misfired on a 3 as time expired.

Spearman led Tennessee with 16 points and seven rebounds, with Spencer adding 14 points. Jewel Spear tallied 12 points for the Lady Vols, who improved their record to 17-5 overall.

Strong scored a game-high 18 points for UConn with nine rebounds, followed by 14 from Bueckers. However, the Huskies star guard shot 5-of-16 from the floor. With the defeat, UConn dropped to 21-3 for the season.

For new Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell, who gave birth to a son last month, the win over a longtime rival is the biggest of her first season in Knoxville. Previously, her team had lost its four games against opponents ranked in the top 10.

After defeating the No. 5 team in the nation, Tennessee takes on No. 6 LSU (23-1) in Baton Rouge on Saturday. UConn is again on the road for a matchup with Providence (10-15) on Sunday.

A battle between blue bloods in UConn and Tennessee highlights Thursday night’s women’s college basketball slate.

First-year coach Kim Caldwell and the 19th-ranked Vols (16-5) host the No. 5 Huskies (21-2), led by 11-time national championship-winning coach Geno Auriemma and star guard Paige Bueckers, one of the best players in college basketball.

Bueckers, a fourth-year senior, is averaging 19 points with four rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season on 54.4% shooting. The 6-foot guard is also shooting a whopping 42.1% from 3-point range and is among the top contenders to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.

Watch Tennessee-UConn basketball live with Fubo (free trial)

Tennessee, which has lost three of its last five games, meanwhile is led by first-year transfer guard Talaysia Cooper, who’s averaging 17.9 points with 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game after transferring from South Carolina in the offseason.

Here’s how to watch the top 20 matchup between Tennessee and UConn on Thursday night:

What channel is Tennessee vs UConn on today?

Tennessee vs. UConn will air live on ESPN, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Tennessee vs UConn time today

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• Date: Thursday, Feb. 6
• Location: Food City Center (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Tennessee women’s basketball schedule 2024-25

Here are Tennessee basketball’s last five results. See the Vols’ full schedule here.

• Feb. 2: Tennessee 76, Missouri 71
• Jan. 27: South Carolina 70, Tennessee 63
• Jan. 23: Texas 80, Tennessee 76
• Jan. 19: Vanderbilt 71, Tennessee 70
• Jan. 16: Tennessee 86, Mississippi State 73

UConn women’s basketball schedule 2024-25

Here are UConn basketball’s last five results. See the Huskies’ full schedule here.

• Feb. 2: UConn 101, Butler 59
• Jan. 29: UConn 84, DePaul 58
• Jan. 25: UConn 72, Creighton 61
• Jan. 22: UConn 100, Villanova 57
• Jan. 19: UConn 96, Seton Hall 36

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Former Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones didn’t hold back when discussing what he thinks is wrong with the team.

“You got rid of the identity of the team down there which was the running back,” Jones said from Super Bowl radio row, promoting his podcast ‘The Pacman Jones Show.’ “I don’t understand that part. Y’all ain’t got no receivers. Y’all ain’t got a quarterback. And a sub-par defense. Titans need some help.”

Running back Derrick Henry left the Titans after the 2023 season. He rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 TDs in the regular season and added another 270 rushing yards and three TDs in the NFL playoffs.

Jones was the Titans’ first-round pick in 2005 and spent three years on the team, playing two and serving a suspension through the third. At his best, Jones was one of the league’s most dynamic players. In 2006 alone, he intercepted four passes and scored four total touchdowns between defense and special teams. But legal and disciplinary issues also defined Jones’ tenure, leading to a trade in 2008.

Jones played another 10 seasons after his time with the Titans ended.

The Titans finished the 2024 season with a 3-14 record and own the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager Ran Carthon was fired following the end of the season and replaced by former Kansas City Chiefs executive Mike Borgonzi. Coach Brian Callahan heads into Year 2 with serious questions about an offense that turned the ball over at an unacceptable rate and a roster that has questions everywhere from offensive line and receiver to the pass rush.

As Jones sees it, the Titans’ issues are fairly simple.

“I would start at the quarterback,” Jones said when asked what he’d do to fix the Titans. “I don’t think Will Levis, he’s not a guy that can carry a team I don’t think.”

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When asked what he’d do to address the struggles at quarterback, Jones offered a wry answer.

“Y’all got the number one pick, don’t you?” he quipped.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at  nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.