Reports: Major announcement women’s college basketball doubleheader
Doubleheader To Feature Stanford vs. Ohio State & UCLA vs. Creighton
San Francisco, Calif. – The Chase Center announced on Monday, August 5, that it will host the Invisalign® Bay Area Women’s Classic on Friday, December 20, 2024. This women’s college basketball doubleheader will feature Stanford against Ohio State, followed by UCLA facing Creighton. Both games will be broadcast on FOX Sports, with game times to be revealed later.
Creighton is coming off its best three-season stretch ever, making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history three consecutive times. Their standout 2022 season saw them reach the Elite Eight after victories over Colorado, Iowa, and Iowa State. The Bluejays return seasoned starters Mallory Brake, Lauren Jensen, Morgan Maly, and Molly Mogensen, who were pivotal to their success. Head Coach Jim Flanery, entering his 23rd year at Creighton, is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 402 victories.
UCLA had a remarkable 2023-24 season, marked by their first win against UConn, a nine-week stint at No. 2 in the AP Top 25, and the nation’s best rebounding margin at +13.9. The Bruins return All-Pac-12 players Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts and welcome Timea Gardiner, the Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year last season. Under Head Coach Cori Close, UCLA has made back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances and qualified for seven of the last eight NCAA Tournaments. Close holds an overall record of 287-140, trailing only UCLA legend Billie Moore in all-time wins as she begins her 13th season.
Stanford returns to the Chase Center five years after their 97-71 victory over the University of San Francisco in 2019. As the 2024-25 season approaches, the Cardinal bring back nine players and add transfers Tess Heal, the 2023 West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year from Santa Clara, and Mary Ashley Stevenson, the 2024 Big Ten Media Freshman of the Year from Purdue. Head Coach Kate Paye, who previously served as a two-time WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year under Tara VanDerveer, leads a team that achieved a 30-6 record last season and finished ranked ninth nationally.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking fresh for the 2024-25 season with the addition of former Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cotie McMahon along with All-Big Ten player Taylor Thierry, who ranked second and third in team scoring last season and were their top rebounders. In the 2023-24 season, Ohio State recorded 15 straight Big Ten wins, remaining undefeated in January and February, which marked the program’s second-longest conference winning streak. Head Coach Kevin McGuff, now in his 12th season, was honored as Big Ten Coach of the Year by both coaches and media.
The Invisalign® Bay Area Classic will be a single-admission doubleheader, requiring fans to purchase only one ticket for both games. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, August 6, at 12 p.m., with a presale event for Golden State Valkyries season ticket deposit holders. Chase Center Insiders will have presale access starting on Wednesday, August 7, at 10 a.m., ahead of the general public sale on Thursday, August 8, at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at chasecenter.com.
Align Technology, makers of the Invisalign System of clear aligners, will partner with the Chase Center to present the Invisalign® Bay Area Classic, promising a day of competitive action and entertainment from elite athletes.
