Newark, NJ (July 29, 2025) — Following the success of its inaugural showcase, the Coretta Scott King Classic returns for its second year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The nationally televised event on FOX will highlight women’s college basketball while honoring the legacy and values of Coretta Scott King and the King family.
This year’s doubleheader will feature a new roster of elite women’s college basketball programs:
- Game 1 at 12PM ET: TCU vs. Ohio State
- Game 2 at 2:30PM ET: Vanderbilt vs. Michigan
The Coretta Scott King Classic is not just a basketball event—it is a movement that celebrates leadership, equality, education, and empowerment through sport. The day will include community activations, youth engagement programming, and more, reflecting the enduring legacy of Mrs. King.
“The Coretta Scott King Classic is a testament to the enduring power of my mother’s legacy,” stated Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Coretta Scott King and CEO of The King Center. “She believed deeply in the transformative nature of education and public engagement, and this event continues to bring that vision to life for a new generation of athletes, fans, and leaders.”
“We are honored to once again shine a spotlight on exceptional women’s basketball programs while promoting values that transcend sport,” added Michael Neuman, Co-Head of Playfly Sports Consulting. “Building on the overwhelmingly positive response to last year’s event, we’re expanding the scope and impact of this year’s event to raise the bar even higher in honor of Coretta Scott King.”
“We are thrilled to showcase the Coretta Scott King Classic for the second year on the FOX broadcast network,” said Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President, FOX Sports. “This exceptional event brings student-athletes and communities together to honor the tremendous legacy of Coretta Scott King and is a prime example of FOX Sports’ commitment to amplifying women’s sports.”
“The Coretta Scott King Classic serves as more than just a basketball competition but rather a celebration of incredible student-athletes plus the values Mrs. King stood for: leadership, equality, and community,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President, Sports Properties and Special Events, HBSE/Prudential Center. “HBSE is honored to collaborate with Playfly Sports and FOX Sports once again to host this incredible event at Prudential Center on Martin Luther King Day, bringing together some of the best women’s basketball programs in the country. We look to expand on the success of last year’s inaugural event and celebrate these outstanding female athletes, who motivate the next generation both on and off the court.”
INSIDE LOOK AT THE TEAMS
Michigan is coming off a 23–11 season, tied for the third-most wins in program history, and marked its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wolverines return two standout sophomores in Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, who combined for more than 32 points per game last season. Both earned All-Big Ten honors, with Olson named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Olson shared that honor with Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge, who leads the Buckeyes into the 2025–26 campaign. A traditional Big Ten powerhouse, Ohio State owns 15 regular-season titles and five Big Ten Tournament championships. Last season, the Buckeyes posted a 26–7 record and made their 29th NCAA Tournament appearance.
TCU enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2024–25, winning a program-record 34 games, claiming the Big 12 title, and reaching the Elite Eight in its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Horned Frogs were led by consensus All-American and now-WNBA standout Hailey Van Lith. She will be succeeded by one of the nation’s top returning All-Americans, Olivia Miles, who transferred in after a stellar career at Notre Dame.
Vanderbilt, a six-time SEC Tournament champion, finished last season 22–11 and made its 29th NCAA Tournament appearance. The campaign was highlighted by the emergence of now-sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes, who averaged 23.3 points per game. Her performance earned her SEC Freshman of the Year honors and a USBWA Second-Team All-America selection — the first Vanderbilt player to earn All-America recognition since 2003.
HEAR FROM THE HEAD COACHES
“We are excited to participate and represent the University of Michigan in the 2026 Coretta Scott King Classic. We always talk about being strong, powerful women who use our voices and our platforms to fight for change. This is a great opportunity to honor a woman who dedicated her life to empowering other women. We have a group that loves to compete on the biggest stages against the best teams, and we look forward to playing Vanderbilt on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”
- Michigan Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico
“I am deeply honored to announce our participation in the 2026 Coretta Scott King Classic. This event is a powerful celebration of Coretta Scott King’s enduring legacy as a champion for equality, justice and empowerment. It is a privilege for our team to compete in an event that not only showcases the strength and talent of women’s basketball but also pays tribute to Mrs. King’s profound impact on our society.
Our program is committed to fostering leadership, resilience and excellence in our student-athletes, values that resonate deeply with the vision of Coretta Scott King. Participating in this prestigious event provides our team with an opportunity to compete at a high level while embracing the responsibility to uplift and inspire through the platform of sport. We look forward to representing Buckeye Nation with pride and contributing to the celebration of Mrs. King’s legacy.”
- Ohio State Head Coach Kevin McGuff
“We are honored to be included in this event. Coretta Scott King and her family have left a profound impact on the world in their commitment to civil rights and social justice. Playing these games is a special way to celebrate their legacy. Competing on the national stage on FOX Sports against an elite Ohio State program is an amazing opportunity. This will be a great test for our team as we prepare for March.”
- TCU Head Coach Mark Campbell
“It is an honor to be invited to participate in the Coretta Scott King Classic against Michigan this season. The opportunity to honor Mrs. King’s legacy was one we could not pass up, since our student-athletes are living beneficiaries of her advocacy. We feel fortunate to align our program with the work of the entire King family, to celebrate Mrs. King’s conviction to create equality and empowerment for all of us, and to continue the fight for gender equity in sports.”
- Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph
EXPERIENCE IT LIVE
Tickets for the Coretta Scott King Classic are on sale now via Prucenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, and Prudential Center’s Box Office. For group opportunities and experiences for 10+ people, contact 973-757-6000 or email groupevents@prucenter.com. For Premium seating opportunities, visit prucenter.com/premium.
Follow us on social media for more up-to-date information as it becomes available: @CSKClassic (X) and @CorettaScottKingClassic (Instagram).
Media Credentials: CLICK HERE
MEDIA CONTACTS
Danaé Joumard (Director, Marketing & Communications at Playfly Sports)
danae.joumard@playfly.com
Bill Hanousek (Director, Entertainment Communications at Prudential Center)
billhanousek@prucenter.com
Jack Pennington (Publicist, Media Relations at FOX Sports)
jack.pennington@fox.com
ABOUT FOX SPORTS
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing Fox Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and the UFL and a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
ABOUT HBSE (HARRIS BLITZER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT):
Founded by Josh Harris and David Blitzer in 2017, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) is an industry-leading sports and entertainment group, with a focus on building passionate, high performing teams that strengthen our communities. Anchored in sports, venues and ventures, HBSE’s diverse and global portfolio is centered around marquee assets, including the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center, the Washington Commanders, Joe Gibbs Racing, Crystal Palace of the English Premier League, as well as a growing presence across youth sports, the MLB, the MLS, and more. As proud stewards of some of the world’s most prestigious franchises, brands and properties, we are committed to using our platform to positively impact the local communities where our teams play and perform. For additional information on HBSE, please visit HBSE.com.
ABOUT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) New York Sirens and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and various other industry publications, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit prucenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.
ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS
Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company drives, growth for its partners across the sports ecosystem – including 2,000+ brands, 100+ professional teams, 65+ college athletic departments, all U.S. local sports networks and associated streaming platforms, and other marquee properties. Its fan engagement platform allows its partners to reach and engage over 85% of all U.S sports fans. Playfly builds and implements custom strategies across media, sponsorship, premium experiences, ticketing and fan engagement offerings through proprietary data, innovative technology and compelling storytelling. Playfly operates an expansive portfolio of services with a data-driven and fan-focused approach to maximize revenue yield in key growth areas, such as media, sponsorship, ticketing, premium experiences and fan engagement offerings. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states and internationally dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. The company has been named a Best Place to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, and Newsweek. To learn more, follow Playfly Sports on social media platforms or visit www.Playfly.com
