Elite women's basketball returns to Uptown this fall
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15,196 people showed up for women's college basketball on a Thursday night in Charlotte last fall. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
High-profile women's college basketball is coming back to Uptown this fall, with Charlotte Sports Foundation and Ally Financial bringing the Ally Tipoff to Spectrum Center through 2026.
Why it matters: Fans show up in droves for women's sports in Charlotte. Last fall, 15,000 fans packed into Spectrum Center to watch Iowa vs. Virginia Tech in the inaugural Ally Tipoff.
What's next: The second Ally Tipoff is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 10, at Spectrum Center. It will feature a doubleheader between No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 11 N.C. State. and No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 13 Virginia Tech.
- The game will air on an ESPN platform.
- Details about tickets are TBD.
Flashback: Iowa and Virginia Tech met in the inaugural game last year. Several fans traveled to see Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark.
- "Crowds like this should become normal for women's basketball," Clark told reporters after the game.
By the numbers: 7,600 people traveled to Charlotte for last year's game, generating nearly 2,800 hotel room stays, per Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
What they're saying: "We believe the Ally Tipoff is the premier regular season women's basketball event in the country," CSF executive director Danny Morrison said in a statement.
