NEW YORK — Talaysia Cooper played a pivotal role in Tennessee’s victory over No. 17 Iowa, scoring 19 of her total 23 points in the second half of their matchup, which ended 78-68. This game was part of the first-ever Women’s Champions Classic, held on Saturday night.
With just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Cooper made a critical jump shot that put the Lady Vols (7-0) ahead 68-67, igniting a decisive 12-1 scoring run that ultimately secured their win. During this crucial stretch, Cooper contributed four consecutive points, including a crucial basket following a steal on the inbounds pass with only 1:23 remaining.
For Iowa (8-1), Lucy Olsen shone brightly, scoring 23 points; however, the team struggled significantly with ball control, recording a season-high 30 turnovers.
The game featured two first-year head coaches. Jan Jensen assumed the role at Iowa after Lisa Bluder retired, ending a tenure marked by consecutive national championship game appearances. Jensen, who was previously an assistant coach at Iowa for 24 years, became the first coach in the program’s history to achieve an 8-0 start.
On the Tennessee side, Kim Caldwell stepped in after a successful career at Marshall and Division II Glenville State. She introduced her high-speed pressing strategy and a unique “hockey line change” substitution style, frequently rotating players every minute or two to maintain their stamina throughout the game.
Iowa faced challenges against Tennessee’s rapid pace, leading to a total of 18 turnovers in the first half, which ended with the score tied at 35.
The second half saw neither team able to establish a significant advantage until Cooper sparked Tennessee’s crucial run in the final minutes.
The Barclays Center was attended by several WNBA legends including Chamique Holdsclaw, Diamond DeShields, Rickea Jackson, Andraya Carter, and Sue Bird, as well as WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
This matchup marked the first encounter between these two historic programs since 1993 when the legendary coaches Pat Summitt and C. Vivian Stringer were at the helm.
