Louisville coach Jeff Walz discusses the growth of women’s basketball
Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz talks about how women’s basketball has grown over the past couple of years due to social media.
Bonjour, Louisville women’s basketball.
The No. 17 Cardinals open the season in France with a top-20 matchup against sixth-ranked UCLA at 2:30 p.m. today. The two programs have never played before and are doing so as participants of the second annual Aflac Oui Play Event.
U of L has won seven of its last eight season openers and is 9-0 when starting the year on the road. The program is coming off its 14th straight 20-win season after a 24-10 campaign last year. This season, the Cardinals are young but have veteran leadership from returners Olivia Cochran and Merissah Russell, in their final year of eligibility, along with Jayda Curry and Nyla Harris.
UCLA made a Sweet 16 appearance with a 27-7 mark during the 2023-24 campaign and returns six players. That includes top scorers Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice.
The Aflac Oui-Play contest between the Cardinals and Bruins will air on ESPN2. Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo will call the game.
Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).
You can also listen online via GoCards.com.
U of L is an 11 ⅟₂-point underdog to UCLA, according to FanDuel.
- Monday, Nov. 4: Louisville vs. UCLA (Aflac Oui-Play Event), Adidas Arena in Paris | 2:30 p.m., ESPN2
- Friday, Nov. 8: Louisville vs. Southern Indiana | 7 p.m., ACCNx
- Tuesday, Nov. 12: Louisville at UT Martin | 7 p.m., ESPN+
- Saturday, Nov. 16: Louisville at Kentucky | 6 p.m., SEC+
- Thursday, Nov. 21: Louisville vs. Morehead State | 7 p.m., ACCNx
- Sunday, Nov. 24: Louisville vs. South Florida (WBCA Showcase) | 1 p.m. in Orlando, Florida, NBC Sports
- Saturday, Nov. 30: Louisville at Colorado | 3 p.m., ESPN+
- Wednesday, Dec. 4: Oklahoma at Louisville (SEC/ACC Challenge) | 5 p.m., ESPN2
- Saturday, Dec. 7: Louisville vs. UConn (Women’s Champions Classic) | 9:30 p.m. at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, FOX
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Louisville vs. Grambling State | 7 p.m., ACCNx
- Sunday, Dec. 15: Louisville vs. N.C. State*, 1 p.m. (ABC) | 1 p.m., ABC
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Louisville at Memphis | 5 p.m., ESPNU
- Sunday, Dec. 29: Louisville at Boston College* | 2 p.m., ACC Network
- Thursday, Jan. 2: Louisville vs. Miami* | 7 p.m., ACCNx
- Sunday, Jan. 5: Louisville at Wake Forest* | 4 p.m., ACC Network
- Thursday, Jan. 9: Louisville at Pittsburgh* | 6 p.m., ACCNx
- Sunday, Jan. 12: Louisville vs. Georgia Tech* | 4 p.m., ACC Network
- Thursday, Jan. 16: Louisville vs. Syracuse* | 7 p.m., ACCNx
- Sunday, Jan. 19: Louisville at Virginia Tech* | 4 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, Jan. 26: Louisville at Virginia* | 2 p.m., The CW
- Thursday, Jan. 30: Louisville at SMU* | 8 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, Feb. 2: Louisville vs. Notre Dame* | Noon, ESPN2
- Thursday, Feb. 6: Louisville vs. California* | 8 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, Feb. 9: Louisville vs. Stanford* | Noon, ESPN2
- Thursday, Feb. 13: Louisville at Florida State* | 6 p.m., ACCNx
- Thursday, Feb. 20: Louisville at Duke* | 7 p.m., ESPN2
- Sunday, Feb. 23: Louisville vs. North Carolina* | 2 p.m., ESPN
- Thursday, Feb. 27: Louisville vs. Clemson* | 6 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, March 2: Louisville at Notre Dame* | TBA, ESPN
*ACC game
- Izela Arenas (freshman, guard)
- Imari Berry (freshman, guard)
- Nyla Harris (junior, forward)
- Mackenly Randolph (freshman, forward)
- Rebekah Graves (freshman, guard)
- Anaya Hardy (freshman, forward)
- Eseosa Imafidon (redshirt freshman, center)
- Elif Istanbulluoglu (sophomore, forward)
- Ja’Leah Williams (senior, guard)
- Merissah Russell (graduate senior, guard)
- Isla Juffermans (freshman, forward)
- Reagan Bender (freshman, guard)
- Tajianna Roberts (freshman, guard)
- Jayda Curry (senior, guard)
- Olivia Cochran (graduate senior, forward)
Click here to view the Bruins’ 2024-25 schedule.
Click here to view the Bruins’ 2024-25 roster.
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Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
