Big Blue Preview: No. 17/15 Kentucky Women’s Basketball Plays at Miami for SEC / ACC Challenge
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The No. 17/15 University of Kentucky women’s basketball program will play at Miami at Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, on Wednesday, Dec. 3 for the third annual Southeastern Conference / Atlantic Coast Conference Challenge.
It is the sixth game away from home for the program thus far this season, while it is the fourth true road.
Fans in the area can purchase tickets to the Kentucky-Miami game here.
Kentucky is 1-1 in the SEC / ACC Challenge, with a win over Boston College at home in 2023 and a loss at North Carolina in 2024. Kentucky is back on the road for its second straight SEC / ACC Challenge in 2025.
Darren Headrick will have the Kentucky-Miami radio call for UK Sports Network, marking his ninth straight season as the voice of the Wildcats. His call will be carried on 630 AM WLAP in Lexington and on 790 AM WKRD in Louisville. It also will be carried on SiriusXM channels 106 or 190, and on the SiriusXM App.
Big Blue Nation also can watch the game on ESPN2, with Ariya Massoudi and Team USA Olympic gold medalist coach Nell Fortner.
The Wildcats enter the game 8-1, including 3-0 in true road games and 4-1 in away games. Not only will this mark their fourth true road game and the sixth away game, but it also will mark the Cats’ fourth Power Conference opponent through just 10 games in 2025-26.
Head coach Kenny Brooks’ scheduling, and specifically the true road and away games, have helped the team land an impressive No. 9 listing in the first NET rankings of the season, which were made available on Dec. 1. The Wildcats have one “good win” with a 10-point triumph at No. 21/19 Louisville, who is currently No. 14 in the first NET. The Cats also have one “tough loss” with an eight-point defeat against No. 7/6 Maryland, who is currently No. 10 in the first NET.
Just call Kentucky road warriors, as the team is coming off a six-day trip in Puerto Rico. Competing in the Discover Puerto Rico Tournament, Kentucky dropped a contest to No. 7/6 Maryland, 74-66, and won a contest to Morgan State, 101-39.
Despite falling to the Terrapins, the Wildcats cut their 20-point deficit to just six points late in the fourth quarter before falling by eight points. The Cats led the Terps in FG%, made 3s, rebounds, second-chance points, assists and blocks, but the Cats had 20 turnovers and only forced the Terps to commit 13. The Cats also went just 6-of-8 at the line, while the Terps enjoyed 21-of-23 from the stripe.
The Wildcats bounced back in the following game against the Bears, eclipsing 100 points for the second time in a single season for the first time since 2017.
Kentucky’s defense continues to shine through nine games this season, holding all nine opponents to under 40.0 percent shooting from the field and six of nine opponents to fewer than 50 points. Going into the SEC / ACC Challenge, UK is leading the nation in blocks per game (8.9), second in the nation in FG% Defense (30.0%), third in the nation in scoring defense (48.4) and 10th in the nation in scoring margin (+33.9).
On offense, all five starters are averaging double-digit scoring, with three of those on better than 50.0 percent shooting, while sixth woman Asia Boone is close with 9.9 points per game. UK has had six different leading scorers through nine games this season. Also, UK’s 9.4 3s per game are third in the SEC and ranks 21st in the nation.
Kentucky leads Miami (Fla.) in the all-time meetings, 6-2, in a series that began in 1985. Kentucky trails Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, 2-1, with losses in its last two trips in 2017 and 2000 and a win in its first trip in 1986. The Wildcats are on a one-game losing streak to the Hurricanes, dropping the last contest, 65-54, in Coral Gables on Dec. 10, 2017.
The Cats have never lost two straight to the Canes.
The last time Kentucky defeated Miami was at home on Nov. 11, 2016 (82-66). The last time Kentucky defeated Miami in Coral Gables was on Dec. 6, 1986 (71-55).
Kentucky and Miami have a couple of current and recent personnel in common.
Current UK assistant coach Josh Petersen (2025-Pres.) was a UM assistant coach for two seasons (2023-2024). Also, former UK assistant coach and special assistant to the head coach Lin Dunn (2017-2022) was the UM head coach for nine seasons (1979-1987).
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
