Big Blue Preview: No. 14/14 Kentucky Plays No. 25/25 NC State in the Ally Tipoff on Sunday on ESPN2

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 14/14 University of Kentucky women’s basketball program (2-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) will play No. 25/25 NC State (2-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) in the Ally Tipoff in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

TICKETS
Fans in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area are encouraged to attend. For tickets, click here.

HOW TO LISTEN & WATCH
Darren Headrick will have the Kentucky-NC State radio call for UK Sports Network on 630 AM WLAP in Lexington and on 790 AM WKRD in Louisville. It also will be carried on SiriusXM channel 256 and on the SiriusXM App channel 256.

Big Blue Nation also can watch the game on ESPN2, with Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli on the call.

QUICK FACTS

• Three Wildcats have earned preseason awards, including Clara Strack (Wade Watch List, USA Today Preseason Defensive POY, Unan. All-SEC First Team, Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, Center of the Year Watch List), Me’Arah O’Neal (All-SEC Second Team, Power Forward of the Year Watch List) and Asia Boone (Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List).
• Kenny Brooks began his quarter-of-a-century mark as a head coach (25) in 2026-27, while he also began his third year at Kentucky.
• His entire coaching staff returned for the third straight year.
• UK lost three starters from 2025-26, all of whom were selected in the WNBA Draft.
• Through two games this season, UK has allowed the fewest points combined in its first two games of a season (70 combined) since 1974-75 (66 combined).
• The Wildcats boast the No. 6 transfer class in the nation (On3) and the No. 6 freshman class in the nation (ESPN).
• In addition to returning National Player of the Year candidate Strack and 3-point shooter Boone, Brooks also added veteran players with SEC experience, including O’Neal (13.6ppg, 6.4rpg at Florida in 2025-26) and Diana Collins (8.4ppg, 2.4apg at Alabama in 2025-26).
• Other significant additions include Ajša Sivka, the 10th pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Ayanna Patterson, a UConn transfer with national championship experience, and three McDonald’s All-Americans.
• Kentucky and Texas are the only two teams with 2026 McDonald’s All-Americans.
• The Wildcats’ front court includes three 6-5 players in Strack, Sivka and O’Neal.

THE KENTUCKY-NC STATE SERIES

• Kentucky trails NC State in the all-time series, 5-2, which began in 1980.
  • UK has a three-game losing streak (1995, 2019, 2023).
• Two of the last three meetings between the two teams also were on neutral courts (1995, 2023).

LAST TIME OUT

• Kentucky defeated Northern Kentucky, 79-28, on Nov. 5, 2026, which marked the fewest points allowed in a single game in the Kenny Brooks era.
  • It is Kentucky’s fewest points allowed since holding Jackson State to 24 in 2015.
  • It is Kentucky’s fifth 50-point triumph of the Brooks era.
• UK has held each of its first two opponents to four points or fewer in the first quarter and to 15 points or fewer at the half.
  • In fact, UK held NKU to fewer than double-digit points each quarter (3, 9, 9, 7).
• UK held NKU to as many points off free throws as off field goals (14 FTs to six field goals for 14 points).
  • The six made field goals are the fewest allowed since at least 2002-03.
• UK held NKU to 13.6 percent shooting, UK’s best FG% defense since at least 2002-03.
• The Wildcats had the fewest combined points allowed in their first two games of a season (70 combined) since 1974-75 (66).
• Kentucky had 60 rebounds, its most since pulling down a school-record 67 against Morehead State on Nov. 18, 2015.
• UK had 13 steals, which tied for the most in the Brooks era.

Congrats on 50 wins at UK, coach! 🫡 https://t.co/HUxMe3UOuv

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) November 6, 2026

Take a deeper dive into the Kentucky-NC State matchup and the Kentucky women’s basketball team viewing the game notes.

For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on X, Instagram, and Facebook.