The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women’s Basketball to play Maryland in the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic
09.24.2024 | Women's Basketball
The event will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and will be televised by FOX.
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas Women's Basketball team will take on Maryland in the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic on January 20, 2025 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The Coretta Scott King Classic (CSKC) was formed to honor the legacy of Mrs. King and celebrate female empowerment in sports. This is the first time the names of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King have been licensed for a sporting event. The CSKC joint venture partners have partnered with The King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King and currently led by their daughter Dr. Bernice A. King, to launch this event.
There will be two games as part of this event, UCLA vs. Baylor and Texas vs. Maryland.
"We here at The University of Texas are both excited and honored to take part in this event," Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. "Knowing the impact that Martin Luther King, Jr. has had on our country and in the world, and to be part of an event named after his wife on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an honor for us here at The University of Texas. We are excited about the opportunity to play Maryland, a well-coached and outstanding basketball team. We look forward to the opportunity."
Dr. King historically had several ties to the state of New Jersey. Dr. King primarily lived in Camden from 1948-51 while serving as a seminarian in Philadelphia. Many believe King's initial fight for civil rights began in Camden when he was informed of a restaurant in Maple Shade that was denying service to black patrons. Dr. King and a group of companions visited the restaurant, and when denied service, refused to leave. This is widely regarded as one of Dr. King's first acts of civil disobedience. Additionally, he received an honorary Doctorate of Law from Jersey City's St. Peter's College in 1965 and gave multiple speeches within New Jersey borders.
"My mother, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, is often thought of and honored as my father's dedicated spouse and life partner. But she was also a civil and human rights stalwart in her own right," said Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center. "She lived for almost four decades following my father, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination and continued the work to create a humane, just, equitable and peaceful world through 'Kingian' nonviolence. She was a leading advocate and activist in the causes of women's equality and empowerment. During a time when the recognition of female empowerment is on the rise and the fight for gender equality in sports is beginning to bear fruit, honoring my mother through a women's college basketball event bearing her name is timely and fitting. Her enduring message of love and nonviolence is sorely needed during the challenging times we currently face. I pray the use of her name for this event further fosters the perpetuation of her indelible legacy."
Tickets for the Coretta Scott King Classic are on sale now via Prucenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, and Prudential Center's Box Office. For Group opportunities and experiences for 10+ people, contact 973-757-6000 or email groupevents@prucenter.com. For Premium seating opportunities, visit prucenter.com/premium.
